The Lord Surrounds His People
BRD REFLECTIONS:
Deuteronomy 21, 22 and Psalms 125 (NIV)
(Matthew Peter, Prayer & Praise Pastoral Staff)
READ:
Reading both Deuteronomy 21,22 and Psalm 125, these are the verses that captured me
Deuteronomy 22 (ESV)
- V4: You shall not see your brother’s donkey or his ox fallen down by the way and ignore them. You shall help him to lift them up again.
Psalm 125 (ESV)
- V1: Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
- V2: As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, from this time forth and forevermore.
OBSERVE:
Our God has set a precedence for our societal order and ethical conduct in various aspects of community life. Through these scriptures I am reminded again and again to seek good for others above myself, even if it brings me out of my way. While doing this I can place my trust in the Lord who is unshakable, unmovable and a solid foundation for all. I can rest assured that my God surrounds me.
APPLY:
In 2017, I was on my motorbike, at the turning pocket of a major industrial junction. I had suspected there was an issue with my brakes as something felt off while riding. However, I carried on with the journey thinking I would have it checked later.
While waiting in the pocket of the junction, I was anticipating the green arrow to make a turn. When it came on, my bike refused to move. The brakes were clamped on the rear tyres. I started over, accelerating and hoping for the brakes to let up, but the bike just won’t move. I started to panic, I had no idea what was wrong or how to resolve it. I was in the middle of an eight-lane major junction, and I knew in 1 min, I would be blocking oncoming traffic. Lorries behind me were now going around me while honking at me.
Then the lights turned. Oncoming cars tried to avoid me. I jumped off the bike, praying “Lord please help me” and tried to push it out of the way to no avail. Then out of nowhere a man came and helped me lift my bike and together we carried it to the side of the road. Before I could take my helmet off and thank the gentleman, he was gone.
My bike was like a fallen ox, I needed help and the Lord provided someone to help me to safety.
DO:
I want to be more like Jesus, to seek the needs of others before myself. I want to be like the man who went out of his way to help me at the junction to safety. The Lord surrounds His people. I know I can place my trust and confidence in Jesus, who is the perfecter of my faith. Reflecting on this event, although I was panicky, there was no reason for me to be, as the Lord was surrounding me. Today, may we all be encouraged to continually place our faith and our hope in Jesus.
PRAY:
Father, the all-knowing, preserver of our lives. You surround us with Your abounding and steadfast love. Help us to be more like Jesus, help us to see the needs of others around us in our community and even beyond. Help us to go out of our ways to meet the needs of others. I thank You that You always have the best for me. Teach me to continually place my trust in You and abide in the true vine. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen.
