the journey (step ten)

There is a story that hails from the highlands of Scotland concerning a group of villagers who met one evening in the local community hall. During conversations around the tables someone suggested that each of us has acted bravely or heroically at one point in our lives. A man who was new to the locality saw an elderly lady who had not taken part in the conversation. In a quite disparaging tone he asked what act of heroism she had performed, completely unaware of the traumas and tragedies she had lived through. Her response was simply, “I have practiced the heroism of going on.”

When it comes to “the journey” that ability to keep going is one of the characteristics of true Christian pilgrimage. You find it expressed clearly in Psalm 129, especially the second half of verse two which says “…they have not prevailed against me.”

The psalm speaks of a prolonged period of oppression that the people of God have endured. The extent of this is outlined in the phrase, “…they have greatly oppressed me from my youth” (verse 2a). However, the wonderful truth about the faithfulness and goodness of God shines through - “they have not prevailed against me” 

What does it take to practice the ‘heroism’ of going on in the Christian life?

Reflecting on that question, I have reached back into the church’s archive for help.

I was first of all reminded about John Bunyan (1628-1688), author of “Pilgrim’s Progress.” He wrote the famous hymn, ‘To be a Pilgrim,’ which contains the words,

He who would valiant be 

’gainst all disaster,

let him in constancy 

follow the Master.

There’s no discouragement 

shall make him once relent

his first avowed intent 

to be a pilgrim.

Reaching further back to Martin Luther (1483-1546) I found great encouragement in the words of his hymn, “A mighty fortress is our God”:

That Word above all earthly powers,

No thanks to them, abideth;

The Spirit and the gifts are ours

Through Him who with us sideth:

Let goods and kindred go,

This mortal life also;

The body they may kill:

God’s truth abideth still,

His Kingdom is forever.

And coming ultimately, and most importantly, to the source of all our hope in life, the Holy Scriptures, the prophet Jeremiah records, “They will fight against you but never prevail over you, since I am with you” (Jeremiah 1:19).

The apostle Paul was also able to testify, “after we had previously suffered and were treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, we were emboldened by our God to speak the gospel of God to you in spite of great opposition” (1 Thessalonians 2:2).

Bunyan, Luther, Paul, Jeremiah and the Psalmist’s ability to prevail rested on a number of enduring realities…

➡️ The Presence of God - He is with us, for us and ahead of us.

➡️ The Promises of God - He can be trusted and is faithful.

➡️ The People of God - The companionship of fellow pilgrims spurs us on our way.

I saw a beautiful picture of this a couple of weeks ago on the Isle of Harris. I was on the island with a group of men from The Preshal Trust. As a means of building friendships my boss arranged for 7 guys from an addiction support group called “Road to Recovery” to join us on the Friday evening. It was an incredible few hours, filled with a great deal of chat and banter! As I watched the interactions between the men and listened to their stories I was struck by the thought that what enabled them to stay strong as believers and remain on the path of sobriety was a friendship which is centred on Christ. 

Drawing on God’s presence and promises these men encourage one another to keep going and are thus, like the experience of the psalmist, able to PREVAIL. 

(picture - The Isle of Harris)

Song choice - Lord, I come before your throne of grace

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1r5rMcrNlmUMQqHyIBfCmg?si=YtwsF-OuT9-160jOeH26gQ&pi=iHT32HMRSleMD

the journey (step nine)

 During our summer holidays a couple of years ago liz and I spent a decent part of a day at Dumfries House in East Ayrshire. The weather was perfect so we found a seat underneath one of the trees and enjoyed the tranquility of that spot for while. I then went over and sat under a tree opposite to read the Sunday Times which normally takes me most of the week to get through! It’s a bit of holiday tradition!

Out of the corner of my eye I could see a family siting on a similar seat to ours perhaps about 15-20 metres away. Mum and dad were glued to their mobile phones while their son and daughter tried to busy themselves around them. Slowly I became focused on the unfolding drama. The little boy was doing everything to get his dad’s attention. He ran around in front of him repeatedly asking “Dad, what are we doing next?” When that attempt failed he climbed onto the back of the seat, balancing there and saying ‘Dad, look at me’. No reaction whatsoever from Dad. He then moved round the back of mum and dad, took his dad’s hand and ruffled his mum’s hair. Zero response from either parents. But the one that floored me was when he was playing in the grass and he suddenly shot up in excitement saying, “Dad, look I’ve found a yellow spider.” Not the slightest acknowledgement from dad. For that entire episode he was transfixed with whatever was on his mobile phone screen. It confirmed one of the biggest misnomers of our age. This thing we call ‘social media’ is actually an incredibly individualist pursuit that shuts out real life interaction with others. The wee boy eventually resigned himself to playing with stones in the immediate vicinity. 

I went over to Liz after a wee while and said, “I’m just watching a tragedy unfold.” You see, I imagine in a few years time that young lad’s questions will have dried up and dad’s opportunity for engagement may have gone. Admittedly I don’t now the backstory to that family and every parent has had days when their energy for family life is low. However, the signs that day were less than promising. 

That story brings me to the next “Song of Ascents" on “the journey,” Psalm 128. In my mind I’ve set the incident at Dumfries House beside Psalm 128. It’s brought me to appreciate that…

We get one shot at this thing called life. 

In light of that Psalm 128 encourages us to see:

✦ The gift of life as a blessing (verse 1)
“Blessed - happy and fortunate - is everyone who fears, reveres and worships the Lord, who walks in his ways, and lives according to his commandments” (TAB).
What a beautiful picture of life as God intended.

We have this grand pronouncement of happiness on all who fear God and walk in his ways. The fear of the Lord doesn’t mean that we cower in a corner at the sound of his approach. The fear of God means that we’re in awe of God’s majesty so that we approach him with great reverence and respect. It means that we take God seriously. 

