the journey (step six)

I arrived reasonably early at the large car park south of Crianlarich with the aim of climbing ‘An Caisteal’ (the Castle). The cloud cover was down but it was a relatively calm morning. On reaching the first main plateau at around 700m I was fully enveloped in cloud. And by the time I walked onto the summit the wind had picked up quite considerably. Sheltering behind a large cairn, I enjoyed a quick snack. However, by the time I was ready to leave the wind was so ferocious that it was almost impossible to stand. The only course of action was to get down on my hands and knees, get my body into the lowest possible position, and crawl off the summit! 

It’s not easy to stand when you are buffeted by the elements. 

It’s not easy to stand when you are assailed by doubts and fears and all manner of other challenges that life throws at us.

When reflecting on these moments in life, I’m reminded of a question that pops up in the Old Testament, asked by a pagan king, in taunting fashion, to God’s people, 

“On what are you basing your confidence?” (2 Chronicles 32:10).

Regardless of how it is asked, it remains a great question. When it comes to life and faith, on what are you basing your confidence? 

Are you...

➣ Lacking in confidence?

➣ Self confident?

➣ Over-confident?

➣ God confident? 

How would you fair in “a vote of confidence”?!!

Step six on “the journey” (Psalm 125) reveals where the psalmist’s confidence lies and the reason for such trust. It enables us to see how he can stand firm in his faith.

Verse 1 presents us with a picture of the person who trusts in the Lord.

“Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever.”

As we reflect on this sentence we must pay heed to the strong warning in Scripture against misplaced confidence in the Christian life. The apostle Paul exhorts, “let anyone who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12).

In another place, Paul informs us about the true nature of Christian confidence. “…be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then…”

(Ephesians 6:10-14). The message is clear. 

We can stand because the Lord is able to make us stand.

Coming back to our Psalm for this week, Eugene Peterson writes, “The emphasis of Psalm 125 is not on the precariousness of the Christian life but on its solidity.” The eternal security of the believer is assured and is experienced through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

The metaphor changes in verse two. The Lord is now pictured as a mountain range around the city of Jerusalem. "As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people both now and forevermore." The image speaks of his protection through life and on into eternity..."both now and forevermore."

Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 4 act as a wonderful New Testament counterpart to this psalm:

“We are afflicted in every way but not crushed;

we are perplexed but not in despair;

we are persecuted but not abandoned;

we are struck down but not destroyed.”

(verses 7-10)

I am currently reading Bear Grylls' autobiography. In it he tells of a free-fall parachute accident that resulted in him breaking his back in three places. He reflects on the days of recovery as ones in which his faith in Christ sustained him. "At that time, in and out of hospital, it reminded me that, despite the pain and despair, I was held and loved and blessed - my life was secure through Jesus Christ."

Bear Grylls was able "to stand" through suffering and adversity because, as Psalm 125 reminds us, our faith in the Lord fortifies us and his presence encircles us. 

(picture - the grounds of Culzean Castle)