The Psalm 91 Passover Connection

As we enter the season of Passover, I thought you might appreciate this totally awesome connection to Psalm 91, and God’s wings of protection.

Let’s start by imagining a group of defenseless baby birds alone in a nest. All of a sudden, a large snake sees these precious babies and heads straight for the nest. Not far away, the mother bird spots the dangerous snake. Immediately she comes to the rescue, hovering over the babies with her wings. She puts herself between the snake and the babies, standing in harm’s way to rescue her precious children.

This is the very image used by the prophet Isaiah to describe how God defends his people when they are in great danger from the enemy.

Isaiah 31:5 NLT states, The Lord of Heaven’s Armies will hover over Jerusalem and protect it like a bird protecting its nest. He will defend and save the city; he will pass over it and rescue it, Isaiah 31:5.

The Hebrew verb used in this verse is pasakh (pasach, pasah) and this means to pass over, preserve, hop, or leap over. Interestingly enough, Pasach describes the hopping back and forth that a mother bird does when she is protecting her nest. It also denotes the sheltering and protection that can be found under God’s outstretched wings. Both a bird and God will hover over their children, standing against predators and enemies.

The verb pasakh only shows up a few times in the Bible, but the noun version of the word, pesakh (which has an e instead of an a) shows up much more. The noun refers to the festival known as Passover.

Why is the word for the Passover festival almost the same as the word used for birds when they hover and protect their young?

The Bible and Anthropology explain, “Passover, also known as Pesach or Pasach, commemorates the deliverance of the Hebrews from Egypt under Moses’ leadership and the divine protection they received during the plagues and the death of the Egyptians’ firstborn. It marks God’s ‘passing over’ the homes of the Hebrews. Pesach/Pasach is originally an Egyptian word. Pa means “this” or “that” and sach refers to royal defense or protection. Imagine a bird protectively hovering over its young ones; or the wings of an angel covering a sacred place. In the Passover, the Lord protectively covered the houses of the Hebrew people when death swept through the land.”

The blood of the Passover lamb smeared on the doorposts of the Hebrew homes foreshadowed the death of Jesus Christ on the cross, who became the Passover lamb so that we could be spared eternal death. Each year when this time of year is commemorated, we must remember that as followers of Jesus, we are continually protected by the wings of our Savior. He hovers over our lives and stands between us and the enemy. He not only protects us from eternal death, He stands between us and the enemy (the snakes in our lives).

Psalm 91:4 declares, “For He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge.”

Isn’t it amazing to know that Jesus stands between us and the enemy? Sometimes when our lives are in turmoil, and the enemy is breathing down our neck, it can feel like we are all alone in the nest. It can feel like we are sitting ducks waiting for the slaughter.

But remember that Jesus, the Passover lamb, has not only delivered you from eternal death, He has also delivered you from the enemy’s schemes. Each day, wrap yourself in this truth and cling to it. Picture the wings of Jesus spreading over you like a mother bird.

My son has a beautiful white cockatiel name Casper who has the unusual habit of hovering over human feet. He will spread his wings over them and sing. He paces back and forth as if guarding my son’s feet, or anyone else’s for that matter. I know this is strange! But for some reason, Casper does this anytime he is near human feet. The vet told me that he probably sees a person’s feet as his children! Wow! Here is a photo of him hovering over my son’s feet.

Every time he does this, I remember that Jesus spreads His wings over me like a bird. He is always watching. Always guarding. Always waiting for me to take refuge under His wings.

The Jewish prayer shawl also reminds us of God’s unfailing protection. I actually have a Psalm 91 prayer shawl that can be seen in this photo.

To wear a prayer shawl, one puts the corners (edges) of the garment over the head. In Hebrew the corners are actually called WINGS. Isn’t this amazing? The wings of the shawl cover the person as they place it over themselves as a covering. This is a reminder that God protects and covers His people with HIS WINGS. WOW, WOW, WOW!

During the first Passover, the Hebrews were required to place the blood of the lamb on their doorposts to protect them from the Angel of Death. While many interpret that the Angel of Death simply passed over, or skipped each home with the blood, a better interpretation would be that God “hopped” from door to door and He hovered over each one, protecting His children from the judgment of death that would come upon Egypt. Picture the wings of a giant bird spreading over each house and protecting it!

Each day, Jesus covers us under His feathers and delivers us from the evil one. This is a powerful truth. If we can live our lives in this reality, we will live abundantly and without fear.

You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians and how I bore you on eagles’ wings, and brought you to Myself, Ex. 19:4.

Like an eagle that stirs up its nest and hovers over its young, that spreads its wings to catch them and carries them aloft, Deuteronomy 32:11-12.

Be sure to watch this video for a great illustration of Passover and it’s connection to birds.

Image of white bird over the house created by ChatGPT