[God] satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Psalm 103:5
In certain times of the year people go to Clarksville, Missouri, on the Mississippi River, to see the flock of bald eagles gathered there. They bring along field glasses to see better. But the eagles, sharp-eyed, need no such equipment.
Besides their good sight, the Bible ascribes other qualities to eagles: the strength of their wings, the swiftness of flight, the renewal of vigor, the attainment of old age. All this was known also to the ancient Romans who chose the “aquila,” the eagle, as a symbol on the standards of their legions.
Through Moses, God reminded His people, “You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself” (Exodus 19:4). It was as though God had used eagles as His air force to deliver His people from bondage.
The goodness of God to individual persons is described in Psalm 103 in these terms: “He satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s." The reference is probably to an eagle renewing its life through molting.
What people have perhaps most admired a bout eagles is their ability to soar majestically at high altitudes. They rise high above the earthly scene and direct our sight to heaven above. This may be the reason why Saint John’s gospel is symbolized by an eagle. Someone has said, “From first to last his gospel soars on eagles’ wings to the throne of heaven.” With what loftier note and soaring power could Saint John have begun his testimony of Jesus than this one: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1)? Grace and truth, the love of God bringing salvation, forgiveness, eternal life – this comes to us through Jesus Christ, the Son of God offered on Calvary’s cross for our sins.
Believing in Jesus as God’s eternal Word enables us to soar like eagles on the wings of faith.
PRAYER: O Holy Spirit, give me strong wings of prayer and faith in Jesus so that I can soar above the problems of life. Amen.
(Devotions from "With Jesus Every Day" copyright 1997, CPH. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be printed, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission of Concordia Publishing House. Permission is granted for one-time emailing of this link to a friend. For information on other devotional material, please contact CPH at 800-325-3040 or visit CPH at www.cph.org.)
Today's Bible Readings: 1 Samuel 23 Psalms 54 Psalms 63 Luke 22:47-71
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