SAFE AND SECURE

Psalm 125:1-2 “They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever. As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about his people from henceforth even for ever.”

There has probably been no group of people who have faced as much trouble as the nation of Israel. This has just been part of their life. They knew this and even understood it.

As believers, we also face problems. As I see what’s going on the world today, there are many people who are hurting financially, physically, emotionally and spiritually. The sad thing is that many try to face these problems in the wrong way. Problems can harm us, but there is a haven of rest where the believer can go. There is a place of safety in the midst of the storm.

Here in Psalm 125 the Psalmist writes of this place of refuge. There is safety in the arms of God. Look at how the Psalmist describes this safety.

1. SAFE IN HIS STEADFASTNESS

Read again the words of verse 1 "They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever."

I think the emphasis here is upon the object of our trust. And who is that? It is the LORD or Jehovah. Just think about the privilege it is to be allowed to rest or trust in God. For a person to trust anywhere else, is foolishness. It will, in time, become disappointing. Why? Because there is no safety in anything or anybody else.

I read somewhere that to trust in God is sanctified common sense. I’m not sure you can put it any better than that.

Notice the last phrase of verse 1 “. . . but abideth for ever." The word “abideth” means to “sit down” or “dwell.” Safety comes as we trust and the result is that we sit down or dwell in our refuge.

Notice also the phrase ". . .shall be like Mount Zion." Trusting says we have faith to move mountains, but it also says we have faith to stand like a mountain. For you and I to move Mount Zion would be an absurd idea, but to stand like Mount Zion would be what God wants of us. The steadfastness of God will endure forever and the individual who takes refuge in God abides or dwells and will be steadfast as Mount Zion.

2. SAFE IN HIS SURROUNDINGS

Notice the words of verse 2 "As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about his people from henceforth even for ever."

Around the city of Jerusalem were mountains. These mountains didn’t make a complete circle but they did guard the gates of this great city. These mountains gave safety to those who dwelt in and around the city.

The surrounding mountains are a picture of the surrounding presence of Almighty God as our security. As the mountains did not enclose completely the city of Jerusalem, so God does not make our city a prison, but He does order His providence so that we are as safe as if we dwelt behind the strongest fortification possible.

There is a great picture given here which actually has a two-fold security. First of all in verse 1 we are Settled and then in verse 2 we are Secure. In verse 1 we are Made like a mountain and then in verse 2 we are Protected as if by a mountain.

We are living in troublesome times. I realize that many, many people are facing huge problems for the first time in their lives. Many do not know which way to turn. They are frightened and worried. Many who do not even know the Lord as their personal Savior are uttering fox-hole prayers.

Problems do not just affect the unbeliever, but are reaching far into the Christian community also. Just as God “. . . maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust,” (Mat 5:45) He allows the believer to experience the same kind of problems as the unsaved. So why does He do that? Why do we as believers have these problems to come into our lives? There are many, many reasons. They may be consequences of our own decisions. The believer may be facing problems because of somebody else’s decisions or a variety of other reasons. But there is one thing for sure; God is allowing us the privilege of showing to the world a special kind of attitude in the middle of these troublesome times. We do not have to panic or worry. By trusting God in all circumstances, it is a great testimony to all who witness our responses to difficult times.

As we have just noted, the abiding child of God is safe in the presence of our God. Paul wrote in Romans 8:35-39, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

We are safe and secure in the Arms of God!

That’s my view; how about you?