Under the Shadow of His Wings

 

Your Love, O Lord by Third Day

This song came to mind as I read Psalms 36:1-7 (KJV)

Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.

Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O Lord, thou preservest man and beast. How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.

Have you ever heard the story of how a fire raced across the fields where a mother hen and her chicks were feeding? When the fire was over the mother hen lay dead but her chicks were safe, hidden under her wings. 

As I read this Psalm I thought about how each item named shows us how the Lord created the universe as a covering reminding us He keeps us under the shadow of His wings. 

• The heavens - God's Mercy is not getting what we deserve. In the heavens, God placed the ball of the sun to remind us He gives us the Light that emanates from Him. He wraps us in the unseen warmth of His loving Holy Spirit. The light and the warmth are all part of the trinity God demonstrates with the sun. 

• The Clouds - God's Faithfulness is demonstrated in the clouds. God is faithful to draw the water into the clouds. Then they release the waters on the dry ground, the plants and animals and us without which everything would die. God never leaves us or forgets us but is faithful to supply our needs. 

• Mountains - God's Righteousness is demonstrated by the unmovable mountains. God's laws never change. We can depend on the fact that what was sin in the past is still sin today. What was right in the past is still right today. God doesn't move the goal post. His laws never change. 

• The Deep - God's Judgements are right. If we were wronged and the judge at a trial turned the defendant lose because it was the first offense, we would feel betrayed. He would be an unrighteous judge. But God is a righteous judge. Sin must be punished so He sent His Son to pay for our offenses, our sins. He has judged His Son in our place and cast our sins into the depths of the seas where He will remember them no more. 
• The Shadow of His Wings - God is trustworthy. He is there for us. We can trust Him and find comfort in all He does. 

How will you put your trust in God's mercy; finding Him faithful this week? 

Father God, thank you for the beautiful universe You have created with such purpose. Help me keep my eyes and heart wide open to Your wonders. In Christ's name. Amen

Hey Kids:

Have you read the book I Went Walking by Sue Williams? 

There are animals hiding in plain sight that go walking with the child once she sees them. 

I wonder what you might find hiding this week that God has put in plain sight to remind us of His mercy, His faithfulness, His righteousness, His judgments. His creation lets us know we can trust Him to take care of us. 

What could be important about a grain of sand, a caterpillar, a sparrow, and other things God created? 

Take a walk. Enjoy your findings. Keep a nature journal. Share your journal with your family and friends.

Blessings,

Gail