Thoughts for the Day

Hear a just cause, O Lord; attend to my cry;
give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit.
From you let my vindication come;
let your eyes see the right.

If you try my heart, if you visit me by night,
if you test me, you will find no wickedness in me;
my mouth does not transgress.
As for what others do, by the word of your lips
I have avoided the ways of the violent.
My steps have held fast to your paths;
my feet have not slipped.

I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;
incline your ear to me, hear my words.
Wondrously show your steadfast love,
O saviour of those who seek refuge
from their adversaries at your right hand.

Guard me as the apple of the eye;
hide me in the shadow of your wings,

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Four days ago I looked at some verses from Psalm 91 (The shadow of the Almighty) with a similar theme of asking for God's protection. Both ask to be hidden under the shadow of God's wings, though Psalm 91 has the word "pinons" probably meaning the talons of a bird of prey.

It reminds me of the scene played out frequently below my window as I work. Often I hear the warning call of a bird in the garden, it's a 'Chk-Chk' kind of call - "a blackbird", I think. Then there is the more strident call of a magpie with it's 'Chack-Chack' sound. They are both warning calls that usually mean that one or both of our two cats are around. The male magpie keeps sentry duty from a tree two garden's away, and will deliberately swoop down to buzz our heads when he thinks we have strayed too close to his nest. He's even bold enough to swoop past the cats.

In today's Psalm, No. 17, the writer is scared of those who are seeking to take his life, and asks God to protect him because of the justice of his case and because of his blameless life. At the end of the psalm is a wonderful image where he asks God to hide him under the shadow of His wings. This image probably refers not to a blackbird or a magpie but but to a hen. They will hide their chicks under their wings at the first sign of danger, whether that is a predator or even a fire. Examples of chickens who strayed too close to the heat of a fire and died but left live chicks under their wings are not unknown.

The picture should vividly remind us that God protects us whatever the danger we face, whether that is physical, mental, or spiritual. As the blackbird and magpie seek to warn of danger, and as a hen will shelter its chicks when threatened, how much more does God warn us of danger and protect us when we need His help! Think of those times that coincidences have occurred in your life that have protected you, were they not "God-incidences"?

Heavenly Father,
help us to remember
that You are there ready to protect us
when we are in any kind of danger.
Today we ask Your protection for:
the vulnerable in our world;
for those we love;
and for ourselves,
but always and only if it be Your will.
Amen.