...victory over evil...

I have lived in some of the most amazing places in the world: Cape Cod, Massachusetts; Penobscot Bay, Maine; Rangoon, Burma; Alma, Nebraska; Kenmare, Ireland; Hong Kong, China; and Bugisi, Tanzania. In all of these places, I have come to see in the most amazing ways that the Creator of the universe has, for reasons best known to Him, decided to take up residence in the tiniest, little places in each of these locations. The Psalms often celebrate the Creator’s presence in Jerusalem, or Zion. And in each of these locations it is true that the Creator will rule all of the nations.

I have learned over the years that no place is safe. I cannot find on earth any place where I can escape God and hide from Him! The Psalms surely tell us that Jerusalem is not the place where God’s people go to be in a safe retreat. But I can tell you that sailing on the east coast is no safe point to escape from God. Nor is sitting with a Buddhist Monk in the Shwedagon Pagoda in Rangoon a safe place. And riding in a combine harvesting wheat in the fields of Nebraska is also not a safe place I can hide from God. Nor is stepping alone into the vast Serengeti a safe place to hide from the Lord.

Psalms 42 & 43 have spoken to me for years about this truth, as has Psalm 48. Consider an example from each of these three psalms today:

“6 My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you

from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar…(Ps.42:6).”

“3 O send out your light and your truth; let them lead me;

let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling.

4 Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy;

and I will praise you with the harp, O God, my God…(Ps.43:3, 4).”

Psalm 48 deserves to be quoted in full for its poetic sweep. But let us, instead, look at how it begins and ends with a celebration of Zion and of God’s abiding and life-changing presence within it, first, overthrowing the kingdoms of the earth and, second, the pondering of God’s love and victory by His people.

So, the Psalm begins with the celebration:

“1 Great is YHWH and greatly to be praised

in the city of our God.

2 His holy mountain, beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth,

Mount Zion, in the far north, the city of the great King.

3 Within its citadels God

has shown himself a sure defense” (Ps.48.1–3).

God’s people can therefore pause and celebrate God’s rescuing love and victory over the evil enemies in life:

“9  We ponder your steadfast love, O God,

in the midst of your temple.

10 Your name, O God, like your praise,

reaches to the ends of the earth.

11 Your right hand is filled with victory.

Let Mount Zion be glad, let the towns of Judah rejoice

because of your judgments” (Ps.48.9–11).

The people, in other words, have been observing the way in which the promise of verses 1–3 have in fact been celebrated in words of gratitude in verses 9–11.

This, then, leads me to invite us all to remember that it is good that there are no places in our lives where we can remain hidden from God. When we sin and wish to hide, the hound of heaven is upon us immediately. In that moment of recognition that we are not alone, humbly give thanks to God and beg Him for mercy. May verse 11 in this psalm be our prayer: “Let the towns of Judah rejoice because of Your judgements” (Ps.48:11).

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner.