Psalm 57:1 “Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.”
Years ago, I remember reading an article about a disastrous fire. I cannot remember any of the details, but I do recall that during the cleanup afterwards, a dead hen was found with her wings spread out. When she was lifted up, beneath her wings were all of her chicks… alive! She had sacrificed her life to keep her babies from dying in the fire. She knew exactly what she was doing when she chose to shield her chicks under her wings. She felt the fire’s heat; she smelled the smoke, but she knew if she fled, her babies would die. She chose to forfeit her life, but through that sacrifice, her babies would live.
We needed protecting like those little chicks. When sin threatened to destroy our relationship with God forever, He stepped in to save us! God knew that in order to save all of mankind, He would have to hide us under His wings, and He did that by sending His only Son, Jesus Christ, to sacrifice His life so that we might live. Once we ask Jesus to forgive us and become our Lord and Saviour, we have a refuge under the wings of God that will be our hiding place forever. It is here that we find protection, safety, respite, renewal, love and peace.
There is one phenomenal difference between Jesus and the hen (okay… I know there are lots of differences, but bear with me…). When Mother hen died to save her chicks, that was the end of her story, but when Jesus died to save us, that was just the beginning of His story! When it seemed that all hope ended with the crucifixion of Christ on that cruel cross, three days later, He rose triumphantly from the grave! Death could not hold Him, and now He is alive forevermore at the right hand of God the Father!
One day, I will be standing before Jesus, and I will see the scars on His body. I don’t know if even then I will fully understand the cost of my salvation, but I do know one thing for certain. When I am in the presence of my Saviour, I will finally be able to thank Him face to face for sacrificing His life to save mine.
Until that day…
Under His wings—oh, what precious enjoyment!
There will I hide till life’s trials are o’er;
Sheltered, protected, no evil can harm me;
Resting in Jesus I’m safe evermore.
Under His wings, under His wings,
Who from His love can sever?
Under His wings my soul shall abide,
Safely abide forever.
(lyrics by W.O. Cushing)