Today’s Lectio Divina: Excerpts from Psalm 125. (MsgB)
A Pilgrim Song.
Those who trust in God are like Zion Mountain:
Nothing can move it, a rock-solid mountain you can always depend on.
Mountains encircle Jerusalem, and God encircles His people— always has and always will.
Solid like a rock.
Back in 1991, Chevrolet borrowed the Bob Seger classic tune “Like A Rock” (1986) and layered it nicely behind a series of manly shots of their Silverado truck running through mud, up steep mountains, and over massive tree stumps. The commercial was a hit back then, and now, over 20 years later, most Americans don’t associate Seger’s song, “Like A Rock”, with its composer anymore. Just Chevy trucks!
So it was back in the days of King David.
Songs like Psalm 125 did for God and His people what Bob Seger’s song did for Chevrolet! As I see it, there probably wasn’t an Israelite to be found back in the day who didn’t know this catchy little tune about how God’s people are just like Mt. Zion. Seems like this theme of being solid like a rock is a timeless subject, don’t you think?
And who wouldn’t want to be solid like a rock, anyway?
Just think of all the things down here on planet earth that are not solid like a rock! To be honest, there just isn’t much in life that can be counted on long term. Friends betray you. Family lets you down. Companies fire you. Spouses divorce you. Kids deny your existence. And for heaven’s sake, even Chevy trucks (and yes, Ford fans, even the famed F150) rust out over time!
Ouch.
Quite honestly, it’s never been easy in human history to find a rock-solid foundation to build a life on. Maybe that’s why Jesus of Nazareth told His infamous story about the two building contractors who were looking for a piece of land on which to build their new housing developments. One decided that the sandy shore of the Sea of Galilee was a nice place to throw up a few summer homes. Lakefront property always sells well, so off went Contractor #1 with his plan to build several half-million dollar homes right outside Capernaum.
Only one problem, however. Sand doesn’t provide a very stable foundation for anything permanent and, you guessed it, even before Contractor #1 could put up a few for sale signs, the homes were shifting and sliding, rocking and rolling with every storm that came through the neighborhood. Thus, my friends, we have history’s very first mobile homes!
Sorry, I just couldn’t withhold myself from rolling with that punch!
So, let’s continue.
The Master continued His parable by telling us about Contractor #2. This guy obviously listened a bit more carefully in contractor’s training school and went out to build his fortune by placing his homes higher up in the hills surrounding the Sea of Galilee. There he found strong rock footings on which to secure his expensive homes. Oh yes, his customers will still need to get onto their camels in order to go down to the beach, but thank goodness, they know with a certainty that their home won’t follow them with the next thunderstorm!
Smart man, right?
Solid like a rock.
Who knows? Maybe Contractor #2 also owned a Chevy Silverado!
I’m just sayin’!
My prayer: Father, thank You for the musical reminder that those who trust in You are like Zion Mountain. Solid like a rock. Immovable, not because of our strength or wisdom, but because of Your amazing grace. I receive Your solid protection today in my life. Surround me, oh God, just as the mountains surround Jerusalem. For Your name’s sake. Amen.
My questions to ponder: Am I putting my trust in God and God alone? Am I building my life on the solid rock of Christ or am I getting creative and trying to build a lakefront property for myself on shifting sand?
So what is God speaking to you today as you ponder the Psalms?
Over a 50-week period, you and I will take a deeper look at The Psalms: God’s Songbook of Prayers. In order to keep all the blog sessions organized, we suggest you bookmark our Contemplating the Psalms home page for ease of use. Keep in mind that one of the best ways to explore the on-going applications of this blog series is to walk alongside a biblically-based, Christ-centered spiritual director who is familiar with how to make material like this part of your overall spiritual formation in God. Many of our directors in our Contemplative Activist network are available to companion you in your journey with Jesus. Click here for more info.
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