YOUTH

WORD OF WISDOM
EAGLE ~ It is said that the eagle sheds his feathers in the beginning of spring, and with fresh plumage assumes the appearance of youth. To this, allusion is made in Psalm 103:5 and Isaiah 40:31. God's care over his people is likened to that of the eagle in training its young to fly (Exodus 19:4; Deuteronomy 32:11, 12).

Source: Easton's Bible Dictionary


Psalms 103:5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's

As the eagle, when her beak overgrows, sucks blood and so is renewed in strength, even so God miraculously gives strength to his Church above all man's expectations. The eagles which lives long in great strength and vigour. By God's provision, the saint retains a youthful vigor like the eagles.

The eagle is long-lived, and, as naturalists say, when she is nearly 100 years old, discards all her feathers (as indeed she changes them in a great measure every year at moulting time), and fresh ones come, so that she becomes young again.

When God, by the graces and comforts of His Spirit, recovers His people from their decays, and fills them with new life and joy, which is to them the promise of eternal life and joy, they may then be said to return to the days of their youth.

Deuteronomy 32:11 As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings:

This beautiful and expressive metaphor is founded on the extraordinary care and attachment which the female eagle cherishes for her young. When her newly fledged progeny are sufficiently advanced to soar in their native element, she, in their first attempts at flying, supports them on the tip of her wing, encouraging, directing, and aiding their feeble efforts to longer and sublimer flights. So does God take the most tender and powerful care of His chosen people. As the eagle does for her young so should we as parents train up our children to business, and not to indulge them in idleness and the love of ease.

Moses gives particular examples of God's kindness and concern for them. The eagle's care for her young is a beautiful emblem of Christ's love, who came between Divine justice and our guilty souls, and bare our sins in His own body on the tree. And by the preached gospel, and the influences of the Holy Spirit, He stirs up and prevails upon sinners to leave Satan's bondage.

God's blessings to each of you,
LJG/rECj