PSALMS OF ASCENT!

PSALM 125:2

Surrounded
AS THE MOUNTAINS SURROUND JERUSALEM, SO THE LORD SURROUNDS HIS PEOPLE BOTH NOW AND FOREVERMORE. (PSALMS 125:2 NIV)
SAUCER
The city of Jerusalem was set in a saucer of surrounding hills. Those mountains were dependable, unshakeable (v1) and protective. In the same way the Israelites saw God being their dependable protector. Thus the mountains reminded the pilgrims of God, but they did not replace God. Their faith was in the God to whom the mountains belonged, not in the mountains themselves. The need to remember the true source of our security is just as relevant today as then. Our spiritual blessings as Christians should always point us back to God. The fellowship and friendships we enjoy within the community of faith are signs with an arrow pointing in a certain direction. And that direction is God. Let us never come to love the blessings more than the blesser. This Psalmist got it right - let us imitate his perspective.

SAFETY
Safety is something we all crave. Some have home burglar alarms, some a guard dog, others might take a course in self-defense. T he home insurance business is worth billions of pounds, and we are easily alarmed about threats to our on-line personal data. All of this is quite understandable, but we all know that complete safety is unattainable. Fortunately, there is another kind of safety on offer from God. Here are just three of the promises available; i. Angelic support The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. (Ps 34:7) ii. 24/7 support God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. (Psalms 46:1 NIV) iii. Jesus support My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. (John 17:15 NIV)

SURROUNDED
All of this adds up to the comforting conviction that, while we will be wounded in this life, we never need fear the forces of evil. Our souls are safe, hiding with and in God. The prayer Jesus urged us to pray - deliver us from the evil one. (Matthew 6:13 NIV) - will be answered. Indeed, we live with the condence of the defeat of evil. All we need to do to be safe is to, Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devils schemes. For our struggle is...against...the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground. (Ephesians 6:1113 NIV) Remember - you are in a saucer of safety surrounded by Gods power and perpetual protection. As a result lift your heart and your head and face the challenges of life safe, surrounded and secure.

Malcolm Cox, email: malcolm.cox@iccmissions.org | ICC Missions on facebook | www.nwlcc.org