Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion,
which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
so the Lord surrounds his people,
from this time forth and forevermore.
For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest
on the land allotted to the righteous,
lest the righteous stretch out
their hands to do wrong.
Do good, O Lord, to those who are good,
and to those who are upright in their hearts!
But those who turn aside to their crooked ways
the Lord will lead away with evildoers!
Peace be upon Israel!
I love riding roller coasters and thrill rides. When Karen and I were dating, we attended the county fair. The trucks arrived a few days before, trailers in tow with contraptions that would toss thrill-seekers about for a few seconds of exhilaration. This particular evening we bought some tickets and exchanged them for various rides scattered about the fairgrounds. We entered the intimidating “Zipper” ride, a cage-like contraption that rocked back and forth while spinning around a larger oval shape.
The ride started up, tossing us about, screams and laughter filled the air. But at some point Karen noticed a few loose bolts working away from the cage. A nervous scream came about, I took notice as well, comforting her with my own nervous screams at a pitch slightly higher than a 4-year old girl walking into a surprise birthday party. Ultimately, we survived, but not without ongoing PTSD every time we see “fair rides” pop up in an empty parking lot in town.
The certainty and confidence that we had in the ride disappeared as we realized it was compromised. It wasn’t built on a firm foundation in which we could place absolute confidence in getting our feet back on the ground. It wasn’t a great few moments. At times, our lives are like these shoddy carnival rides. Haphazardly built on foundations that are not secure, not firm, with bolts working loose. Psalm 125 reminds us of the Builder of the firm foundation, the solid walls of protection, and the rock of the mountains that He spoke into existence.
Reading Psalm 125 should grant us amazing confidence in the security, assurance, and perseverance that we have in the steady hand of the Lord. We are saved by His work, held by His Spirit, and assured of a future inheritance guaranteed by the promises of His Word. As the hymn writer penned, “prone to wander Lord I feel it.” We are prone to wander, prone to place our confidence on shaky foundations, and walls that will not withstand the onslaught of life. It only makes sense, as we read the words of Psalm 125, that we confidently march forward in the journey of life with the full assurance of the Lord who has built a firm foundation for you. It will never crumble, the bolts will never loosen from the cage, for He is faithful to complete the work.
North Bullitt Christian Church 