Shadow of Your Wings
-hebraicstudies.net-
Please do NOT visit this
site on שַׁבָּת - Shabbat or on
the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts!
Tanakh versions:
Throughout this site I will
use any of the following three versions of the TaNaKh: 1. “Jewish Publication Society” (JPS-1917),
2. “Sefaria.org” (SEF), and 3. “Mechon-Mamre.org” (MEC).
Colour coded details of
the - TaNaKh:
1. Torah = History &
Law, 2. Nevi’im =
The Prophets. 3. *Ketuvim = all other Writings.
*The Ketuvim - Includes, Poetical
books - Psalms, Proverbs, Job, the Megillot, or Scrolls - Song
of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations of Jeremiah, Ecclesiastes, and
Esther, prophecy of Daniel, and history of Ezra, Nehemiah, and
Chronicles I & II.
Please Note: Some alterations have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ having been corrected as it once was, pre the “Masoretic Text”.
YYYYYYY
Remember the following three truth’s from our beloved Scriptures!
“Ye
shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which I command you, neither shall ye diminish from it, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם (the LORD your Elo’lei’chem) which I
command you”. Davarim - Deuteronomy 4:2.
“This is My Name FOREVER, and this is My Memorial to ALL Generations”. Shemot - Exodus 3:15. (JPS).
“I am יְהוָה, that is My Name; and My glory
will I not give to another”. Yeshayahu - Isaiah 42:8. (JPS).
YYYYYYY
Tehillim - Psalm 57..
With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens,
PhD.
“Be strong and courageous. Be careful to obey the entire Torah My servant Moshe has given you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Torah depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”
YYYYYYY
Hebrew
verse from Tehillim - Psalm 57:2:
חָנֵּנִי
אֱלֹהִים,
חָנֵּנִי
כִּי בְךָ,
חָסָיָה
נַפְשִׁי
וּבְצֵל-כְּנָפֶיךָ
אֶחְסֶה עַד,
יַעֲבֹר הַוּוֹת
Transliteration:
“Choneni Elohim,
choneni,
ki vecha cha’sa’yah naf’shi; U’vet’zel ke’na’fecha ech’seh, ad ya’avor ha’vot”.
English: (From two Tanakh’s).
1 ...
“Be gracious unto me, O אֱלֹהִים
- Elohim (God), be gracious unto me, for in Thee hath
my soul taken refuge; yea, in the shadow of Thy wings will I take refuge,
until calamities be overpast”. “Jewish Publication Society” (JPS-1917).
2 ... “Have mercy on me, O אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, have mercy on me, for I seek refuge in You, I seek refuge in the shadow of Your wings, until danger passes”. “Sefaria.org” (SEF).
Let me now provide you with a birds-eye view, and a step-by-step walkthrough of Tehillim - Psalm 57, so you will be able to feel its power from start to the end of Dovid’s - David’s Tehillim.
1.
Background & Title:
Tehillim 57, is one of David’s six “michtam” Psalms, being short, and jewel-like compositions and is marked “al tashcheth” (“Do not destroy”). It was penned when he was hiding in the cave, fleeing king Shaul - Saul’s pursuit, and Dovid cries out, “O אֱלֹהִים - Elohim , do not destroy me!”
2.
Structure at a Glance:
Verses 2 to 5 - Trust and a Plea, Dovid was obviously seeking refuge and deliverance:
“Be gracious to me … my soul takes refuge in You; in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge until the destruction (or death) passes”. Verse 2.
Verses
2 to 5 - Refuge under Wings & the Enemy’s Profile:
I know it might sound strange, but just think of the following image:
A mother-bird is covering her chicks with her wings, trying to save them’. What am I saying here? Well it is a kind of symbolism the utter trust and divine shelter that is available to all of us!
V. 3: “I will call upon the Most High … the אֱלֹהִים - Elohim Who fulfils for me.”
V. 4: “He will send from heaven and save me from the reproach of him who would swallow me up.”
V. 5: “My soul is in the midst of lions … I lie among men set on fire; their teeth are spears, their tongue a sharp sword.”
“Lions” and “burning men” paint Dovid’s foes as both powerful and deceitful, ready to devour or slander him.
Verses 6 to 8: - Exaltation & Confidence:
He proclaims אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s supremacy and his own steady heart.
Verses 6–8: אֱלֹהִים Exalted, Soul Steadfast:
V. 6: “Be exalted above the heavens, O אֱלֹהִים - Elohim; let Your glory be over all the earth!”
V. 7: “They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down; they dug a pit before me, but they themselves have fallen into it.”
The traps his enemies set recoil upon them.
V. 8: “My heart is steadfast, O אֱלֹהִים, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make melody!”
Despite the pit, Dovid’s inner core remains unshakable.
3. Verses 9 to 11 - Vow of Praise: A commitment to thank אֱלֹהִים publicly at dawn among all peoples.
Verses 9–11: Dawn-Song of Thanksgiving
V. 9: “Awake, my glory! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn.”
Music rousing the new day, David vows to begin his praise at first light.
