The Wings of Protection

UV 1396/10,000 The Wings of Protection

Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.

Psalm 119 v 114


Every fighter needs a hiding place where he can take rest, find time for sleep, food and recouping his energy. A hiding place is a place of strategic retreat. In my childhood imagination, I used to think of a kingdom in the basement of our house where I could go and hide. For years afterwards I played hide and seek as most of us do with God. I did not seek Him while He sought me out in different ways. But as an adult, I have realized that the Lord is truly my hiding place, my refuge in times of trouble as well as in normal times when I need to be alone with Him. He preserves us from trouble caused by our own folly or wrong choices. He is a mighty fortress. A hiding place needs to be secretive, not known to others. It should be secure and safe. The Lord hides us from secret weapons and threats that we do not even sense or know of. He covers our backs literally. He is not the hiding place of cowards but of the brave. The patriarchs of faith like Abraham, Isaac and Jacob did not flee from fight. Abraham chased a local chief who had taken away men of his entourage. He was victorious and he restored the booty of the king of Sodom that was looted. Joshua fought with 31 kings before he wrested Canaan, the promised land. We too have our battles. As Jehovah Nissi, the Lord promises us victory in our battles. The Word inspires immediate and ultimate victory in our personal struggles and battles.

As we yield to the Lord, He becomes our shield. When we hide in the Lord, He gives us deliverance. This is the reason the Psalmist says that the Lord has surrounded him with songs of deliverance. When the Israelites were delivered from the mighty Egyptian army during the crossing of the Red Sea, a great joy arose spontaneously in their hearts. Two great songs of deliverance are recorded in scripture extolling the Lord, one of Moses and the other of his sister Miriam. When we are saved from the enemy of our soul, from eternal death, the greatest song- the song of the Lamb of God is sung. The song of deliverance that I wrote which runs for 26 minutes is called the “Great I Am.”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoURpHcg8Io

We hide the Word in our hearts not only so that it keeps us from sin but in order that we can claim the promises, heed the warnings and obey the commandments of the Lord. When we persistently hope in the Word, the power and grace of God is released in our lives. The Word is like a shelter in a storm, a river in the dry periods or deserts of our lives. He is the great rock in a weary land. The weary land is the earth. When we hide in Him, we are renewed in hope, blessings and strength. We hide in the Lord not only for protection from mortal dangers or spiritual threats but in order to revive our spirits, to be re-energised so that we can fly on the wings of prayer and the Word like an eagle. No serpent of great cunning like satan can harm an eagle. An eagle is a symbol of strength from its beak to its feathers and talons. Jesus used the opposite image too of a hen that hides its chicken under its wings to protect them from the predatory eagle. Similarly, we are greatly protected, strengthened and encouraged under the wings of the Word and prayer. Our hope in God’s Word makes us buoyant and joyful. Sometimes, we hide in shame from the world. The psalmist says that “ He is my glory and the lifter of my head.” Under His wings,we will find grace and glory. When we hide in Him, He brings us to a place of honour and glory.


Prateep V Philip