Attend to my cry, O Lord; hide me in the
shadow of your wings.
Beloved One, my mouth praises you with
joyful lips; and in the shadow of your wings
my voice resounds.
“I will protect those who know my name,”
says the Strength of Day and the Guardian of Night.
“When they call me, then shall I answer.”
Woe to you who take refuge in
any freemarketer’s dream,
any warrior’s scheme,
any tyrant’s regime.
Every militarized threat invites devastation;
every nuclear shadow casts unfolding destruction.
All again shall live ’neath my Shadow concealed: flourishing, nourishing, succulent yield. By tenderful mercy—O Dawn of High Heaven—break upon us,
redeem us from death-shadowed reign.
For succor and strength, confine to the Shadow;
there abide, reside, whatever betide.
In the fullness of time the Call will be sounded;
the pathway of peace, reveal and confide.
©Ken Sehested @ prayerandpolitiks.org. Inspired by numerous biblical texts that mention “shadow,” including Ps 17, 63, 91; Isa 30; Hos 14; Luke 1.