THE SHADOW OF THE ALMIGHTY

How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the SHADOW of Your wings – Psalm 36:7

“He that dwells in the secret place of the Most High, shall abide under the SHADOW of the Almighty” (Psa.91:1). In the contexts of both Psalms 36 and 91, the word ‘shadow’ denotes divine Protection. The overshadowing roof of a house shelters its dwellers from the blazing sun and the whirling storm. Under the shadow of her wings, the mother hen protects her trembling brood. In like manner, the glorious virtues of the Most High, the unclouded rays of His perfections, are as a Shadow of Defence to His covenant people. All believers are invited therein, but few have come to take shade and shelter!

“The shadow of Your wings” is the same as “the shadow of the Almighty”! It screens you from the smiting sun, and hides you from your stalking foes. Think of the weary pilgrim journeying through the scorching sand of life’s dreary deserts, heavy burdened, with wounded feet, fainting heart and raging thirst, on whose heels are cruel enemies with threatening gestures and odious words. At that moment, how comforting to the weary wanderer would be “the shadow of a great rock” with a clear, cool fountain gushing from its rugged clefts! That’s an imperfect illustration of the Shadow of the Almighty!

God is and has a shelter for His people. It is under His shadow; in the intimate proximity of His Presence. When we are in sweet communion with Him we enter into this special place where nothing evil can penetrate. The Shadow of the Almighty is the privileged retreat which no hostile foot may trespass, and where taking up your abode, you become safe and secure from the pursuit of the relentless enemies of your soul. The access into this secret place is the door of trust through which we gain fellowship with our Father, as we trust in His protection.

For the soul that is weary with wandering, crushed by care, and haunted by fear, the Almighty provides shelter and succour under the Shadow of His wings. How joyful to the soul is the sudden sight of the open portals of His friendly fortress. Beneath the shadow of this impregnable tower, the tired traveller may now rest secure from his toils and terrors! God is the Almighty in all respects, whether in shadow or in substance. The human shadow is empty, deceptive, and undependable, but not so the shadow of the Almighty God! The shadow of His wings is a guarantee of His Presence. When you put your trust therein, you will be satisfied with the fatness of His house; you’ll drink of the rivers of His pleasures; you’ll enjoy the Fountain of Life; in His Light you’ll see light; and you’ll partake perpetually of His loving-kindness (Psa.36:8-10).