Psalm 125
A Song of degrees.
1They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion, Which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever. 2As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, So the Lord is round about his people From henceforth even for ever. 3For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; Lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity. 4Do good, O Lord, unto those that be good, And to them that are upright in their hearts. 5As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, The Lord shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity: But peace shall be upon Israel.
I live in a place that very rarely has a tornado. I have friends in other places that have to be cautious because of that threat but I have never had that concern. Why? I live in a city surrounded.
One expert explained it this way.
"Because the terrain disrupts the updraft flow into thunderstorms, they are very rare"[1]
You see, I live in a city surrounded by beautiful mountains, but they serve a greater purpose than just gorgeous views and bait for tourist traps, practically they also prevent tornados from developing.
As a redneck who lived a lot of his life in a mobile home, I am very thankful for that fact! I have always imagined a whirlwind licking its lips at the thought of getting to me, but my peaks protect me. I am writing while taking in a wonderful view, surrounded by my mountains and I am thankful for those hills for many reasons, one in particular is my protection.
What brought this thought to my mind this morning?
Psalm 125:2 As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, So the Lord is round about his people From henceforth even for ever.
As Jerusalem is surrounded by a mountainous region that provides protection beyond the city’s walls, so the Lord himself surrounds his people providing protection, comfort, and constant companionship. My God has gone before me and prepared my path, he is beside me as a comforting guide and friend and has my back like no one else ever has or will. I am surrounded and kept by Christ, that is why Paul so often talked about the believer being “in Christ”.
One verse from this chapter troubled me, but this thought gave me great relief.
Psalm 125:4 Do good, O Lord, unto those that be good, And to them that are upright in their hearts.
The psalmist calls for God to be good to those that are good, but here is my problem, I am not good.
Mark 10:18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
I have sinned and deserve the tornados of God’s wrath because of my great guilt. And that is where the comfort of being encompassed by Christ delivers its healing balm.
Spurgeon quotes Martin Luther and look at what the great reformer said about being surrounded by our Savior.
“Now if Satan through these munitions casts his darts at us, it must needs be that the Lord himself shall be hurt before we take harm.”[2]
I am in Christ and he has taken the enemies attacks upon himself which means he stepped in front of the bullets meant for me and suffered on my behalf.
So, dear reader, are you “in Christ”?
Have you claimed the care he has committed to all those who put their trust in him?
Come on, I can tell you that it is great to be in the comforting care of Christ!
[1] David Easterling, director of the National Climate Assessment Technical Support Unit, Center for Weather and Climate at NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information in Asheville https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/local/2019/07/24/answer-man-tornadoes-asheville-how-often-measles-immunity/1802965001/ [2] Spurgeon, C. H. (n.d.). The treasury of David: Psalms 120-150 (Vol. 6, p. 63). London; Edinburgh; New York: Marshall Brothers.