Psalm 57:1, “Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.”
I remember as a child my mama having chickens, Mama loved Domineckers (Dominique is actual name). Those birds were pretty and mama enjoyed watching them gather around her when she sprinkled the feed on the ground.
When the birds had chicks it was a special time for mama. Those chicks just made her smile. But when you have little birds, the old chicken hawks will find them and soon show up. We could always tell when a chicken hawk or an owl had been near when the little chicks would be under their mama or hanging really close so they could run under her if they were frightened. The little chicks felt safe under mama when danger was around. And mama hen sure would protect her little chickens.
In Mark 12:37 we read, “…And the common people heard him gladly.” The common people in this verse is referring to just normal folks like you and I. The people who were farmers and worked everyday jobs. The people the Pharisees frowned upon as though they were less than. The reason these people could receive the lessons the Lord taught is He taught them by using illustrations which they could relate to. A Sower who went forth to sow; or a net dropped in the sea to catch fish; or a penny for a day’s wage. These, what some would call simple, illustrations were easily understood by this group of God’s children and they gleaned from the lesson’s therein.
Now, back to our study verse. When I read the words “in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast,” my mind is stirred to remember mama’s Domineckers. I would argue that this illustration, although simple to some, is a good one for the lesson. Just as those little chicks trusted in mama hen for protection from the enemy of the chicken hawk or the owl, the children of God should trust the Lord. And just as that mama hen would protect those little chicks with her life, so the Lord will stand up for His little children in their times of need. David, when writing these words understood the lesson. The Lord has been his mama hen many times when Saul of Kish hunted him to take his life.
Dear child of grace, we live in a very dangerous world. 2 Timothy 3:1 teaches us that the world will become more and more dangerous as time goes on. What a precious blessing it is to trust in the shadow of the wings, not of a Dominecker hen, but the Lord God Almighty. He is able, and He loves His children more than we are able to comprehend or understand. If you are facing a difficult time and feel that the enemies are seeking to harm, run to Him Who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.