The God Who Shelters Under His Wings

The small wonder

There is something deeply tender about shelter.

A child runs under a parent's arm. A bird gathers its young close. A traveller steps out of heavy rain beneath a strong roof. Shelter does not remove the existence of danger, weather or noise. It gives a safe place within it.

Psalm 36 gives us a beautiful picture of God.

His loving kindness is precious. His faithfulness reaches to the skies. His righteousness is like the mountains. His judgements are like a great deep. Then David says this: the children of men take refuge under the shadow of His wings.

That is not a small image.

The God whose greatness stretches beyond our measuring is also the God beneath whose wings needy people may hide. His glory does not make Him cold. His majesty does not keep the weak at a distance. His holiness does not mean there is no room for frightened sinners to come near.

The shadow of His wings is not a fragile shelter. It is mercy with strength in it.

What it shows us about God

God is a refuge for the exposed.

We spend much of life trying to appear less needy than we are. We build routines, savings, plans, reputations and habits of control. Some of these things are wise gifts when kept in their proper place. But none of them can become God. None of them can shelter the soul from sin, death, judgement, fear or the ache of a broken world.

Only the Lord can do that.

The picture of wings is not weakness. It is protective tenderness. God is not embarrassed to describe His care with language that is warm, near and almost domestic. He does not only rule from above. He gathers. He covers. He keeps. He makes room for His people beneath His faithful care.

This refuge is not earned by impressiveness.

David says the children of men take refuge there. Frail people. Ordinary people. Mortal people. People with tired bodies, anxious thoughts, unfinished obedience and more need than they know how to name.

God's shelter is precious because He Himself is precious. We do not merely hide under an idea, a feeling or a religious habit. We take refuge in the living God whose steadfast love does not fail.

That is glory worth beholding.

Lift your eyes

You may feel exposed today.

Perhaps there is something you cannot control. Perhaps you are carrying a fear you cannot quite explain. Perhaps the world feels sharp around the edges. Perhaps age, disappointment, family concern or private sorrow has reminded you that you are not as strong as you once imagined.

Do not despise the need for shelter.

The proud heart wants to stand in the open and prove it needs nothing. Faith knows better. Faith runs to God. Faith says, "I am small but You are mighty. I am exposed but You are refuge. I am weak but Your loving kindness is precious."

For the Christian this shelter is secured in Christ. He entered the storm of judgement for His people. He bore the open shame of the cross so that guilty sinners could be brought under the mercy of God. The refuge we need is not sentimental comfort. It is blood bought mercy.

So come near today.

Bring the fear. Bring the weariness. Bring the sin that needs confession. Bring the sorrow that has no neat explanation. The God of Psalm 36 is not too grand to receive needy people. He is grand enough to be their shelter.

The shadow of His wings is still a safe place for the soul.

A few Scriptures to carry

A Short Prayer