Name: REFUGE
Prayer and Meditation: Psalm 17:7b-8, Psalm 61:2b-4, Psalm 91:1-4, John 8:31b, 51
“By Your mighty power You rescue those who seek refuge . . . Guard me . . . Hide me in the shadow of Your wings.” Psalm 17:7b-8
“Lead me to the towering rock of safety, for You are my safe refuge . . . Let me live forever in Your sanctuary, safe beneath the shelter of Your wings!” Psalm 61:2b-4
“Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; He is my God and I trust Him. For He will rescue you . . . He will cover you with His feathers. He will shelter you with His wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.” Psalm 91:1-4
These scriptures tell us that we find rest in God as our Refuge,
when we “live in the shelter of the Most High”
“in the shadow of the Almighty”
being covered “with His feathers”
sheltered “under His wings”
Various forms (nouns, verbs, etc.) of the original Hebrew words and their various (action, concrete, or abstract) root definitions unveil an abundance of meaning. The various Hebrew words referring to “wings” include:
The feathers of a bird (like a dove) who is strengthened by eating the grain/seed that supplies plenty of strength, particularly when weak, fatigued, weary, thirsty, about to faint (as Jesus is The Word, The Seed and Bread of Life)
Great strength, mighty power (as in Almighty, Most High, The Rock)
The “wings” of a garment; fringes, tassels on the prayer shawl, that represent God’s laws/teachings/Word.
A covering that
creates a shadow
hides, as a mother bird hides its young under her wings (for their protection, refuge)
Surely, delivering us from death can rightly be considered our ultimate and greatest Refuge found in our Savior, The Resurrected Christ/The Living Word. Consider His own words at the beginning and end of John 8:31b-51. Surely His Words are in agreement with, and fulfillment of, His teachings in the Psalms scriptures about The Lord being our Refuge:
“You are truly my disciples IF you remain faithful to My teachings. . . I tell you the Truth, anyone who obeys my teaching will never die.” John 8:31b, 51
And so we pray:
Prayer – Holy Spirit, teach us to live in the shelter of The Most High, to dwell in the shadow of The Almighty, covered and sheltered under His wings. Help us to fully know, trust, obey Your Living Word/Jesus Christ; that we may love, serve, bless and please You – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – and give You all the glory, praise, honor and thanksgiving You deserve. Yes, Lord! Let it be so! Amen and Amen!