As a hen gathers her chicks

 
Listen to these great hymns that were sung during Jesus’ day in the synagogues and temple worship in Jerusalem.

“Hide me in the shadow of thy wings.” 17:8.
“In the shadow of thy wings I will take refuge till the storms of destruction pass by.” 57:1
“Oh to be safe under the shelter of thy wings.” 61:4
“In the shadow of thy wings I sing for joy.” 63:7
“Under his wings you will find refuge.” 91:4

How do we know these songs were sung? They are the songs found in the book Psalms. Psalm 17, 36, 57, 61, 63, and 91 speak of the protective wings of God. So when Jesus expressed his desire to comfort Jerusalem he used an image widely understood, “I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gather’s her chicks under her wings.” But Jesus’ desires go unfulfilled for Jerusalem was “unwilling,” Jesus said, to receive the shelter he offered.

But let us not miss a significant point being advanced here: In the Psalms it is Yahweh who longs to gather Israel under his protective wings. Here in the Gospel of Luke it is Jesus. An equation is being drawn. Jesus equals God. How very sad then that Israel refused.

In his Large Catechism Martin Luther describes the church: "There is on earth a little holy flock or community of pure saints under one head, Christ. It is called together by the Holy Spirit in one faith. I was brought to it by the Holy Spirit and incorporated into it through the fact that I have heard and still hear God’s Word. In this Christian church we have the forgiveness of sins, which is granted through the holy sacraments and…the Gospel" (Martin Luther, L.C., Creed, 417:51-54).

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