Divine Grace & ProtectionSample

FEATHER AND DOWN IN PERILOUS TIMES

In 2020 the world population will officially cross the 7.8 billion mark. 70 years ago in 1950 when we started counting the global population, it was 2.5 billion. 

For thousands and thousands of years, the world population slowly grew, maintaining a very low and steady incline to reach 2.5 billion people. 

Then something happened not long after 1950; exponential growth kicked in, the trajectory took a sharp upturn – in fact, almost straight up. As a result, we more than tripled the world’s population in just 70 years. 

Think about that for a moment. All of human history to steadily reach 2.5 billion and then in only 70 years, we have hit 7.8 billion. In that very same epoch of time, humanity has also made more technological advancements than in all other time periods combined. 

So what does all this mean? 

Simply put, the world is just not the same as it has always been for humanity. It’s very different. Different in many wonderful and positive ways, yet it is also different in some very disconcerting ways. Am I an alarmist? No. Yet, I have noticed, in my lifetime trends that echo Paul’s warnings to Timothy.  

2 Timothy 3:1-4 Amplified Bible (AMP)

Understand this, that in the last days dangerous (perilous) times [of great stress and trouble] will come [difficult days that will be hard to bear]. For people will be lovers of self [narcissistic, self-focused], lovers of money [impelled by greed], boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy and profane, [and they will be] unloving [devoid of natural human affection, calloused and inhumane], irreconcilable, malicious gossips, devoid of self-control [intemperate, immoral], brutal, haters of good, traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of [sensual] pleasure rather than lovers of God.

Firstly beloved, we ought never to be surprised by evil or suffering in this world. Jesus has told us plainly that in this world, we will face ‘trouble’, but He has also said to be happy because He has already overcome the world. 

In Psalm 91, we are also promised by God Himself, ‘I will be with YOU in trouble, and I will deliver YOU and honour YOU.’ 

This means that no matter how messed up the world gets around you, no matter how many pitfalls, snares, dangers, epidemics, diseases or terror is taking place near you, no matter how many arrows are fired directly at you and no matter how many plots are hatched against you, He is personally WITH YOU and He has quite literally GOT YOU! 

Think about the imagery in verse 4: 

He covers you with His feathers, and under His wings, you take refuge.

In my bedding in my home, I have what is called ‘feather and down’. Feathers are incredible in design and of course, form the outer covering of a bird; they make it possible for the animal to fly. Down lies beneath the protective feather covering of the bird. Down typically comes from the soft underside of the animal’s belly and provides insulation and warmth. Both feathers and down are combined to make some of the best and most comfortable bedding in the world today. Isn’t God a genius of design! 

Now, when we think of a refuge or a fortress, images of stone walls and military fortifications can easily come to mind. These places don’t make us think of comfort, and yet our ‘fortress’ is the living and loving God. He describes His place of ultimate protection like being permanently nestled in Him, between the feathers and the down. His secret place of fortress is not a harsh place of warfare but rather the ultimate experience of tender comfort and nurture.

Consider Isaiah 37:16.

O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, that dwells between the cherubim, you are the God, even you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth: you have made heaven and earth.

God Himself is described as a dwelling (or seated, same as Psalm 91:1) between the cherubim. The design of the Ark of the Covenant as outlined by God Himself had two cherubim facing the mercy seat with their wings outstretched and touching above it. This picture shows us God Himself seated on the place of His covenant – covered by wings. As God is, so are we! Seated in Christ, wrapped up in His love and comfort, seated and living beneath feathers.  

Beloved, surely we are called to a life of great purpose and exploit. Sadly, I have often heard preachers almost scolding believers saying that the enemy of Godly purpose is comfort. And yes, we will certainly need to endure hardship in our lives for Him. 

Yet even in such times and even as we fulfil destiny, our fortress in Him is not a harsh place like a military fortification. 

No, our Saviour is not calloused like the world is fast becoming. He is always tender with His beloved, and our place of true and perpetual rest is soft. He is mighty in protection and yet He provides us personally with the most sublime comfort and nurture available in the universe. ‘He covers you with His feathers, and under His wings, you take refuge.’ 

Beloved as you read Psalm 91 aloud again today, see yourself nestled in Him. Feel the warmth of His endless personal comfort. It is a comfort that need not be traded whilst fulfilling purpose or even as the world might give way to fear and terror. It is a comfort that is sustained even when all around you is harsh and dangerous. It is like being wrapped in feather and down, safe in bed on a dark and stormy night. It feels wonderful to be loved and protected by Jesus.

PSALM 91 PERSONALISED
TO READ AND DECLARE ALOUD

1. I dwell in the secret place of the Most High; therefore, I abide under the shadow of God Almighty.

2. The Lord God is my refuge and my fortress; He is my God, and in Him, I do trust with all my heart.

3. He surely delivers me from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence.

4. He covers me with His feathers, and under His wings, I take refuge. His truth is my shield and buckler.

5. I am not afraid of the terror by night nor of the arrow that flies by day,

6. Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.

7. A thousand may fall at my side and ten thousand at my right hand, but it shall not come near me.

8. Only with my eyes shall I look and see the reward of the wicked.

9. Because I have made the Lord God my refuge, even the Most High my dwelling place,

10. No evil shall befall me, nor shall any plague come near my dwelling;

11. He gives His angels charge over me; they keep me in all my ways.

12. In their hands, they lift me up, lest I strike my foot against a stone.

13. I tread upon the lion and the cobra; the young lion and the serpent I trample underfoot.

14. The Lord says to me, “Because you have set your love upon Me, therefore I will deliver you; I will set you on high because you have known My name.

15. You shall call upon Me, and I will answer you; I will be with you in trouble; I will deliver you and honour you.

16. With long life, I will satisfy and show you My salvation.”