source (Bing)"He will cover you with his feathers. Under his wings you will take refuge. His faithfulness is your shield and rampart." Psalms 91:4 (World English Bible)
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!" ~ Luke 13:34 NIVAs an older parent whose daughters are now adults, how many times I have thought of these verses. I have recalled them when I wanted to shelter my children from despair, from hurts, from disappointments and failures, from criticism, injustice or any hateful thing that came their way. But how many times did I quote this verse to them when they were children, or even now as they are adults? Not once that I can remember.
And for that I grieve - that I did not take the time to use those teaching opportunities to share God's love with them. Now I only ask that the Father cover me with His forgiveness, and allow me to go forth in confidence.
The verse was in reference to Jerusalem, and can be read following the break:
(source here)Matthew 23:3737O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!O Jerusalem, Jerusalem -1. It is evident that our blessed Lord seriously and earnestly wished the salvation of the Jews.2. That he did every thing that could be done, consistently with his own perfections, and the liberty of his creatures, to effect this.3. That his tears over the city, Luke 19:41, sufficiently evince his sincerity.4. That these persons nevertheless perished. And5. That the reason was, they would not be gathered together under his protection: therefore wrath, i.e. punishment, came upon them to the uttermost.From this it is evident that there have been persons whom Christ wished to save, and bled to save, who notwithstanding perished, because they would not come unto him, John 5:40. The metaphor which our Lord uses here is a very beautiful one. When the hen sees a beast of prey coming, she makes a noise to assemble her chickens, that she may cover them with her wings from the danger. The Roman eagle is about to fall upon the Jewish state - nothing can prevent this but their conversion to God through Christ-Jesus cries throughout the land, publishing the Gospel of reconciliation - they would not assemble, and the Roman eagle came and destroyed them. The hen's affection to her brood is so very strong as to become proverbial. The following beautiful Greek epigram, taken from the Anthologia, affords a very fine illustration of this text.
