- Keeper and Shade
Psalm 121: 5
The Lord is thy keeper:
The Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.
The Lord promises to keep, guard, protect, make safe and comfortable; metaphorically the Lord is “shade.” The scorching sun and drenching rain are normally seen as dangerous phenomena that can do us harm; but the Lord Himself is the shade, the roof, and the wall that keeps us safe from the surrounding dangers. Shade is meant to signify protection as well as comfort. The promise is that His children can feel safe and comfortable with the Lord at the right hand.
This promise, as well as many similar promises, is not something we need to be aware of all the time, but when we need to know it we can remember this promise and take comfort. Whenever threats of any kind arise in our life, or even imagined threats in our mind, we can remember shade and all the images and feelings it signifies for us on a hot day. Remember your Baptism, partake of the Lord’s Supper in remembrance of Him, listen at the feet of Jesus, hear the Gospel: when we pause for these reflections we are placing our soul in the shade of His keeping and protecting power.