Wings
In the 60s, there was a short musical phenomenon called the Folk Song Era. There were popular record albums of groups like “Peter, Paul and Mary,” “Simon and Garfunkle,” and soloists like Joan Baez and Bob Dylan. Their themes sounded great: anti-war, free love, back to nature, peace, justice, simplicity, anti-establishment, and anti-government. It almost felt like something a Christian could be part of if you ignored the rebellious attitude and humanism. Other popular records were albums from the “Singing Nuns” and “Medical Mission Sisters.” But the words to their songs were different. One of our favorites had words like this:
How I have longed to draw you to myself, as when a hen covers her brood. But you went running like chicks in a storm, How could you know my wings were warm? How could you know my love pursued?
Come to me my Little One, and you will be refreshed, And I will give you rest.
God compared himself to a chicken? We had to use a concordance to look that one up. And we found it in Luke 13:34-35 and Matt. 23:37-38. Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem when he uttered these words:
Luke 13:34; Matthew 23:37 “
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, …how I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings…”
So often we run the wrong way. Like many of the Folk Song singers, we want to fix things our own way. There is a storm in the world, and we want desperately to do something about it. All the politicians claim they have the answer. Jesus says, “Run to me. This is where you will find protection, safety, and comfort.”
Of course, God has always claimed this. We find another “chicken” analogy in Psalm 91:
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty… He will cover you with His feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.”
Mother hens are very fierce in the protection of their little ones! They will attack you with their wings and pinions if you try to steal their chicks. God is fierce in His protection of us! Often, we see His hand of protection in our lives right away when something happens. Sometimes we don’t even realize that He was the one who took care of us until years later.
Many years ago, Pastor Boelkins started his sermon with this illustration: “God’s grace was really with me yesterday. I pulled into the intersection when the light turned green. But another driver ran the red light. We both slammed on our brakes and swerved, stopping with our bumpers an inch apart. I was so shook up that I had to pull to the side of the road for a while and just breathe. I thanked God for showing me his grace, and then I went home and told my wife, Grace, all about it. I told her, ‘God’s grace was really with me.’ She asked, ‘What if you had hit each other? What if the car was totaled and you were in the hospital? Would that mean God wasn’t with you?” Grace Boelkins’ question really made us think! Jesus comforted his disciples with these words from John 16:33:
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Another Wings illustration comes from Isaiah 40:28,31. Isaiah 40:28,31:
“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow weary, and his understanding no one can fathom… But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not faint.”