In a recent dream, I was having a family gathering of some kind in my backyard. I cannot recall what happened next, but everyone had to leave abruptly. The people were hastily gathering their belongings. As I held the gate open to see everyone out, something strange happened. The last one to leave was a mother hen, trying to gather her chicks. The chicks however would not run to her. Some ran ahead of her. Some scrambled in all different directions. She extended her wings, ruffling them and clucking, but the chicks would not come to her. The hen left and eventually they followed her, however they were not under her wings. When I woke up, I was bothered by the part about mother hen. Though it was a small dream, it led me to pray and search the Bible.

View Comments (16)

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me. (Mt 23:37)

The entirety of Matthew 23 is a stern rebuke from Jesus about the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. 

He rebukes them about them about their outer show of “righteousness,” but the true condition of their inner heart was impure and filthy. They never practiced what they preached, nor did they really trust in God. They trusted in their works and righteousness. Jesus then laments over the nation, comparing Himself to a mother hen who gathers her chicks for protection, but they wouldn’t let Him. Jesus wept as He foresaw the judgement coming to the nation He loved. He wept for those who rejected Him, His message, and the gift of eternal life He was offering to them.

I grew up on a large ranch with my grandparents, so I know a bit about the farm life. We had a very large chicken coop with well over 50 hens and roosters. I always loved watching mother hens brooding over their chicks. Wherever the mother was, the chicks were always nearby. They never wandered far. I learned that hens gather their chicks when they sense danger. Mother hen will cluck and the chicks will immediately run and gather under her wings for safety. She will bravely sacrifice her own life, all for her chicks. Anyway, this dream painted a picture that I feel is relevant for us today.

By using the analogy of a hen and her chicks the Lord illustrates this truth. The hen offers protection as long as the chicks remain very near or hide under her wings. The minute they venture off, they become vulnerable prey to numerous predators waiting to snatch them up. Hens often have a large brood of chicks. Because there are so many, rather than chase down her chicks, the hen will spread her wings, fluff her feathers, and give clucks calling them to her. They recognize her sound and come running to her safety. Let’s apply this to ourselves.

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. (Ps 91:1)

Let’s take a deeper look at this very familiar Psalm and promise of protection. 

The Hebrew word for dwell is yō·šêḇ. It means to reside, inhabit, sit, draw near, seek, and abide. 

The word for secret place is bə·sê·ṯer. It means to be hidden or covered.

The word for shadow is bə·ṣêl. It means shelter, protection, defence. 

The word for rest is nuach. It means remain, settle, wait quietly, comfort, to lodge or sleep.

Here are two interesting facts about this word. Nuach is also pronounced nuah’. This is where we get the name Noah. Noah means comfort. Noah was a sign to the people during his time and a promise of protection and comfort to those who got in the ark.

Nuach also means sleep. For most people sleep comes when we are most at ease. The Greek word in the NT is katheudo. It has a similar meaning as nuach. It means to lie down, rest, to sleep.  I think of Jesus asleep in the boat while the disciples are toiling and trying to control the boat during a great tempest (Mt 8:24). How could Jesus sleep while the disciples were in such a panic? He lived in the shadow of the Almighty.

When you meditate on these words, it could be translated as this. Whoever lives or remains in the Most High will be hidden with Him. You will find both comfort and protection in His presence.

God invites us to be dwellers in the shadow of the Almighty. He longs for us to draw near to Him. The responsibility to accept the invitation is completely up to you.

Psalm 91 paints the picture of warfare and unforeseen danger all around. However, it promises safety and rest in the secret place with the Lord. When we abide in God’s shadow, we find comfort. We find deliverance. We find covering. All the protection we will ever need is only found in Him. The one condition for every believer is this. The secret place is non-negotiable for us. We cannot simply have visitations with His presence. God desires habitation. He wants us to remain. He wants us to abide. He wants us to live here, not just visit when we’re in crisis.

The Benson Commentary puts it this way. “He that makes God his habitation and refuge as he is called, has recourse to him, relies on him in danger and difficulties, has access to him, intercourse with him, and worships within the veil. Living a life of constant communion with Him.”

What a beautiful thought! This commentary mentions relying on God in difficulties. God is plan A when in trouble, there is no plan B. It says we have access. Thank you Jesus for making a way for us to access the secret place daily.  It says we have intercourse with Him. This is the biblical word “know” as Adam knew his wife. It paints a picture of two becoming one, a divine union, or  living In constant communion with Him. This is available for us. We can and should live in constant communion with Him. No other god or other religion permits this.

Will you accept His invitation?

Just as the mother hen will lay her life down for her chicks, Jesus already laid His life down on the cross. He arose the victor! There is no safer place to be in perilous times than in the shadow of His wings. When we abide in the secret place with Him, we can be secure no matter what dangers come. We can be at rest because we are hidden with Him. (Col 3:3)

Though I don’t know what is coming next, I do believe that God is offering His Church an invitation. First, an invitation to self examination. He does not want us to be like the Pharisees who were professional hypocrites. They said all the “right things”. They were excellent tithers, but neglected justice and mercy. They worked hard on their outer appearance, but Jesus saw through the facade and called out their hearts full of greed, self righteousness, and self indulgence. Their hearts couldn’t have been further from the truth. (Mt 15:8)

We must ask the Lord to examine us from the inside out and repent when He exposes things. There may even be things that you aren’t even aware of, but He is. If we want to be where He is, He asks for clean hands and a pure heart. This is where repentance comes in.

Who, then, is allowed to ascend the mountain of Yahweh?  And who has the privilege of entering into God’s Holy Place? Those who are clean—whose works and ways are pure, whose hearts are true and sealed by the truth, those who never deceive, whose words are sure. (Ps 24:3,4 TPT)

The Bible talks about a great falling away. This is not a time to shrink back or run from God, but to run to Him. In the past few months, we have seen drastic changes in our nation and we do not know what to expect next, but we can find rest when we are in the secret place with Him. Just as Jesus longed to draw His people to Himself, I believe that is what He desires from His Church now. He is longing for His people to draw near again.

Let us draw near with true hearts full of faith, with hearts rinsed clean of any evil conscience, and with bodies cleansed with pure water. (Heb 10:22 VBT)

Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. (Jas 4:8 NLT)

Lord, I thank You that You are calling us to draw near. Thank You for the safety that is only found in Your presence. I ask You Lord to examine my heart and remove any and everything in me that offends You. Search my heart, my thoughts, and put me to the test. Create in me a clean heart and create a steadfast spirit within me. I accept the invitation to be where You are. I don’t want to just know about You, I need to know You personally more now than I ever have. Teach me how to live in constant communion with You now and every day of my life in Jesus’ name, amen.

Here are a few other Bible verses that talk about the benefits of God being your hiding place:

Keep me as the apple of the eye; Hide me in the shadow of Your wings. (Ps 17:8)

For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle; In the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock. (Ps 27:5)

You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah. (Ps 32:7)

You are my hiding place and my shield; I wait for Your word. (Ps 119:114)

Have you found time to rest in the Lord’s presence? Share what has been helpful to you.