Many years ago as a young boy growing up in a rural village, we had different kinds of domestic animals around the house. Some of these included ducks, chickens, goats, pigs and even a cow and two sheep.
I was particularly excited when these animals had young ones, especially the ducks and hens. One of my lasting memories of this time of my life is seeing the young chickens and ducklings following their mother from place to place around the yard. One day I was particularly mystified when I did not find a brood of young chickens that were hatched a few days earlier. I was probably about seven or eight years old then, and the reason for their sudden absence was at the time a total mystery to me. Then a few minutes later I saw a head peek out from its mother’s feathers then another one came from between her legs and another one from somewhere among her feathers until all five of them were accounted for. I didn’t know this then, but young chicks could find places somewhere between their mother’s wings and feathers, to keep cool from the midday sun or simply to find protection if they were being threatened.
This feature of the mother hen and her young chicks could have been what the writer of Psalm 91 had in mind when the Psalm was written. Take a look at verse 4 where it says, “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge;…” (Psalm 91:4 NIV)
What is clear from the text is that God is portrayed here as the perfect parent fulfilling the role that any really good parent/s will do naturally. This role involves several things. One of which I would have talked about with the children during story time earlier. There are at least three important characteristics about God that we are reminded of in the Psalm and I would like us to reflect on them today as it relates to your own experience of your relationship with God. If you don’t have a relationship with God as yet or your relationship with Him may have gotten a bit lukewarm, hopefully this reminder about who God is to us all can spur us into a greater relationship with God.
- First of all, God is our ultimate protector.
One of the most basic things that any parent does is to provide a protective environment for his or her child/children. This includes making sure that they can spot danger ahead of time and if this is not possible, they will be willing to stand in the face of danger thereby risking their own lives for their children. Needless to say, most animals do the same thing for their young as well. It is a God-given built-in instinctive behavior. It happens because of the love that a parent has for his or her young one. This natural instinct to protect comes from God as I just said so we can see God spreading his wings around us to protect us from every kind of harm or danger that threatens us along life’s journey. The images that the writer implies in the use of such terms as, “He will save you…” (vs.3) and “He will cover you…” (vs.4) all point to the protective love of God for the vulnerable and helpless children that we are. We must also note that it is not just from dangers that we are protected because we are also told that his shadow provides rest. The mother hen’s wings and all of her body provides shade and protection from the heat of the day and even from the rain as well. This is all-round protection. This is who God is. Sometimes even our parents or whomever gives us nurture and care cannot protect us from everything. Only God can.
- Secondly, it is only in God that we can really be confident. It is God alone who will always be there for us no matter what we go through.
The second important characteristic of any good parent is their presence through every situation that the child will face. At the very least they make the effort to be present in the life of their child/children irrespective of the circumstance. The parents instinctively know that it is their constant presence that will build trust in their children. The child will have confidence in the fact that their parents are reliable. The children can always count on them. This does not mean that the parents or nurturers are physically present all the time but they do find creative ways to be involved in the life of their children. This is who God is. As God’s children we learn to trust him because we have proven that God is reliable. He is trustworthy and faithful. It is God’s faithfulness that now gives us the confidence to deal with all that life gives us whether the good and the bad and everything else in between, because we know that we do not face the struggles and forces of the world on our own. God is shielding us when necessary and strengthening us to fight the battles when we have to do so. In Isaiah chapter 49 the prophet Isaiah in giving God’s word to the people says, “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion for the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will never forget you!” (See Isaiah 49:15 NIV) This reminds us that even human parents can fail towards their children, but God will never fail us, his children.
- Thirdly, God has special care for those who acknowledge and love Him.
Perhaps the all-important part of the relationship between the parent and the child is the love that is reciprocated. The child or children get the best or the most out of their parents when they also demonstrate their love for their parents. Even though the love of the parent is unconditional and non-transactional, parents do have a soft spot for the child who responds with love and gratitude. This is the child or children who essentially acknowledge by their own response that they recognise and appreciate deeply the love shown to them by their parents or guardians or whoever is responsible for their full-time care. In verse 14 we read, “Because he loves me, says the Lord, “I will rescue him;” I will protect him because he acknowledges my name.” (Psalm 91:14) We cannot expect to be in any relationship with God without demonstrating our love for God. This is what clinches or seals the special bond between the Christian and his or her God. God’s protecting wings are guaranteed for those who acknowledge Him and live to please Him. This does not mean that God does not care about those who don’t acknowledge Him. Of course He does care. That is why God’s loving arms, or wings in this case, are always open to receive and cover all who come to Him. But those who seek him are singled out for a more meaningful and deeper relationship with God. When we have that deeper relationship with God, God himself says several things are guaranteed.
First, when we call Him, He will answer.
Secondly, He will be with us in the midst of any trouble to deliver his children. Thirdly, his children are guaranteed the blessing of long life.
Let me hasten to say that the concept of long life as used here does refer to the length of one’s days on the earth but it is much more than that. It also implies the quality of one’s life as well. In Deuteronomy, when Moses was preparing the people to enter the ‘Promised Land’, he instructed them by telling them that being obedient and faithful to God would lead to long and prosperous life. (See Deuteronomy 4:40, 5:16)
Many people who do not believe in God, let alone honour God, do live long lives, but the quality of the person’s life is as important to God as the length of years. So God’s promise of long life here, not only refers to physically long life but also a righteous life, a life that continues beyond the physical realm into eternity. All of us as Christians are blessed with the promise of this life when we love God and are therefore devoted and obedient to God. This is the life that Jesus promised when he told the disciples, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (See St. John 10:10 NIV)
Let’s go back and think about that mother hen and her chickens. You will notice that the chickens quite instinctively know who they can go to when trouble is near. They run to their mother for shelter or protection immediately when danger is near. Even our young children run to us if they are frightened or feel threatened by something or someone. They don’t pretend to be tough and strong. They run to mommy and daddy immediately if they feel uncomfortable or are frightened by someone or something.
Who do you go to when trouble is near or when you are overwhelmed by all that life gives you? We can run into the arms of the One who gives real protection and who guarantees long life. Do you want this life? Do you want to be assured that you are always covered under the protective and loving wings of God? It seems to me that in a world of such chaos and turbulence, this is the best thing that we can ever need. Human families will fail. Human efforts will come to nothing to protect and secure us from life’s challenges and turmoil.
Let us come to God now, and accept the welcoming arms outstretched to receive us like no other parent can, and find shelter and assurance and peace in his presence in this world and for eternity. Let’s go from here with hope and renewed confidence in God, our protector and life-giver now and always. Amen.