Just about everything that Jesus did and said has a ring of prophetic fulfillment of, or allusions to, the Old Testament. In Psalm 91, the Psalmist describes God’s love for His people and His passion to take care of them as a loving Father. The Psalmist writes, “He will cover you with his wings. Under the feathers of his wings you will find safety.” In Matthew 23:37 Jesus looks down upon the holy city of Jerusalem. He knows the fate that awaits it. He Sighs, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not!”
I’m often a lot like Jerusalem and it seems I might hear “Oh Chuck, Oh Chuck! How often I wanted to protect you but you wouldn’t let me.” It’s often hard for me trust God when I can’t see what’s going to happen next, or when I don’t understand the situation, or when I feel the darkness closing in on me in so many different ways. Yes, things get dark for me too! Don’t they get dark for you?
When they do, I found these verses most comforting and encouraging. Think about that chicken under its mother’s wing. As long as it’s under her wing, it can’t see anything, can it? But it’s still protected and secure. The Psalmist doesn’t say that under the protection of his wing you will see… or understand… or anything else! It simply says under His wing you will be safe. If you can’t trust someone when they’re out of your sight, they’re not worth much. So, too, if I can’t trust God in the dark days, I surely don’t think He’s very trustworthy.
We’ve all sung “A Mighty Fortress is Our God.” He is indeed. He can solve the insolvable! He can storm the impregnable! He can calm the storms! He can bring sunshine out of darkness! He can protect us on the outside, and strengthen us on the inside. Let’s run to Him!
Chuck
“Oh Jerusalem, Oh Jerusalem…how often I would have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you would not.” Matthew 23:27