So close to His heart does Jehovah gather His loyal and faithful children that they feel the warmth of His love, and the responsive language of their hearts is, "I will abide in thy tabernacle"—under Thy protection—"forever"; "I will trust in the covert of thy wings; for thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong Tower from the enemy … for thou, O God, hast heard my vows"—my consecration—"thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name" (Psa. 61:4, 3, 5). "I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble" (Psa. 59:16).
The Laodicean saints are here addressed. A double picture is used to show their security, that of a hen covering her chicks from danger with her feathers, and that of an eagle protecting her young with her wings. The hen's feathers represent the Lord's providences, protecting us from some, and amid other experiences. The two wings of the eagle represent the Old and the New Testaments, whose main themes respectively are restitution, the Song of Moses, and the elective salvation, the Song of the Lamb. These truths are our protection. Thus the security of the saints is assured by the Word and providences of the Lord.
Gen. 15:1; Psa. 112:7; 121:6; 124:2, 3, 7; 141:9; 146:5, 6; Num. 23:19; Deut. 32:10-12; Isa. 43:2; Matt. 23:37; 2 Tim. 4:18; Prov. 3:21, 23, 24.
