He will cover you with His pinions,
and under His wings you will find refuge;
His faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
You will not fear the terror of the night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
nor the destruction that wastes at noonday. (Psalm 91:4–6 ESV)
Birds are skittish, right? I have never had a bird as a pet, but from my observation of birds, they run first, and ask questions later. If I walk towards a bird, even with good intentions, a bird will fly.
Maybe that’s why Psalm 91 is written about birds. Because we are often skittish, like birds. When we think an enemy is nigh, we commonly flee. Perhaps by putting our head in the sand. Perhaps by squawking loudly and getting ready to jump. Perhaps by running towards the problem, with the hope that IT will be more skittish than us…
I am wondering whether or not we should change the phrase to: “Scaredy-bird.”
But even for emotional birds, Christ is a comfort. He covers us with HIS pinions. We find refuge under HIS wings. HE is a shield. The night doesn’t have anything He can’t handle. The dangers that ‘hunt’ us will fail. Diseases that are shadowy, unknown, and unseen aren’t stronger than Him. And the exhaustion of our wasting energy at midday can’t destroy anyone He is protecting.
Notice that the Psalmist doesn’t tell us all the things WE need to do for Christ’s protection. Our arms don’t hold effective shields. We can’t see in the dark. We can’t understand the mysteries of the unknown. We can’t renew our own strength.
Another Psalm continues this bird theme when we read that in HIM, our strength will rise up like an eagle. His strength, transferred somehow to us.
Admit we are like birds… and hide under HIS wings.
Fear Not. Don’t be a bird anymore.