What Does it Mean That We Will Have ‘Refuge Under His Wings’ in The Bible

What does shelter in his wings mean in the Bible? God is often compared to animals such as sheep, lions and birds. He promises his children in Psalms 4:91 that he will give them a “shelter under his wings”. But what kind of shelter is this shelter and what are these “wings” in our spiritual reality?

Three translations and a little Hebrew Bible

He spreads his wings over you and keeps you safe (Contemporary English Version).
He Shelters You With His Wings (New Living English Translation).
Under his wings you trust (standard literal translation).

Each of these translations have the same meaning despite the different sentence structure and choice of words. Every original version uses the word “wings” and most choose “shelter”, although CEV says he will keep you “safe” and LST uses “trust”.

The Hebrew word “chasah” means “to take refuge” or trust and hope in someone or something. “Wings” is actually the word “kanaph” which means “skirt” or “edges” in Hebrew.

Why did the translators choose an animalistic metaphorical style instead of imagining God as an ordinary human being with clothes that can be sheltered under? At the beginning of Psalm 91, the word “feather” refers to birds.

Also, the psalmist says that God “will deliver you from the snare of the fisherman” (verse 3). The translators chose “wings” instead of clothes to preserve this metaphor.

Although the bird seems weak compared to the prowling wolf or lion (Satan), God’s protective presence is powerful and reliable. He is like “an eagle that stirs up its nest, pounces on its chicks, spreads its wings, catches them” (Deuteronomy 32:11-12).

Believers become like their Savior, for He “satisfies you with goodness, that your youth may be renewed like the eagle’s” (Psalms 5:103).

Believers in Christ will overcome pain, oppression and sin and will rise above their circumstances like majestic birds: “Those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength; They rise with wings like eagles; They run and don’t get tired; They will walk and not faint” (Isaiah 31:40). The wolf remains, but is trapped on land.

True sanctuary according to the Bible

However, physical salvation is not God’s intention, but spiritual salvation. John Piper asked, “What does it mean to live in the shadow of the Almighty if you are also killed in the shadow of the Almighty?”

He explained that “dwelling in the shadow of Ali Al-Ala and keeping yourself in God’s love means trusting in God’s love, God’s wisdom, and God’s power to protect you from anything that can destroy you completely.” Destruction here does not mean physical destruction but rather crushing a person’s spirit.

God may allow a person to die in his service, for his glory, but if this person lives his life not occasionally but constantly near God, he will find a refuge from temptation, a way out when he feels pressured to He sins.

He responds more gently to conflict and takes a more godly view of everything and everyone in his life.

The Christian is close to the Father now and will not be taken from him after his death. While the Old Testament compares God’s spiritual protection to the wings of an eagle, the New Testament shows us that the true protection is the blood of Jesus. “Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven and whose sins are covered” (Romans 4:7).

If God wanted His children to be safe from danger, hidden behind strong and suitable wings, they would never suffer; However, they have suffered and will continue to suffer. (Holy book)

What God provides in the midst of conflict is a refuge from the futility of being away from Him in the midst of conflict.

Believers cling to Jesus with the power and presence of the Holy Spirit; For “For ye are dead, and your life is hid with God in Christ.” When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory” (Colossians 3:3-4). We will soar with Jesus, as if on eagle’s wings.

Exalting from the sin of others in the Bible

Eagle imagery represents strength, freedom, rising from temptation to personal sin, as well as rising from the sin of others. This is not some form of self-righteous superiority.

To rise in this way is to choose to focus on both the triumphs of the resurrected Christ and the virtues that Christ embodied not only in everyday life but also in life’s most difficult moments.

When Stephen faced stoning, he refused to hate his enemies or deny Christ. “And when they were stoning him, Stephen cried out and said, Lord Jesus, accept my soul, and kneeling down, he cried out in a loud voice, Lord, do not take this sin on them, and when he said this, he fell asleep” (Acts of the Apostles) 7:54-60).

He went beyond the torture of being stoned and the curse of his persecutors. Stephen was pointing to his savior the whole time he was being killed.

Saving one’s soul is more important than temporary comfort, yet John Gale explains that God also “comforts His children in their afflictions.”

Even at the end of his life, when he should have cried out in agony, God caused Stephen to sleep.

God’s refuge was so real and full of peace that Stephen died in complete peace. His soul was free to worship and stop hating. His body was crushed, but his spirit soared.

Today in the article : What Does it Mean That We Will Have ‘Refuge Under His Wings’ in The Bible? We reviewed useful information about the Bible and the way of Jesus. If you wish, you can view other articles of Ali Vahidi about Christianity