Essays

Essays

A Bulwark Never Failing

A BULWARK NEVER FAILING

          Psalm 125 was a song sung by the people of Israel on the occasion of their goings up to Jerusalem (for festivals  of worship).  Its words declare the protection of YahwehAs the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people (Ps.125:2).  With the temple in her midst, Adam Clarke notes that the city of Jerusalem was situated on a rocky mountain every way to be ascended, except a little on the north, with steep ascents and deep valleys, naturally fortified.   The 125th psalm opens with a bold declaration:  Those who trust in the Lord are as Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever (Ps.125:1).  Both the geography and topography of the city of Jerusalem proclaim in a symbolic way what the Bible states matter-of-factly.  The lay of the land provided the city and her inhabitants with almost insurmountable protection.  Jerusalem was a mighty fortress - - a city set on a hill surrounded by mountains

          That which in Old Testament days was ascribed to Jerusalem (a city impregnable) is reaffirmed in New Testament times, but with a significant transference.   The church of our Lord Jesus Christ becomes the true Mount Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem (Heb.12:22).   Regarding the establishment and permanence of the church, Jesus proclaimed, “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Mt.16:18).  As Jesus made His way into Jerusalem on the way to His crucifixion, He spoke a number of judgment parables.  When He encountered a fruitless fig tree (the fig tree was a symbol of Israel), he declared, “No longer shall there ever be any fruit from you” (Mt.21:19).  He also urged His disciples to pray with faith and say to this mountain ,“be taken and cast into the sea” (Mt.21:21).  It is my belief that Jesus was here prophesying of the God-ordained and soon-coming destruction of the old Jerusalem (Mt.23:37f).  Paul's allegory in Gal.3:21 bears this out by contrasting the Old (Mount Sinai) with the New (the Jerusalem above).   

          Mountain language is prevalent throughout Scripture.  In the Old Testament:  the ark rested on Mount Ararat ((Gen.18:1-5); Abraham ascended Mount Moriah with his son Isaac to make a sacrifice (Gen.22:1-14); Moses received the 10 Commandments on Mount Sinai (Ex.19-20 & 24); the city of David was founded on Mt. Zion, with Solomon building the temple there at a later date (2Sam.5:1-10 and 1Kgs.8:1); and it was on Mount Carmel that Elijah brought down the prophets of Baal (1Kgs.18:20ff).  In New Testament times we witness Jesus delivering the sermon on the mount (Mt.5:1ff) and healing many on the mountain (Mt.15:29-31); He was transfigured on an unnamed mountain top (Lk.9:28f); He prayed on the Mount of Olives (Lk.22:39) and delivered His Olivet discourse regarding judgments on the people of Israel (Mt.24); Our Lord was crucified at Golgotha, which was known as Mount Calvary (Lk.23:33).  On and on we could go, one mountain experience after another. 

          Psalm 125 is a foreshadowing of God's never-ending providence - - from this time forth & forever (Ps.125:2).   In the words of a famous hymn writer noted for spearheading a medieval reformation to return to the sacred writings:     A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing; Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing.

                                                                                     Terry Siverd / Cortland Church of Christ