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 Yahweh: As 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
