Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Psalm 125:1-2 Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people both now and forevermore.
IN THE LORD WE ARE SAFE
In this psalm the poet pictures the superior strength of the Lord and the security of all who trust in Him. He does this by comparing the Lord to the mountain range that surrounds the city of Jerusalem. The Jewish pilgrims may have sung this song as they drew near to Jerusalem and witnessed lofty mountains rising up from the ground all around them. The thought may well have crossed their minds: "With our mighty Savior-God hedging us in on all sides with His infinite love (as these mountains are surrounding us), how can anything truly bad happen to us? In His hands we are perfectly safe."
A comforting thought for us as well. Many are the "earthquakes" that threaten to shake our confidence as we wend our way through this sinful world towards the New Jerusalem. Tremors in the form of physical trials. Quakes in the form of disasters in the world at large. Surges of guilt and fear we feel in our consciences brought on by our daily sins.
The psalmist reminds us where alone we must go to keep the stability we need to withstand the powerful shock waves. He bids us to anchor our hopes now and always in our almighty and all-merciful God who won for us the peace of sins forgiven through the redemptive work of His Son -- and who promises to make all events that transpire in our lives and in the world around us to work out for our ultimate good.
Who trusts in God a strong abode In heaven and earth possesses;
Who looks in love to Christ above, No fear his heart oppresses.
In Thee alone, dear Lord, we own Sweet hope and consolation,
Our Shield from foes, our Balm for woes,
Our great and sure Salvation.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 437:1)
