Under His Wings
By David A. DePra
He that dwells in the secret place of the most High shall abide
under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, [He is] my refuge and
my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the
snare of the fowler, [and] from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with
his feathers, and under his wings shall thou trust: his truth [shall be thy]
shield and buckler. (Ps. 91:1-4)
Under the Levitical Priesthood in the OT, the HEM of the garment of the High
Priest was also referred to as the WINGS of the High Priest. Thus, to touch the
HEM of this garment was to come, “under His wings” – it was to come under the
protection, healing, preservation, and benefits of all that the High Priest
represents. This was a known symbolism. This is why the woman in the gospel with
the flow of blood sought to touch the Hem of the garment of Jesus. She
recognized that to touch the HEM of His garment would bring her UNDER HIS WINGS
– resulting in healing, and all that Psalm 91, 17, 36, 57, 61, and 63 promises.
But there is more – and it is revealed in the Tabernacle of God. The Tabernacle
of God that He commanded Moses to build – was an exact physical representation
of heavenly realities. The Tabernacle consisted of an outer court -- but also
had an enclosed, inner building, within which were various artifacts -- each of
which represented some dimension of Jesus Christ. This enclosed building was
further divided into two sections separated by a large VEIL. Within that veil –
out of the sight of everyone -- stood the Ark of the Covenant. This section was
called, “the Holy of Holies,” or, “The Most Holy Place.” It was where God
appeared. It was His presence. The mercy seat was where God met His people.
Because the, “Holy of Holies,” was hidden from everyone it was also referred to
as, “the secret place of the Most High.” Only the High Priest was allowed to
enter into the Holy of Holies, once a year, on The Day of Atonement. But on that
day the High Priest was to sprinkle blood on the MERCY SEAT – the mercy seat was
the lid of the Ark of the Covenant, upon which were two cherubim stood on each
end with their WINGS spread over the mercy seat and by extension the Ark. Thus,
to be UNDER HIS WINGS is to dwell – through spiritual oneness with our High
Priest, Jesus Christ -- in the secret place of the Most High. To dwell “Under
His Wings,” is to dwell in Jesus Christ as our home – as THE house of God – it
is to dwell in Christ as our LIFE.
If we gather all of this up we see a wonderful picture of Jesus Christ. To touch
the hem of His garment means to come under Jesus as our High Priest -- to dwell
UNDER HIS WINGS – to dwell in the secret place of the Most High -- under the
wings of the cherubim -- to abide in Christ as our house of God. “I will abide
in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings.” (Ps. 61:4)
I touched the hem of His garment
As He walked in my heart one day
I touched the hem of His garment
And what I saw I cannot say
I cannot say what I saw
For words cannot be mine
I touched the hem of His garment
And was touched by Love Divine
I touched the hem of His garment
under His wings I came
I touched the hem of His garment
AND was never again the same
Never was I the same again
Nor was Christ to me
For I touched the hem of His garment
AND the Savior I did see.