Keep me like the pupil of Your eye. cover me under the shadow of Your wings.
This verse contains two tender images of protection. The pupil of the eye is one of the most sensitive and carefully guarded parts of the body. David asks that God keep him with the same attention and care. The phrase “under the shadow of Your wings” is an image of a mother bird’s protection, when she covers her young from danger. These images do not mean that the believer will never face suffering or danger. David himself was in danger at that moment. They show God’s close, personal, and caring preservation. The Lord is not only a mighty Guardian, but also a God who tenderly cares for those who rely on Him. The believer can bring his fears and anxieties before Him and trust His protection. These images also teach faith: in a time of danger, the believer should not look for a way of escape or act recklessly, but should take refuge under the shadow of the wings of the Mighty God, acting as needed with the wisdom He gives. True safety is not in the absence of dangers, but in the Lord’s protecting presence.