The Shadow of His Wing

Psalm 63:7 states,
“Because You have been my help, therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice.”

In Strong’s Concordance, the Hebrew word for wing is kanaph, meaning an edge or extremity, specifically the wing of a bird. In Scripture, wings symbolize protection and covering.

The Hebrew word for shadow is tsel, meaning shade or shelter. It comes from a root word meaning “to shade” or “to overshadow.”

Birds use their wings for more than flight. They stretch them over their young to protect them from predators. They wrap them around their babies to provide warmth and shield them from harsh weather.

Do you see the parallel?

The Lord is our Father, and we are His children. His wings provide covering from the attacks of the enemy. They shelter us from the storms of life. Just as a bird watches carefully over its young, so the Lord watches over us daily.

This same imagery appears in Psalm 91:4 (AMP):

“He will cover you and completely protect you with His pinions, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and wall.”

Under His wings we find refuge,  a place sheltered from danger. But refuge requires nearness.

In Matthew 23:37 (AMP), Jesus says:

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem… How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling.”

The covering was available.
The protection was offered.
But they were unwilling to draw near.

In order to receive His divine covering, we must remain close to Him.

Just as David rejoiced in finding protection from his enemies, we too rejoice, because the Lord has kept us and will continue to keep us.

There is safety in His shadow.

Praise be to God.