Some trust in
chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
Psalm 20:7 (NIV)
I have
been listening to a Bible Project podcast about the city. In the Bible, in the
majority of cases, the city is cast in a negative light. It is a place where
people seek to establish their own security independent of God. The definition
of a city in the Old Testament is a walled dwelling place. People put up walls
to protect themselves from danger. Although God had promised to protect humans,
they decided to protect themselves, instead of depending upon God. We are still
building walls to protect ourselves and give ourselves a sense of security.
Our
walls may not be physical, but they are very real. We all naturally look for
something to give us a sense of security. For some people it is their physical
and mental abilities. For some it is their financial status. For others it is
their social status. For many it is their family or community. A sense of
security is a natural human desire. No one wants to feel insecure. We all need
a rock to stand on.
When
our “rock” is shaken our life is thrown into turmoil. At first, we may just
have an uneasy feeling or an increased concern. We will often take steps to
regain our footing. If our finances have become shaky, we will tighten our belt.
If our physical or mental abilities begin to wane, we might take measures to
increase our strength or improve our memory. If our efforts don’t bring quick results,
we may slip into panic mode. Like a drowning person, we start to grasp at
anything to regain our sense of security.
The
Psalmist points us to the underlying thing we seek to make us feel secure;
power. In allegorical fashion, he contrasts placing our trust in chariots and
horses, an image of strength and power, with putting our trust in the Lord. No
matter what the obvious thing is that we trust in for our security, it all
boils down to a sense of power and control. When we have enough money, or are
physically strong, or have the right relationships, we feel like our life in
under control. That feeling is what gives us a sense of security. But there is
a problem. Everything that we trust in here on earth is temporary. It will all
fail us at some point. Our money may run out, our health will deteriorate, our
relationships will fail. It is not that these things are bad, they are just
inadequate to truly give us a lasting security. There is only one place to find
genuine security and that is in the Lord.
Paul
touches on our desire for security in his second letter to the Corinthians. He
talks in realistic terms about our situation in this world. Our lives are
fragile, but when we place of trust in Christ, we are given an internal
strength that makes up for our weakness. Paul says that in our humanity we are
like clay jars, which are fragile and easily broken. But when Christ takes us
residence in our lives, we find genuine security.
But we have this
treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and
not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but
not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We
always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus
may also be revealed in our body.
2 Corinthians 4:7-10 (NIV)
Paul is
a realist. He knows that as long as we are in this world the things we put our
trust in will fail us. Our world is fragile and easily broken. Being a follower
of Christ does not change that reality. What it does change is that because of
the power of Christ we can endure and even thrive. Our security is not in
something external to us, but in something internal and something eternal; the
power of Christ.
Paul
goes on to express his sense of ultimate security. No matter what life threw at
him, he was able to face the challenge because he was not doing it in his own
strength. He saw the challenges of life as a temporary proving ground for his
faith.
Therefore we do
not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being
renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us
an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is
seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen
is eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NIV)
There
are many things in the world that can give us a temporary sense of security.
When they are in the right place in our life, they serve a good purpose. But
when we put all our trust in them, they will fail us. Jesus offers us real
security that cannot be taken away. No matter what our material circumstances
may be, we are secure in God’s love and care.
I lift up my eyes
to the hills-- where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the
Maker of heaven and earth.
Psalm 121:1-2 (NIV)
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