"The Lord will preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore." (Psalm 121:8, "A Song of Ascents")
The "Songs of Ascents" were to be rehearsed while the Jews were traveling to Jerusalem. Whether they are of the Levitical Priests or just pilgrims in general going up to Jerusalem, they are Psalms of a journey, viz., going from one location to another.
In Jesus Christ, "The Lord...preserve[s] your going out and your coming in..," by His Indwelling Presence, and not by waiting for us to get "there." He is "going there" in us. We can accurately say that the passage in Psalm 121, "The Lord is your shade at your right hand," is now fulfilled in Jesus as, "Jesus is your shade Who dwells within you."
No, I'm not rewriting Scripture. I am attempting to get the Church out of this "I'm-here-God-is-there" mode. The Scriptures themselves reveal this when He teaches us that He goes before us and comes behind us, His hand is upon us and, "underneath are the Everlasting Arms." I can with confidence say that Jesus is our Indwelling-Surrounding Preservation.
You hear a lot today that "God showed up." If anyone needs to "show up," it is you and I. He is already "there/here."
Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray that today's Church will have this written in our hearts and in our minds. Amen.
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
Hebrews 12:2
Hebrews 12:2
