January 18 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Devotional

Have you ever watched a chicken or goose guard and protect her young? You have no idea how many chicks or goslings are under her wings until the mother decides to stand up and move! The Lord’s care and protection is frequently pictured as being either under or on wings. In Deuteronomy 32, His care is compared to that of an eagle hovering over its young. An eagle pushes her young out of the nest to teach them to fly. If they need help she flies below them, catches them on her wings, and carries the eaglets back to the nest. The Lord protects and cares for His people in a similar fashion.

That same image of protection is found in the Psalms. Speaking of God’s care Psalm 17:8 says, “Keep me as the apple of Your eye; Hide me under the shadow of Your wings.” Psalms 36 and 57 also speak of the children of God taking refuge in the shadow of the Lord’s wings. Psalm 91 promises that the Lord will cover His people with His wings.

What binds Ruth and Boaz together? Is it love at first sight? No, both Boaz, born and raised in a covenant family, and Ruth, coming from outside the covenant community, are under the shadow of the Lord’s wings. Unity in the true faith and being under the same blessings of the Lord bind them together. Their relationship is made subject to the coming of Christ. Through Boaz the Lord shows Ruth what it means to be under the wings of His protection. Ruth returns to her mother-in-law having seen the riches of the LORD and having been assured of covenant redemption.

As New Testament church we see a thousand times clearer what it means to be under the protective wings of the Lord. He cares for us through Christ our Redeemer. May it never be said to us what Christ said to the Jews, “How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” (Matthew 23:37) Blessed are the people who find shelter under God’s wings. Under His wings we can be confident and feel secure. He will keep us safe and will work all things to the good of those who love Him.