16. Under the Wings of God

A Meditation of Psalm 91

Psalm 91 is a beautiful psalm about the safety one enjoys with God. It abounds with metaphors.

Someone under the protection of God, the most high and the almighty, is fully safe. God is like a mother bird, and we are like the young birds.  This is an excellent example of a hidden (implied) metaphor. We often tend to miss such metaphors, and interpret them literally. One may even go to the extent of believing that God is a being with wings and feathers.

A young bird can easily be caught in a fowler’s snare. A fowler is a bird hunter, and snare is a trap. A trap appears attractive to a young bird, and it walks or flies toward it only to be caught in it. We often forget that all that glitters is not gold, and are often cheated by appearances. If we stay with God, we will be protected from such traps. A young bird can also easily die of a contagious disease. Away from God, our very existence is at stake; with God we are safe. Night is synonymous with terror, for a young bird doesn’t know what is hiding there to endanger its life. At day time, arrows fly in all directions from the fowlers. But day or night, one is safe with God. You will be surprised to see thousands perishing, and you remain safe.

Now, the metaphor changes. God is like the king of the world, and we are like God’s children, and Angels are God’s servants. While you walk, if your feet are going to inadvertently hit a stone, the angels of God will lift you up so that your feet will not hit the stone.  Even if you happen to walk upon a lion or a cobra, the angels will keep their mouths shut, and you will be safe.  

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