Shadow At Noonday

There is a beautiful picture painted in the Book of Isaiah that speaks of a shadow. In Chapter 16:3, as Moab is falling under severe judgment because of sin, Isaiah pleads with the Moabites (descendants of Lot) to go to Judah for comfort in their hour of great trial. He pleads with Moab to say to Judah ~


" ...make thy shadow as the night in the midst of the noonday..."


When the heat of the day is at its zenith, the fire of the sun burns brightest, like a shadow of the night, we can also seek protection and shade. The Psalmist says in chapter 36 verse 7 " Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; Thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Thy wings."


I remember when I worked for Parks and Recreation in Currituck County in North Carolina. It is a coastal county and their was very little, if any grass; just white sand. In the summer when it was in the mid 90's the sand would reflect the intense sunshine, around midday and it was so unbearable that I would seek the shelter, the shadow of a small wooded area adjacent to the park. The difference of the temperature had to be 20 degrees. Very bearable and comfortable.


It was still as hot as blazes in the park, the reflection of the heat of the sun made the sand look like the sun itself in places; but under the shadow of the pine trees and bushes, I was isolated, comfortable and protected from the heat.


As Believers living in a world that is racing toward the severe judgments of God, we, like the Psalmist of old have a shadow under which to hide. The shadow of the wings of the Most High God. There is safety, protection and coolness in His presence. The world is falling under the intense heat from the heavens, for our God is a consuming fire, but His wings offer shelter for those who love and know Him.


We can pray daily, " Keep me as the apple of the eye,
hide me under the shadow of Thy wings,
From the wicked that oppress me,
from my deadly enemies who encompass me about." (Psalm 17:8,9)



We have a hiding place.
Run to Him when he heat is to intense.
He is our hiding place;
in Him there is peace and safety.