The Lord Surrounds His People
September 06, 2021
The Lord Surrounds His People
“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!” - Psalm 125
Now more than ever, I am acutely aware that the world is a mess! The situation in Afghanistan is devastating, especially for those who have friends and family trapped in the country. When life seemed to be moving back towards some normalcy after the Covid-19 pandemic, and masks seemed to be a thing of the past, the Delta variant kicked in and has once again brought masks, heartbreak, and fear. Refugees desperately seek entrance into our country to escape the terrors of their own countries. However, in that escaping and seeking, families are torn apart and far too many children left vulnerable and victimized while our own country faces our own hardships and challenges of receiving these people. How long, oh Lord, until you return for your beloved people? How long must we endure these hardships, and how are we to persevere in faithfulness amongst all the unrest of our world?
Troubles abound in our world today. Troubles have abounded since the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden. The truth is that we live in a fallen world, and there is a powerful war between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of this world. While we desperately seek to find rest and security in this world, it is only to be found in the One who cannot be moved. God alone is sure and steadfast. God alone is the Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer of this world. God alone can be our source of security and true rest. The psalmist describes the Lord as surrounding his people. What a glorious image!
As you watch the news, can you envision the Lord surrounding, holding, and sustaining his people, even in Afghanistan? As you intercede for those affected by this deadly virus or those who are grieving the loss of those they love, can you see them resting in the palm of God’s hand? His love, his presence, and his strength surround them in their pain and distress. As you consider the atrocities done to the refugees coming into our country and the challenges they bring, can you see God surrounding them, surrounding those in the outlying areas? Lastly, no matter what your political bent, can you see God surrounding Washington DC and all the gatherings of our leaders?
The Lord surrounds his people. He allows evil to have its way in this world for an appointed time, but he does not remove his love, presence, or protection from those whom he loves. When we feel overwhelmed and helpless, can we envision the Lord surrounding us and all that concerns us? He still sits on the throne; he still has dominion over all things; and his kingdom will be fully established once again. Until then, we wait with expectation, and we wait with the promise that we are the people that have the Lord surrounding them.
Reflection:
How can you find security and rest in the Lord today? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
Related Resource:
Why is trust so difficult? Unlike all the broken promises of this world, God’s redeeming promises are absolute, trustworthy, and true. The covenants of God afford us with abundant reasons to trust God with his plan for our lives. Trusting God: Redeeming Promises of the Word small group Bible study explores the six major redeeming promises of God found in his Word. Learn more about God’s commitment to his people, the nature of a covenant, and how you can find your security in being a child of God’s redeeming promises. Learn more about God’s promises today.
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