UNDER HIS WINGS

Shepherd’s Guidance 2/2020

28 March 2020

 

Dear Members in Christ,

Under His Wings

 

The Lord promised to protect those who put their trust in Him. “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust” (Psalm 91:1-2). This is His promise to the Christians who have regular fellowship with Him. For those Christians who are out of touch with the Lord and non-believers, they would not receive the blessings of this promise. If they were to turn to the Lord in repentance and faith, then they will enjoy such blessings. The Lord is gracious waiting to bless those who honour Him. 

 

During this period of unrest in the world due to COVID-19 pandemic, some Asians flew back to their homeland from the West. They felt insecure in the countries where they have been staying for many years due to work or study. They didn’t mind to burn a big hole in their pocket to fly back. They felt safer at home. Some people in their homeland complained against this. They told them not to bring back the virus to their homeland. But some local leaders of their homeland spoke out and said, “Home is the place for the children in the time of trouble. It is their refuge. Where should they turn to if not to their homeland?”

 

For those who have been ignoring fellowship with the Lord, it is time to return to the Lord who is our eternal home. All the homes on earth are but temporal. We are pilgrims and strangers on earth. One day God will call us home when His purpose for us on earth is over. How can we enjoy security in the time of trouble? For Christians, we look to our God who is the Most High and the Almighty. He is our LORD too. If we stay in the secret of the Most High, then no enemy can reach us and harm us. The Almighty will use His might to shelter us. Our LORD is a covenant-keeping God. He is ever faithful to His promises. He issues no spiritual bounce cheques. “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?” (Numbers 23:19).

 

When we stay out of fellowship with God, we expose ourselves to many dangers. The enemies will try to harm us and destroy us. In life, we have the snare of the fowler, the noisome pestilence, terror by night, the arrow that flieth by day. Often times, we have misplaced trust in this world. We lean our weight on things which become alternatives to God. In the Old Testament, we see how the covenant people of God lean to political power of another nation, material wealth and own military abilities. Instead of trusting in false gods, the Psalmist encourages us to trust in our LORD. He wants to deliver us from troubles in life but we must put our whole trust in Him. God has warned His people when they were about to enter the Promised Land. 

 

“Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day: Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied; Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage;… And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day. And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the LORD thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish” (Deuteronomy 8:11-14, 17-19). 

 

However, the people of God did not take heed and chose to rebel against the Lord. The Lord has sent so many messengers to warn them of their errors but they did not turn back ultimately. “For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not” (Isaiah 30:15). God used the prophet Isaiah to rebuke them of their consistent rebellion and exhorted them to turn unto Him with repentance and faith. But they would not. They chose to rely on the world instead of trusting in God’s deliverance. They hoped in the arm of the flesh instead of relying on the Most High God. Finally, the nation of Israel was destroyed by a Gentile power. Those who choose to rely on the world are actually leaning on a broken wall. What a folly for us to rely on the dust instead on the Almighty God? Will we confess with the Psalmist that the Lord is our refuge and fortress? 

 

In the Holy Land, the host of a tent is obligated to provide refuge to someone who seeks his help from a pursuing enemy. His tent should be a place of refuge for the needy. We have been running here and there in the time of trouble. How trustworthy are the objects of our trust? Nothing is better than running to our God. He is our refuge. He will also protect us from the attack of the enemy. Whenever we have trouble, it is good for us to kneel before the Lord and call for His help. Let us hope in the Lord in the time of trouble. There is no safer place in the life-threatening conditions. He is good. He is merciful. As long as we are willing to turn from our idols unto Him, He is willing to protect us from all dangers. He is with us in all types of dangers in life. Let us call upon Him and prove His faithfulness in honouring His promises. “Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings” (Psalm 17:8).

 

Under His wings I am safely abiding;

Though the night deepens and tempests are wild,

Still I can trust Him – I know He will keep me;

He has redeemed me and I am His child.

 

Under His wings, under His wings,

Who from His love can sever?

Under His wings my soul shall abide,

Safely abide forever.

 

Under His wings, what a refuge in sorrow!

How the heart yearningly turns to His rest!

Often when earth has no balm for my healing,

There I find comfort and there I am blest.

 

Under His wings, O what precious enjoyment!

There will I hide till life’s trials are o’er;

Sheltered, protected, no evil can harm me;

Resting in Jesus I’m safe evermore.

 

- William Orcutt Cushing (1823-1902)

 

Pastor Lee Kim Shong