The Lord Surrounds His People

Psalm 125 (ESV)

1Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion,
which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
so the Lord surrounds his people,
from this time forth and forevermore.
3 For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest
on the land allotted to the righteous,
lest the righteous stretch out
their hands to do wrong.
4 Do good, O Lord, to those who are good,
and to those who are upright in their hearts!
5 But those who turn aside to their crooked ways
the Lord will lead away with evildoers!
Peace be upon Israel!

As I read Psalm 125, the word “surrounds” in verse 2 stood out for me. It reminds me of the testimony of a Scottish missionary, John G. Paton. Paton was a missionary in the 1800s who had gone to the New Hebrides (a chain of islands in the South Pacific) to evangelise to the natives who were steeped in witchcraft and cannibalism.

One night, the mission headquarters was surrounded by the natives who were intent on burning and slaying him and his wife. The couple turned to the Lord in prayer throughout the night. The next morning, their attackers had fled and the couple praised the Lord with grateful hearts. Almost a year later, the chief of the tribe surrendered his life to Jesus. Paton remembered the incident and asked the chief what prevented the natives from killing him and his wife that night. The chief answered that they had seen hundreds of big men, all dressed in white with drawn swords in their hands, standing guard outside the headquarters. Seeing these armed guards encircling the headquarters scared the attackers off.

In 2 Kings 6:15-17, Elisha and his servant also witnessed how the Lord had surrounded them with horses and chariots to protect them from their enemies. How true it is that those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion. They cannot be moved. It does not mean that there will be no suffering nor testing. As believers, we will still face trials and tribulations. However, the Lord promises that when we place our trust in Him, we are not alone. He will surround us and deliver us.

A few years ago, our family went through an ordeal that rocked our lives. At the time, we could not share with anyone or ask for prayers or help. It almost felt that we were facing this situation alone with God. However, He showed us very quickly that we were not alone. He surrounded us with prayer warriors, such as a group of sisters who were prompted by the Holy Spirit to pray for us despite us not knowing the situation we were in. With the intercession of these prayer warriors, the Lord delivered us from harm’s way.

“As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, from this time forth and forevermore” – Psalm 125:2

Let us continue to turn to the Lord and place our trust in Him. He alone is our rock and our salvation and we will not be shaken (Psalm 62:2).

– By sister Sarah Choo

Reflection Questions

• How has God kept you from danger?
• The psalm says that the Lord surrounds His people. When have you felt surrounded by God?