Dwell | PsalmsSample

Hide Me Under the Shadow of Your Wings

Introduction

Hi, this is Peter, and welcome to Dwell.

For the next few minutes, I invite you to join me as we re-center upon the Lord by opening our hearts to hear from him through the words of Scripture.

Thanks for joining us.

Silence

As we begin, let's sit in silence for a moment, seeking to be attentive to the presence of God, the one in whom we live and move and have our being.

Passage

Allow me to read for us Psalm 17:3-9. This is a confident prayer that David spoke to God, knowing Him to be his protector and defense.

You have tested my heart; You have visited me in the night; You have tried me and have found nothing; I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress. Concerning the works of men, By the word of Your lips, I have kept away from the paths of the destroyer. Uphold my steps in Your paths, That my footsteps may not slip. I have called upon You, for You will hear me, O God; Incline Your ear to me, and hear my speech. Show Your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand, O You who save those who trust in You From those who rise up against them. Keep me as the apple of Your eye; Hide me under the shadow of Your wings, From the wicked who oppress me, From my deadly enemies who surround me. (NKJV)

Exhortation

Nearly this entire Psalm of David’s is a supplication—meaning an earnest prayer, a pleading, with humility, for God to vindicate him, and protect him until he ultimately sees God’s face.

Through the entire book of Psalms, we can learn how to nurture a zeal for prayer in our own lives. God will hear us during those disastrous nights, that are filled with discouragement. It’s not that we have enough holiness, it’s that God has given his mercy in advance so that when we plead with him, he is able to accept our prayers.

Here, David asks God to keep his steps on the right path and to keep his feet from slipping. Even more so for us today, the path of holiness God has called us to walk on, it’s impossible, without the strength and wisdom offered to us, and we sure can count on our feet slipping off the path on a regular basis.

You know, there have been times in my life when I’ve called out to God with a sense of guilt and remorse, wondering if I’ve crossed some invisible line, where even God wouldn’t forgive me. These thoughts are in regular rotation with the enemy of our souls, who bombards us with these lies. According to Isaiah, out of all the people since the beginning of the age, Christ alone “did not sin, nor was there any deceit found in his mouth. We should take solace, knowing that God has a never-ending stream of mercy and grace for all people. And in the person of Jesus Christ, we learn that forgiveness and love are God’s response to those who ask forgiveness and plead with him for mercy.

Like David, we will see God face-to-face in the life to come. In the meantime, we plead that God would protect us as the apple of his eye and that he hide us under the shadow of his wings. More grand than a protective eagle guarding their young, God promises to protect and keep us on his path. Let’s grasp that outstretched hand today.

Active Response

Now, I'd like to invite you to turn this Psalm into a short breath prayer.

In the silence of your heart, say: “Keep me as the apple of your eye,” breathing in as you do. Then, again a silent prayer, say: “Hide me under the shadow of your wings," and breathe out.

Take 30 seconds to do that now, offering this prayer as a gift to Christ:

Keep me as the apple of your eye.
Hide me under the shadow of your wings.

Begin now.

Closing Prayer

Let’s pray with confidence, knowing God hears us and promises to be our protector and defense.

Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever, amen.

Outro

Now, go in peace, and let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.