Skip to main content

The Shadow of Your Wings

             How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings. (Psalm 36:7) 

Some people speak of verses like this one as showing the feminine side of God, or God, the Mother. That image may exist, but it isn’t necessary to this verse. One of the neat things about technology is the chance to watch eagles, hawks, and owls raise their young. And at least in the Bald Eagle’s nest, the male helps build the next, broods over, protects, and feeds the young, too. Also interesting is the information shared that hummingbirds sometimes build their nests near hawks’ nests (Hummingbirds) because the hummingbird and its nest is kept safe from predators by the presence of the hawk, which generally sees the hummingbird as too small to use to feed its young.

I’m not saying that God does not do things that we think of as feminine. I’m just saying that this verse isn’t a good proof-text that can be used to impose feminism on Scripture or God.

So what are we to make of this? One interesting note  is that the psalmist does not say “Your people.” People, in general, take refuge in the shadow of God’s “wings.” One of the things that atheists complain about is the supposed claim that because they are atheists, they are immoral or amoral, which means that they are evil. They naturally object to this. But when you ask them the basis for their moral code, or if they list examples of their moral code, chances are good that much of their code will correspond to the teachings of Scripture.

They may object to this, saying that other cultures have developed codes,  or that their code is somehow self-evident or self-chosen, but all they’re just demonstrating the first chapter of Romans. It is within this commonly understood (but not necessarily commonly applied) sense that people turn to for protection.

Equally, there is common grace. God uses nature to provide for our needs, whether we are His people, or just people. He gives some wisdom, knowledge, and talent. All of these things protect and shelter us, as His wings.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Gal 6:10)   “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.   By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)           Joshua grinned when he saw Rex standing by the door, studying something on the ground. "Hey, man! Are we ready to do this thing?"          Rex looked up. "Josh, I can't do it. We're still best buds, but I can't stand your fiancée."           I've met "Rex" many times. I've been Rex. Joshua (Jesus) loves the Church. He's not a fool. He knows the Church is far from perfect, but she is His chosen bride. The Rexes of this world, who think themselves His friend, turn away from her. "You don't need the Church to...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ssssssubmmissssssionnn

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ . (Ephesians 5:21)             "Ssssssubmmisssssssionnn." Can't you just hear the serpent hissing this most horrible of words? If you listen to the serpent or the world, submission means groveling, allowing yourself to be abused, denying yourself your own humanity. Nothing could be worse than submission, could it?             Submission has never been a problem for me, as long as things are going the way I want them to. The rest of the time? Well, let's just say that while I don't know how to fight physically, I don't know how to not fight mentally. One of the fights I've been having with myself for years is about submission.             My first breakthrough took place on a trip to a bookstore. As I walked into the store, my thoughts were very clear. 1) I was goi...
Post a Comment
Read more

The List

              Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,   through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;   perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (Romans 5:1-5)           Think about it. We have been justified. At least, we could be justified if we stopped insisting that our justification be based on our merits. We have peace with God, or could have peace if we stopped throwing temper tantrums. We have gained access into grace i...
Post a Comment
Read more