V. 10: “I will give thanks to You, O יְהוָה - the LORD, among the peoples; I will sing praises to You among the nations.”
Not just personal worship but a global testimony.
V. 11 “For Your steadfast love is great to the heavens, Your faithfulness to the clouds.”
Cosmic scale: from earth to sky, Elohim’s mercy and truth have no bounds.
3.
Here are some Major Themes & Takeaways:
Shelter in Crisis:
The “shadow of Your wings” (v. 2) teaches us to seek אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim’s protection when everything else has failed.
Victorious Trap-Reversal:
Enemies’ schemes become their own undoing (v. 7).
Steadfast Praise:
No matter how dark the pit, Dovid’s heart stays steadfast, set on melody (v. 8).
Universal Witness:
Real deliverance compels us to proclaim Elohim’s greatness before all nations (vv. 10–11).
4.
Applications:
When you feel hunted by circumstances or critics, imagine yourself under those divine “wings.”
If you sense traps around you, remember verse 7: sometimes the plot turns back on the plotters.
Let your “heart-harp” wake the dawn and start each day with a moment of gratitude or song.
See every blessing as an opportunity to share אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s kindness beyond your own circle.
Some
other thoughts:
The “Al tashcheth” - “Do not destroy” Tehillim - Psalms often echo one another: compare Psalm 57’s plea with Psalm 59 (also on “al tashcheth”).
In our blessed liturgy, Tehillim - Psalm 57 is one of the “cave psalms” (alongside Tehillim 54, 56, 142), which are traditionally recited for protection.
What line or image strikes you the most when you read “under the shadow of Your wings”?
YYYYYYY
Please Note: “hebraicstudies” links are located down
the page!
In
Conclusion, a Question to Deepen the Conversation:
Which part of the Tanakh study, or possibly a
particular line or statement within it has touched you the most? And
how do you feel about spending more time studying our beloved Tanakh? I pray
that you are doing well as a faithful Hebrew, and אֱלֹהִים - Elohim willing you are
upholding as many of our blessed Mitzvoth’s?
Dear reader, please remember
this, pray for peace and solitude in your life, and then work on keeping
as calm as possible and learn to improve your life, for אֱלֹהִים - בָּרוּךְ
אֱלֹהִים - Bless Elohim, He
is always there and ready to help and guide you!
YYYYYYY
PLEASE NOTE: If you need any assistance, just ask, I help, and I can also send an email to you, special items to help you with whatever you may need! Just email me and I will send it to your email, There will no follow up’s whatsoever, or any requests from me, unless you wish further information, (use the email s further down this page).
This site was
originally created, for those who desired to return to our blessed and
wonderful faith. Thus be wise and work on your faith and pray at least two or
three times a day (if possible) and always seek אֱלֹהִים -
Elohim’s guidance! For interest, as you may have discovered, this site has become
very much a teaching one!
Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be
He, said the following, via a number of our prophets...
“Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD of hosts”. Mal’a’chi -
Malachi 3:7. MEC).
And Remember ...
Enjoy
your Sabbath Rest, Shabbat Shalom!
אֲנִי יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, בְּחֻקּוֹתַי
לֵכוּ; וְאֶת-מִשְׁפָּטַי
שִׁמְרוּ, וַעֲשׂוּ
אוֹתָם
וְאֶת-שַׁבְּתוֹתַי, קַדֵּשׁוּ; וְהָיוּ
לְאוֹת, בֵּינִי
וּבֵינֵיכֶם-לָדַעַת, כִּי
אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם
“I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה (the LORD your
Eloheichem); walk in My statutes,
and keep Mine ordinances, and do them; and hallow My Sabbaths, and they shall
be a sign between Me and you, that ye may know that I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - YaHVaH your Eloheichem”. Yechezkel - Ezekiel 20:19-20. (JPS).
YYYYYYY
“Hebraic Studies” motto is as
follows;
For אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, Blessed be His Sanctified Name,
He is the one who gave us our Life!”
May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD of hosts. be with
you, and please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as well as the ‘מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts, and continue saying your
daily תְּפִלָּה - Te’fee’lah’s (Prayers) and
regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah’s (blessings) before food and
drinks, etc!
שָׁלוֹם
עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!
Rabbi,
Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
iiEnter the Main Site IndexI
Or ...
http://www.hebraicstudies.net/Site-Index.htm
0Or Return to the FRONT PAGE0
Or ...
https://www.hebraicstudies.net
-hebraicstudies.net-
Email the Rabbi
If the email
link does not open - You can also copy the link and use it.
Although
the author does not believe in having to copyright “Hebraic Studies” which
commenced in the mid 1980’,
but there have been
occasions where there parts of his studies have been taken and quoted out of
context
under his name, and
thus he has been misquoted by those who have their own reasons for doing
so.
Thus, it is
only for this reason these works are covered under strict ...
Copyright © 2025 - “Hebraic Studies” - All rights reserved.