God’s Mighty Wings of Protection

Scripture Lessons

Jeremiah 26:8-15

Psalm 4

Philippians 3:17-4:1

Luke 13:31-35

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it!” This is the moniker that Jerusalem had earned. After many generations, the city had a long history of killing the prophets, the messengers of God. You saw the response of the people to Jeremiah the prophet. “This man deserves the sentence of death, because he has prophesied against this city.” Jeremiah, along with all true prophets of God, brought the message of God to the people. That is to say, “repent and mend your ways, return to the Lord Your God and perhaps He will relent of the coming disaster.” In response to this ongoing message, the overarching history of Israel was their rejection of the prophets. God reached out in love to gather them back unto His word, but they rejected the servants of God and ultimately rejected God Himself.

Frank Sinatra sang of “New York, New York, that city that doesn’t sleep.” In this case, it’s “Jeruslaem, Jerusalem, that city that kills the prophets.”

Jesus didn’t need to read the morning paper to know what was going on. He didn’t need to turn on the news, listen to the pundits, to see where His future lay. He saw clearly that He must enter Jerusalem, He must not flee from the murderous Herod, or from the people that would receive Him one day and reject Him the next. This is the way it must be in Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets, the city that stones the ones sent to it. This is the city of destiny and His destiny, which is ever before Him, is suffering and death on the cross.

So, how does God incarnate respond in such a situation? “How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not wiling!” Even in the face of betrayal and murder, He has compassion on the people of Jerusalem. He would gather them under His mighty wing of protection, it is not He that is unwilling! It is the people that are unwilling.

Perhaps this strikes you as foolish, unwise. Indeed, we know that they should have trusted in Christ, rather than crucify Him. But are we any better? Do you place your trust in God to provide for you in all circumstances?

Finances: “I have some money. I’ll save some and I’ll give some.” That’s good, but how much? How do you steward those resources and does that stewardship reflect trust in God as the provider of all things? In other words, 100% of your finances belong to God and are entrusted to you to steward. Is that how you live your life of financial stewardship?

Relationships: “I will treat everyone with respect and will expect to also be treated with respect.” That’s fair, but what if you are disrespected? Does that mean you can dish it right back to them? “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32. That’s a tall order. Do you strive to be faithful to this word of God? Perhaps you are disrespected by coworkers, neighbors, children, friends. Will it make it better if you offer insult for insult? Of course not, and yet that’s what we are so prone to do. And this escalates and goes out of control.

Health: “I always thank God for my good health.” That’s good and we should all do that. But what do we do when we don’t have good health? When there is disease threatening our way of life or life itself? Will you continue to trust in God?

In all of these circumstances and any other circumstances you can think of, God’s disposition toward you is the same, “How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings.” The Lord is gracious and merciful, loving you with a steadfast love that is seen vividly and explicitly in the suffering and death of the cross. Today and tomorrow Jesus cures disease and casts out demons, but on the third day He would finish His course. In His suffering and death, Christ has vicariously satisfied all of your sins. God has brought salvation to all people through the shed blood of Christ. In His resurrection, God has justified the sacrifice of Christ for your sins.

This means that you are free to trust God in 100% of situations. Family trouble…trust in God. Facing deadly cancer…trust in God. Lost your job…trust in God. Death of your beloved…trust in God. In all things, trust in God and you will receive the peace that passes all understanding.

Practically speaking, this is what we do with the words of Martin Luther’s morning and evening prayers.

Morning: I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.

Evening: I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have graciously kept me this day; and I pray that You would forgive me all my sins where I have done wrong, and graciously keep me this night. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.

“Into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things.” In this prayer we confess to God that we are held in His care. We despair of self-preservation and instead entrust our preservation to God. When I close my eyes, I trust that I will fall asleep and then I will awaken in the morning by God’s mercy, having been preserved throughout the night in safety and health. Or, I close my eyes, never to open them again in this earthly life. And yet, in the midst of that possibility, I confess that God still cares for me because He cares for me in life and in death. He cares for the ones that I care for in my life and in my death. In life, He works through me to care for my wife and children. In death, He will work through others to care for them. We, my beloved, are called to this faith and are invited to put our trust completely in God. In your baptism, you have come under the mighty wing of His protection. He will never forsake you.

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.