Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me,
Psalm 57:1 NIV
for in you I take refuge.
I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings
until the disaster has passed.
Ducks, chickens, and some other birds nest on the ground, and their chicks leave the nest long before they can fly. They will follow their mother wherever she goes, exploring their world and learning from their mom. But, when danger threatens, they will all race back to their mother and hide under her wings. Then, when the threat has passed, they will come back out. It is, for them, a place of safety and security.
And this is the image that David is using in this verse. He was facing a time of danger. King Saul was pursuing him, wanting to kill him. And the pursuit was getting close. It was a time of extreme danger. But even during this time, David expressed his confidence in God’s protection. He had taken refuge in the shadow of God’s wings. And so he was confident that no harm would come to him.
God does not have literal wings that we can hide under. But what David says here is true for all who belong to God. Like little chicks, stay close to God. Learn what he has to teach you. And trust that he will protect you from any danger that will come your way. Find your refuge in the shadow of his wings.
You may well experience suffering and physical hurt. But, as Paul expressed in 2 Timothy 1:12, we can have confidence that he will guard what we have entrusted to him until that day we stand before him.
