“They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever. As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about his people from henceforth even for ever.” —Psalm 125:1-2
If I were to give this Nugget a title, I think I should call it “Blessed Assurance,” for that is the essence of our text for today.
Let us consider first the engagement that affords this assurance. The key word is “trust.” Among a variety of dictionary definitions assigned to the term is this one which carries a legal connotation: “A confidence reposed in a person by making him nominal owner of property, which he is to hold, use, or dispose of for the benefit of another.” There is no real trust without commitment. I once heard it illustrated in terms of a chair: you do not trust a chair when standing beside it; you have only trusted it when you sit in it and trust it to support you.
Trust is not abstract. It requires an object, and is only as good as the object in which the trust is placed. The Object of that trust which gives the assurance afforded in our text is the Lord. It is not those who trust, but “They that trust in the LORD” who reap the promised benefit. He is the Person to Whom committing our trust will bring about the desired benefit. One may trust another who is not, in the end, trustworthy. Or, he may place his trust and make his commitment to one who is simply not capable of fulfilling the trust committed to him. In either case he loses. But when one trusts in the Lord he has committed himself to One who is perfectly trustworthy and who’s capability is that of “the maker of heaven and earth.” He is not only reliable, but infinitely capable.
Then there follows the enduement which results from trusting the LORD; in a word it is stability or security. “They…shall be as mount ZIon which cannot be removed.” The Psalmist remarks in another place, “Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip [Psalm 18:36].” Trusting in the Lord, he was on solid ground, stedfast and immovable. That is the blessing the Lord bestows on those who have committed themselves wholly to Him.
There is more, however, resulting from this trust. Employing the figure of the hills surrounding Jerusalem at various points of the compass, the inspired writer says, “so the Lord is round about His people.” Not only is there stable ground beneath their feet, there are citadels guarding on every side. No adversary can approach without the notice of our Heavenly Father and the assurance that He will protect us from the power of the enemy. Those who “trust in the LORD” are enveloped in His grace. The Savior said,”I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one [John 10:28-29].” We may come under attack, but never will we be overwhelmed.
And what remains to be seen as we reflect on this text, to which we have already alluded, is the endurance of this glorious benefit. The soul who ‘on Jesus leans for repose’ “abideth forever (v.1)” and is surrounded by His grace and power “from henceforth and forever (v.2).” Spurgeon said simply, “We trust in an eternal God, and our safety shall be eternal.” Trust in the Lord involves a commitment which secures our benefit “from here to eternity!”
The subject we have been considering is sometimes referred to by New Testament believers as ‘eternal security,’ though I personally do not prefer the term. In any case, let it be carefully noted that there is an indispensable link between the promise and its fulfillment. It is TRUST—in the LORD. The apostle put it this way: “…I am not ashamed: for I know Whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day [II Tim. 1:12 my italics].” The question is, then, what have we committed to Him? Far too many have committed their destiny to Him who have never committed the journey, hence the ground is unstable beneath their feet and the journey is rough and uncertain.
Appropriate, then, in closing is this familiar but too lightly regarded text: “TRUST in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths [Prov. 3:5-6 again, my italics].”
"Pastor" Frasier
If I were to give this Nugget a title, I think I should call it “Blessed Assurance,” for that is the essence of our text for today.
Let us consider first the engagement that affords this assurance. The key word is “trust.” Among a variety of dictionary definitions assigned to the term is this one which carries a legal connotation: “A confidence reposed in a person by making him nominal owner of property, which he is to hold, use, or dispose of for the benefit of another.” There is no real trust without commitment. I once heard it illustrated in terms of a chair: you do not trust a chair when standing beside it; you have only trusted it when you sit in it and trust it to support you.
Trust is not abstract. It requires an object, and is only as good as the object in which the trust is placed. The Object of that trust which gives the assurance afforded in our text is the Lord. It is not those who trust, but “They that trust in the LORD” who reap the promised benefit. He is the Person to Whom committing our trust will bring about the desired benefit. One may trust another who is not, in the end, trustworthy. Or, he may place his trust and make his commitment to one who is simply not capable of fulfilling the trust committed to him. In either case he loses. But when one trusts in the Lord he has committed himself to One who is perfectly trustworthy and who’s capability is that of “the maker of heaven and earth.” He is not only reliable, but infinitely capable.
Then there follows the enduement which results from trusting the LORD; in a word it is stability or security. “They…shall be as mount ZIon which cannot be removed.” The Psalmist remarks in another place, “Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip [Psalm 18:36].” Trusting in the Lord, he was on solid ground, stedfast and immovable. That is the blessing the Lord bestows on those who have committed themselves wholly to Him.
There is more, however, resulting from this trust. Employing the figure of the hills surrounding Jerusalem at various points of the compass, the inspired writer says, “so the Lord is round about His people.” Not only is there stable ground beneath their feet, there are citadels guarding on every side. No adversary can approach without the notice of our Heavenly Father and the assurance that He will protect us from the power of the enemy. Those who “trust in the LORD” are enveloped in His grace. The Savior said,”I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one [John 10:28-29].” We may come under attack, but never will we be overwhelmed.
And what remains to be seen as we reflect on this text, to which we have already alluded, is the endurance of this glorious benefit. The soul who ‘on Jesus leans for repose’ “abideth forever (v.1)” and is surrounded by His grace and power “from henceforth and forever (v.2).” Spurgeon said simply, “We trust in an eternal God, and our safety shall be eternal.” Trust in the Lord involves a commitment which secures our benefit “from here to eternity!”
The subject we have been considering is sometimes referred to by New Testament believers as ‘eternal security,’ though I personally do not prefer the term. In any case, let it be carefully noted that there is an indispensable link between the promise and its fulfillment. It is TRUST—in the LORD. The apostle put it this way: “…I am not ashamed: for I know Whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day [II Tim. 1:12 my italics].” The question is, then, what have we committed to Him? Far too many have committed their destiny to Him who have never committed the journey, hence the ground is unstable beneath their feet and the journey is rough and uncertain.
Appropriate, then, in closing is this familiar but too lightly regarded text: “TRUST in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths [Prov. 3:5-6 again, my italics].”
Perfect submission, all is at rest;For a safe trip,
I in my Savior am happy and blest,
watching and waiting, looking above,
filled with his goodness, lost in his love.
—Fanny Crosby
"Pastor" Frasier
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