Refuge in the Wings

You have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings
I will sing for joy.
Psalm 63:7

Psalm 63. This is a Psalm of David, a prayer, in which he lifts up his heart to the Lord for he is in the wilderness of Judah. He is in that trackless, deserted, arid, sandy, barren abode of the jackals. Not much life is to be found there, very little water, and even lesser shade. Many assailants are found in the desert and they make themselves known to David in their continuous assault on him.

Now this may surprise the reader: David is not forlorn. He has not abandoned all hope upon entering the desert. This is the case because he has found some shelter, a bit of shade. His help is found in the Lord who has spread wide his wings, sheltering him from the onslaught of the heat and assailants. And if you had been in that desert with David, you would have not only seen David under the wing of the Lord, but you would have heard his songs of joy. For when you abide in the shadow of the wings of the Lord, when you are taken up into his care and provision, when he has drawn near to you, your soul can do nothing but sing.

Where are your places of refuge and rest? When you are weary, weak-kneed, and seeking shelter, what do you find over your head? Are you stumbling in the desert, going at it alone? That is only the way of death. Find your refuge in the Lord, in the shadow of his wings. For they are spread wide that you might find rest for your soul. And in their shadow, you too might rejoice.

– Matthew+