“He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: He that keepeth thee will not slumber.” Psalm 121:3
He is certainly most stable, and solidly assured, who is most wholly trusting in Christ as his peace and Keeper. But how is this to be? It is one thing to know that Scripture speaks to us of God being our keeper, our, “very present help in time of trouble.” It is also wonderful to know that in the same Psalm 46, we read: “God is in the mnidst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.” (v.5) Even David would write in his Psalm 16 of the same truth, “I have set the Lord always before me: because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.” (v.8) Why is it so very important, not only to know these truths, but to experience the reality of them? The answer resides in the calling of the believer.
Chosen of God to bear fruit, much fruit, the believer is called to know God. Paul would even go so far as to say of this knowledge that his longing, desire, and goal, was to know the Power of the resurrection of Christ. So, it must be understood by the believer that to take God at His word is first to SEE that He has declared Himself to be our Keeper, the very stability and sustainer of our lives. We are called upon to know Him specifically as our Keeper, our very present Help in time of trouble, “…on earth as it is in heaven.” In heaven before God, the believer is complete in Christ, there lacking nothing that is in Christ which has not been given to him, in order to live and glorify God during his time on earth. But, in order to “bring down” the blessing from heaven to earth, there must not only a grasping of the truth of our union with Christ, but the appropriation of Him as our life. He IS the believers Keeper, and the Keeping power of the believer. He is that one who KEEPS him in perfect peace, “…whose mind is stayed on Thee.”(Isaiah 26:3) In Paul”s letter to the Philippian believers, he writes: “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall KEEP your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Phil 4:7) The same Great Shepherd of Psalm 23, whose rod and staff are a comfort to the sheep who needs protection from enemies that would destroy it, is the One of whom Paul spoke, who gives His peace in the storm, to keep heart and mind in a turbulent world. The great question then must be presented to us individually: Do we know the reality of Christ’s keeping power in the difficult circumstance, the overwhelming time when “the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea?” (Ps. 46:2) There are few who know such peace, that of a mighty, flowing river, because there are few that trust in Christ alone and wholly as their peace and stability.
There is another aspect of this “keeping power” of Christ, by the Spirit, and it has to do with assurance in guidance. It is certainly true that when God calls the believer to go forth, or rather, the sheep to be led out of the sheepfold by the Great Shepherd, he will be given Christ’s peace. It must be recognized that this peace which God gives is not of this world, as it is of Christ. It thus “passes understanding,” not being able to explain or understood. Why? Because the God of peace transcends all that is of this world and circumstance. He gives His peace when the heart is obedient to HIs calling. In Isaiah 55:12, we read that in response to the living word of God spoken, there is this promise: “For ye shall go out with joy, and be led for with peace.” This is the same peace of which Paul the Apostle writes: “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts.” (Col. 3:15)
Dear Father, Keep us in peace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.