Consider how the psalmist develops his thought - those who fear the Lord are those who walk in God’s ways. In other words a right attitude towards God leads to right actions in your life. Jesus said something similar in John 14:21: “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. 

Psalm 128 encourages us to see:
✦ The provision of employment as a blessing (verse 2) 

“You will eat the fruit of your labour; blessings and prosperity will be yours.” (verse 2)
I don’t believe that this necessarily means that you’ll become wealthy or rich, but rather that you’ll find fulfilment in your work and that your work will provide for your needs. 

Hard work is taken for granted, but this Psalm makes it clear, as Psalm 127 does, that enjoyment of its fruits is a gift from God. 

Psalm 128 encourages us to see:
✦ The legacy of family as a blessing (verse 3-4)
The psalmist paints a picture of marriage that is both fruitful and faithful. 

And it portrays family life in the rather quaint terms of verse 3. "Your wife will be a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots round your table."

The image of olive shoots around the table is the picture of a mature, established olive tree with young shoots springing up out of the soil all around it. It’s a common sight in that region. The olive shoots represent youth and energy and, above all, promise. Psalm 144:12 offers a similar image when it says: “Then our sons in their youth will be like well-nurtured plants, and our daughters will be like pillars carved to adorn a palace.” 

It’s an ideal image because the olive is a slow growing tree. It can take ten to fifteen years before it bears any fruit, but once established the olive tree it will produce fruit for decades to come. That’s the picture this Psalm gives of our children. It will take some time before they grow to independence and maturity. As parents we need to be patient with our children as we raise them in the training and instruction of the Lord. 

Psalm 128 encourages us to see:
✦ The context of the community of God’s people as a blessing (verses 5-6)
If godliness can be too individualistic, and a family too self-contained, then the final two verses take care of that. Zion, where the faithful gather, is where you can expect to find blessing; and your family’s future is bound up in Zion’s welfare. 

This is the village that helps raise the child. 

Employment, family and the community of God's people are to be viewed as God's gracious gifts to his people. The person who reveres the Lord will view them as such and cherish all that God has blessed them with in life.

(picture - Ben Eich, near Luss on Loch Lomondside)

'the journey' playlist...

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1r5rMcrNlmUMQqHyIBfCmg?si=YtwsF-OuT9-160jOeH26gQ&pi=iHT32HMRSleMD

the journey (step eight)

We are now beyond the half way point on “the journey” as we reflect on Psalm 127. 

The “Songs of Ascents” have provided the route map to guide our steps. The big themes that flow out of these songs encourage us on our way and give us the impetus to keep going when our spirits are flagging and our energy is running low.

What we encounter in today’s song runs counter to the way that many in society view life. Here we learn the truth that all that I am and all that I ultimately achieve in life is a gift from God.

The psalm recognises the Lord’s sovereign place in my circumstances. It speaks about his presence in some of the key areas of life.

Two particular pursuits come to light as we mediate on this song. The importance of…

➡️ Building the Kingdom (verses 1-2)

When we reflect on how we can effectively serve God, Solomon reminds us that, “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labour in vain” (verse 1).

The question that follows is…

How do we build an effective work for God?

One of the great pioneer missionaries of the 19th century, Hudson Taylor, once wrote that “God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supply.”

What is God’s way of building his kingdom?

Our mindset and the ‘materials’ we use are vitally important.

Firstly, we must be “all in.” 

“Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not vain.”

(1 Corinthians 15:58)

We are called to seek God’s will and follow God’s instructions (Holy Scripture) in our service for him.

And secondly, we must do so standing shoulder to shoulder with fellow believers. I have always been fond of Nehemiah chapter 3. Nehemiah is burdened by the state of Jerusalem. Its walls are broken and its gates have been burned by fire. However, he sets to work to rebuild the city and enlists the help of its inhabitants to make it happen. What I love about the chapter is the way in which everyone (with one exception, see verse 5) works shoulder to shoulder to make it happen and the walls are rebuilt in a record breaking 52 days!

With God’s Word to guide us and God’s people to support us the grand edifice of the God's kingdom is taking shape.

The song also focuses on…

➡️ Growing a Family (verses 3-5)

The birth of a child remains one of life’s great joys and is a source of profound wonder.

I do, however, remember being filled with a deep sense of inadequacy as a parent when my children were little. One day I was standing in the queue at our local bank when words came into my mind that I scribbled on the back of a deposit slip (remember them?).

Here is what I wrote down…

What can I do, Lord, what can I do

to grow a son who honours You?

who finds his inspiration and delight

in knowing he’s a child of God by right;

who loves Your Word and people too,

with mind and heart that’s always true.

What can I do, Lord, what can I do

to be a dad who models You?

with patience, grace and discipline right,

who rests on You, draws from Your might;

whose hope for him and those I love

is focused on my Lord above.

This I will do, Lord, this I will do

obey Your law and pray to You,

reveal to him Your Father-heart,

in time and effort do my part,

I’ll walk with You and love my son

until on earth my journey’s done.

(September 19 2000)

The overwhelming sense that the Lord has gifted our children to us for a time remains with me to this day.

As Psalm 127 reminds us,

“Don’t you see that children are God’s best gift?

the fruit womb his generous legacy?

Oh, how blessed are you parents,

with your quivers full of children!”

(The Message, verses 3-5)

Psalm 127 takes us to the kernel of life lived in the presence of God. His kingdom and the way he has placed us in families are themes that occupy us on the next section of “the journey.”

(picture - Boboli Gardens, Florence)

"the journey" playlist

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1r5rMcrNlmUMQqHyIBfCmg?si=YtwsF-OuT9-160jOeH26gQ&pi=iHT32HMRSleMD