Tim Maas Supporter Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

I would say that it was because of the vivid mental picture that it would evoke in those reading the psalm through the use of a familiar metaphor of a bird sheltering her young (who are both small and defenseless) against danger by covering them with her wings, which the psalmist likened to the protection that God provides to His followers based on the relative helplessness of humans in comparison to God. (Jesus used the same imagery in weeping over Jerusalem in Matthew 23:37 and Luke 13:34.)

July 02 2020 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jack Gutknecht Supporter Arizona Bible College graduate and Dallas Seminary graduate

The psalmist compares God to a bird, particularly in Psalm 91:4 ("He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge") and Psalm 124:8 ("Our help is in the name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth"), to illustrate God's protective care, refuge, and deliverance.

1. Protection and Refuge (Psalm 91:4)

The image of God covering His people with His wings is drawn from birds, particularly mother birds sheltering their young under their wings. This evokes safety, warmth, and intimacy—a place of security where no predator can harm them.

In biblical times, birds like hens or eagles were known for fiercely protecting their chicks, sometimes even at the cost of their own lives. This reflects God's sacrificial love and willingness to shield His people.

This imagery is also echoed by Jesus in Matthew 23:37, pp Luke 13:34 where He longs to gather Jerusalem like a hen gathers her chicks, emphasizing God’s desire to protect and care for His people.

2. Deliverance from Traps (Psalm 124:8)

While Psalm 124:8 doesn’t directly use bird imagery, Psalm 124:7 (the verse before) does: "We have escaped like a bird from the fowler’s snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped."

This portrays God as the one who frees His people from danger, much like a bird escaping from a trap.

The "fowler’s snare" represents hidden dangers, temptations, or enemy plots—things that can entangle and destroy. But God intervenes, breaking the trap and granting freedom.

3. A Personal, Close Relationship

Unlike metaphors like "rock" or "fortress," the bird imagery conveys a gentler, more intimate aspect of God's care.

It emphasizes closeness, warmth, and tenderness, showing that God’s protection is not just about power but also about personal, loving care.

Conclusion

The psalmist uses the bird imagery to highlight both God’s protective refuge (Psalm 91:4) and His deliverance from danger (Psalm 124:7-8). It’s a powerful way of showing that God is both strong and tender—our ultimate shelter and Savior.

February 13 2025 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jeffrey Johnson Supporter

Why did the psalmist compare God to a bird? (Psalm 91:4)
Context, Psalm 91:3-4

"For he will deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover thee with his pinions, And under his wings shalt thou take refuge: His truth is a shield and a buckler." ESV

The psalmist compared God to a bird in Psalm 91:4 to vividly illustrate His tender, nurturing, and fiercely protective care. Using the imagery of a mother bird covering her young with her wings (or feathers), the passage highlights that God provides a safe refuge, warmth, and defence for His people in times of fear or danger. 

Similar to a mother bird guarding her defenceless chicks from predators or harsh weather, God is depicted as actively protecting His people from harm.

Being under "His wings" represents finding a place of close, personal comfort, rest, and safety.

While the image is gentle, it also signifies a powerful, impenetrable, and constant defence.

The secret place of the Most High," mentioned by the psalmist, is thus a figurative place of spiritual protection. In it, those who lodge with God as his guests are safe from anything and anyone that threatens their faith and their love for God. (Ps. 15:1, 2; 121:5) It is a secret place because unbelievers cannot discern it.

This questionreminds me of a situation that happened years ago. There had been a massive forest fire, and after it was put out, the firefighters patrolled the area for severe damage and found which animal life had been destroyed. The firefighter noticed, at the base of a badly scorched tree, a bundle of burned waste, and as he kicked it out, 6 little chicks ran out.

The burned waste was the chick's mother; she had gathered them under her wings to protect them. This was "Sacrificial Love" and in nature, a mother bird may face injury or even death to protect her young from a predator, reflecting the "fierce love" and ultimate protection God provides. 

This Psalm reminds me of that account, highlighting that under the wings of the protection of God, nothing can harm us. And that reminded me that for a baby bird, there is no safer place on earth than under the wing of the parent.

This metaphor is a common biblical theme for God's protection, often associated with the nurturing care of a mother bird or the strength of an eagle. 

This verse also emphasises the Lord's faithfulness to those who trust in Him. The word "shield" refers to a larger item which covers much of a soldier's body. This is a common part of ancient armour (Ephesians 6:16). A "buckler" is a small shield, often worn on the forearm. This is rendered in translations such as the ESV and KJV from the Hebrew sō'hē'rāh, which can also be translated as a "bulwark": a mound of earth raised around a defensive position.

1 day ago • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report