Psalms 124-125

Psalm 124
A song of ascents. Of David.

1 If the LORD had not been on our side—
let Israel say-
2 if the LORD had not been on our side
when men attacked us,

3 when their anger flared against us,
they would have swallowed us alive;

4 the flood would have engulfed us,
the torrent would have swept over us,

5 the raging waters
would have swept us away.

6 Praise be to the LORD,
who has not let us be torn by their teeth.

7 We have escaped like a bird
out of the fowler's snare;
the snare has been broken,
and we have escaped.

8 Our help is in the name of the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

Psalm 125
A song of ascents.

1 Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion,
which cannot be shaken but endures forever.

2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
so the LORD surrounds his people
both now and forevermore.

3 The scepter of the wicked will not remain
over the land allotted to the righteous,
for then the righteous might use
their hands to do evil.

4 Do good, O LORD, to those who are good,
to those who are upright in heart.

5 But those who turn to crooked ways
the LORD will banish with the evildoers.
Peace be upon Israel.


Dearest dearest people,

I can't believe how much I'm missing church. Haaa.... and I've only been away a few days. OK they say absence makes the heart grow fonder so I can only say that's true for me now! :)

It's been more than a month since I last posted my meditation on the "Songs of Ascent" so I'm going to do a double-whammy here. It comes timely as well since I'm in Redding and surrounded by mountains so it gives more meaning to ascending onto the mountain of the Lord.

This morning, I was at the prayer house and it was such a beautiful time of being in God's presence. There is a special anointing upon this prayer house called "Alabastar House" here at Bethel Church. I walked in the place and within 10 seconds I'm in tears from sensing the nearness and embrace of Father. How beautiful.

The Prayer House from the outside

View from the Prayer House. Can you see the mountains?
The little pool is called the Pool of Bethesda.

And so I looked at Psalms 124 and 125 and let's look at Psalm 125 as a continuation of 124. Psalm 124 is a fine picture of how God delivers us from every evil and persecution. Are we able to give testimony of God's presence in our lives when we encounter times of attack from the enemy or when our own weaknesses and giants confront us? More importantly, let's remember that we have ultimately been rescued from paying the price of sin that is death. In verses 6-7, the psalmist talks about us being "torn by their teeth" and us escaping from the the fowler's snare. Those illustrations point to the hold of satan over those who do not choose to turn from sin ("torn by teeth", "fowler's snare) but in Christ, we have "escaped" because the "snare has been broken"!

Next, look at Psalm 125. Can you just sense the confidence and boldness the psalmist has as he writes about the Lord's trustworthiness? The psalmist says that those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion - a holy mountain supported by providence and promise and cannot be removed from confidence in God. I'm here in Redding and it's surrounded by beautiful mountains. So is Jerusalem. The surrounding of mountains signify a circle of unmovable protection. Those that trust in the Lord are safe from their enemies. Nothing can move them. It's like having a impenetrable shield of defense. We need not be afraid of the fiery darts that may fly at us.

Be steadfast in God. Use and trust His shield around us. There is nothing that can upset the trustworthiness of God because He is faithful and unchanging. Look up the mountain and see your help in time of need. God is your source of help and strength.

love you all,
jenn

"I will not be afraid, for You have given me a new way to be brave."