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Ken and Jackie Marchetti's mother turkey protecting her chick
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge.
Psalm 91:1-4
A few weeks ago, I was leaving for the office when a magpie caught my attention. It was a white and black crow-like bird that was sitting on the white wooden railing in front of our home. He was like any other magpie-nothing special. What caught my attention was what it was looking at, or looking for. Under our porch covering, there are little nooks created by the woodwork and supports for the roof. They are nothing special, but for birds, they are the perfect shelter for a nest. Nearly every year we have robins that call the underside of our porch roof home. I don't know much about birds, but I do know that magpies are predators. I have seen magpies eating eggs, and videos of little birds in their powerful beaks. Though I cannot guarantee what that bird was doing, my theory is that it was hunting, looking for eggs or little chicks to devour- that’s what magpies do- they prey on the helpless. Simon Peter uses the example of a lion and warns “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8).
Satan does the same. We are helpless on our own, unable to care for ourselves flying around in our own sinful desires. The predator is waiting to pounce and when he does he grabs you with lies and deceit. “You are not really loved.” He whispers, “You are worthless.” He proclaims, “You are not good enough to be protected.” He lies. So we fly out of the nest on our own filled with powerless pride thinking God is not for us, that we do not need him. We believe we can handle everything on our own.
The Psalmist's advice? TAKE COVER!
Psalm 91 reminds us that the Lord Almighty provides shelter as a mother bird provides for her little chick. We have a safe place to take cover under the loving care of our Lord who protects us both now and forevermore. Thank you, Jesus.
See you Sunday, I can’t wait!
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