Message Notes

DML 31 December 2020
Title: “Under the shadow of Your wings”

Texts: Psalm 17:8; Psalm 36:7; Psalm 57:1; Psalm 61:4; Psalm 63

INTRODUCTION

1. Looking back at 2020

a) With gratitude for God’s mercy

b) With appreciation for God’s grace

2. Looking forward to 2021: “The shadow of God’s Wings’

a) The focus is on God

b) A number of features may be highlighted

BEGINNING THE NEW YEAR WITH A WORD OF PRAYER

6 I have called upon You, for You will hear me, O God;
Incline Your ear to me, and hear my speech.
7 Show Your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand,
O You who save those who trust in You
From those who rise up against them.
8 Keep me as the apple of Your eye;
Hide me under the shadow of Your wings,

Psalm 17:6-8

1. Calling on God in prayer

a) Let this be a natural response of the heart

b) Let wisdom draw us to seek God in prayer

2. Calling on God to Protect

“Hide me under the shadow of Your wings” Psalm 17:8b

a) Problems lie ahead for the world

b) Personal challenges will need to be faced too

c) The Protection of the Lord must be sought

EXERCISING TRUST IN THE LORD

5 Your mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens;
Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
6 Your righteousness is like the great mountains;
Your judgments are a great deep;
O LORD, You preserve man and beast.
7 How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God!
Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings.
8 They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house,
And You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures.
9 For with You is the fountain of life;
In Your light we see light.

Psalm 36:5-9

1. Trusting in God because of His divine attributes

a) We may trust God fully

b) The character of God is a proven one

2. Trusting In the protection of God

Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings
Psalm 36:7b

a) The imagery of a parent-bird is powerful

b) It portrays vividly how God will protect His own

HOPING IN THE MERCY OF THE LORD

1 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me!
For my soul trusts in You;
And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge,
Until these calamities have passed by.
2 I will cry out to God Most High,
To God who performs all things for me.
3 He shall send from heaven and save me;
He reproaches the one who would swallow me up. Selah
God shall send forth His mercy and His truth.

Psalm 57:1-3

1. Hope in the Mercy of the Lord

a) The mercy of God is truly vast

b) It is incalculably huge

2. Making the Wings of God as our refuge

And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge Psalm 57:1c

a) Ultimately, we have to make this a personal choice

b) This is the wisest decision ever

ABIDING IN THE SHELTER OF GOD

1 Hear my cry, O God;
Attend to my prayer.
2 From the end of the earth I will cry to You,
When my heart is overwhelmed;
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
3 For You have been a shelter for me,
A strong tower from the enemy.
4 I will abide in Your tabernacle forever;
I will trust in the shelter of Your wings. Selah

Psalm 61:1-4

1. God has given us a Tabernacle to abide in

a) The Lord will be our perfect Shelter

b) He will be our strong tower

2. We must continue to trust in the shelter of God’s wings

a) To continue to trust is logical

b) There is no greater protection than that which God gives

REJOICING IN THE SHELTER OF GOD’S WINGS

6 When I remember You on my bed,
I meditate on You in the night watches.
7 Because You have been my help,
Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice.
8 My soul follows close behind You;
Your right hand upholds me.

Psalm 63:6-8

1. God has been our help

a) Let us recall what God has done

b) Let us never forget what we have experienced

2. Our challenge is to rejoice in shadow of God’s wings

a) There is no need to lose our joy in the Lord

b) There is every reason to be confident as we face the New Year

THE SHADOW OF GOD’S WINGS

The Lord our God has given us Salvation;

In His mercy, He offers great Protection.

His protection is described as “Wings;”

In this word, our Soul may rejoice and sing.

God will keep us as the apple of His eye;

All the blessings we need, He will supply.

We may turn to Him and be fully assured;

That the children of God would be protected.

Our part is to believe in God’s promise;

That our prayers He will kindly receive.

Let us learn to exercise a deeper trust;

Therein is wonderful and true Blessedness!

A wonderful Tabernacle has been given;

There we will meet with the God of Heaven.

Let us rejoice and offer to Him thanksgiving;

Let us trust in the shadow of God’s Wings;

Charles Tan

Psalms 17:8; 36:6; 57:1; 61:4; 63:7