Some of the most beautiful images of God’s protection
resides in the Psalms. I had another opportunity to
visit the Rocky Mountains and the scenery is
absolutely breath taking. Words are hard
pressed to describe the overwhelming feeling of being 32,000 feet above sea
level and look around to see nothing but snow capped mountain range. God’s creation is always around us, but those
mountains made it feel like his creation had wrapped around me and was giving a
bear hug.
The Psalmist had similar feelings when he looked at the
mountains surrounding Jerusalem. “Those
who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion,
which cannot be moved, but abides forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, from this
time forth and forevermore” (125:1-2).
Bobby Price, a song writer, took inspiration from these
verses and compiled the lyrics to “Surround Us, O Lord.” Robert Taylor in his Praise Hymnal thought Psalm 106:47-48 was appropriate for this song as well, “Save us, O Lord
our God, and gather us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to your
holy name and glory in your praise. Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to
everlasting! And let all the people say, “Amen!” Praise the Lord!” The song goes like this: “As the mountains
surround Jerusalem,
so the Lord surrounds his people (Repeat).
Surround us Lord, surround us, O Lord.
We need to be in your presence.
Surround us Lord. Surround us
Lord.”
What a beautiful and comforting image to think how God
surrounds his people. He is not some
distant deity who is out of touch with the world he created and the people he
calls his own. He wants to be a part of
us and surround us with his presence and love.
While in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, to look around and see the
endless mountain range to me meant that I could not easily escape them. That’s the picture the psalmist paints. We cannot easily escape God and ultimately
nobody will for one day every knee will bow (Romans 14:11).
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