Consider the verse of scripture quoted below. It is a verse from King David… before he was king in Israel. You probably know the story. Saul was chasing after David and his colleagues to kill them. Most likely when you think of David, you think of him as the giant killer or the courageous shepherd or the king who had a horrible moral failing. We usually don’t think of him as the poet or musician or fugitive.
David was hiding from the king who ruled over his people. Saul was driven by jealousy and rage, among other things. David sat, hiding in a cave. Do you think he was afraid? Was he shaking in his sandals, so to speak? Probably. Think about it… this man who was brave enough to fight lions and bears and giants, but he was hiding from his king. He knew that Saul was really really mad at him. When you are THAT scared, what do you do? Where do you turn? David was wise enough to run to the refuge of his soul – God. He compared the security of God to the shadow of the wings of a powerful bird. Maybe an eagle?
Isn’t it interesting that when the storms of life approach and we are afraid of what “may” happen, we often run to everything but God. People attempt to rely on their own power or the temporary escape brought about by drugs or alcohol. Even believers do this sometimes. As this year winds down and we stand staring into an unknown future, hopefully we can remember David’s example. God’s power and presence is too great for us to approach directly, but His shadow is a place that we can hide in and feel secure. When the hard times come – and they will – run to God… hide in the shadow of His mighty wings. Amen.
