#DailyDevotion Seek The Shadow Of The Wings Of The LORD Always
Psalm 57 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me because in You my life finds protection. I take cover in the shadow of Your wings until the threat of destruction passes by. 2I call to God, the Most High, Who does things for me. 3He sends help from heaven and saves me from the slander of him who hounds me. God sends His mercy and His faithfulness.
David writes this psalm while hiding from Saul in a cave. When David writes many of these psalms, his life is truly on the line. We may feel that way sometimes, but I would guess when we’re praying them, we only feel that way. Not that what we are experiencing isn’t troubling, it is just we are not going to die from what is troubling us if God doesn’t seem to answer.
David appeals to the LORD as many sick person appealed to Jesus, “Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me…” You can hear the trouble person in the crowds, “Son of David, have mercy upon me!” They repeat it often until they get Jesus’ attention. To be merciful is to help someone who does not deserve it. It is to fix something that is broken. So in many Church liturgies, we sing, “Lord have mercy upon us. Christ have mercy upon us. Lord have mercy upon us.” We join with David in asking for mercy because only in the LORD do our lives find protection.
David takes cover in the shadow of the Almighty’s wings until the threat passes over. This language may come from the canopy the LORD put over the Israelites while they traveled in the wilderness, to protect them from the sun. This theme of finding refuge in the wings of the LORD paints Him as a mother hen, sometimes mother eagle, whose wings keep us from the dangers around us. If the LORD didn’t put us under the refuge of His wings, we would be easy pickings for predators. But as it is, He does cover us with His wings as we put our trust in Him.
David calls upon God who does things for him. The LORD has sent help to David from heaven time and again. He has seen how the LORD has rescued him from his enemies. This time in the cave hiding from Saul is not the first time the LORD would save David from being killed by Saul. David believes God will send him mercy and faithfulness as he waits upon the LORD. We can be certain, as our trust is in Jesus the LORD will have mercy upon us.
He will answer our prayers and show us His steadfast love. Often though, I think we don’t recognize it. I don’t know what we are looking for. God has often sent to us the answer to our prayers and we don’t recognize it. True, His answer may not be exactly what we were asking for because what we were asking for was not good for us or others if answered exactly like we wanted. But the LORD certainly has answered our prayers. Even when our prayers are answered exactly like we wanted, we quickly forget it was God who did it and we chalk it up to chance.
Let us be like David. Let us pray this with David not only when times are rough but recognize every day, every time we eat, have clothes, have shelter, have family and friends, when we have not been violently attacked, robbed and the like God has had mercy upon us and shown us His steadfast love. Pray the Kyrie (Lord have mercy) regularly, trusting the LORD will hide you in the shadow of His wings from your enemies, trials and tribulations. Every day ask God’s help and protection, ask His mercy and steadfast love be sent down upon you and your situations. Believe He has sent it and give Him thanks and praise.
Heavenly Father, today and every day, have mercy upon us, show us Your steadfast love, hide us in the shadow of Your wings that the evil one will not be able to touch us, through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our LORD, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit. Amen.