Psalms of the Ascents: Finding Stability

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Psalm 125:1

Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion.
It cannot be shaken; it remains forever.

(CSB)

The Leaning Tower of Pisa stands, or should I say leans, as an example of what happens when a building lacks a solid foundation.  In 2001, engineers siphoned earth from underneath the foundations, decreasing the lean.  In May of 2008 sensors indicated that the motion of the tower had stopped, and engineers now expect the tower to remain stable for at least 200 years.  (1)  Without a solid foundation, our lives too can lean.

However, just like the engineers building the Tower of Pisa, many often build their lives upon a shaky soft foundation.  Some examples of such foundations are,

1)      Wealth – Ecclesiastes 5:8 provides biblical reality on wealth.  The main theses of the passage is that while wealth is not in itself evil and something God allows one to enjoy (Ecclesiastes 5:18), it can also be lost in a bad venture (Ecclesiastes 5:14).  The Bible also reminds that loving money is the root of all evil (1 Timothy 6:10), and that our heart is in what we treasure most (Matthew 6:21).  The question one must ask themselves is do they want to build their life on the foundation of something that could quickly disappear or lead to evil behavior if one falls in love with it?

2)      Relationships – God created man to have fellowship with God, something Adam and Eve regularly experienced in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:8).  Sin and disobedience, however, led to Adam and Eve’s eviction from the Garden, severing the close relationship they once experienced.  The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ has provided a path for restoration of this relationship.  Relationships based upon any other are shaky and unstable, yet many seek stability in life from these relationships. 

3)      Career – The typical question asked when someone meets someone is what they do for a living.  This demonstrates how we find identity in our careers.  While this is not evil, it is a shaky foundation upon which to build our life for careers, like wealth, can go away.  Solomon, one of the wealthiest and successful men on earth wrote of the emptiness of work in Ecclesiastes 2:18-26.  To paraphrase, Solomon says to enjoy the fruits of one’s labor while they are still alive for they cannot take it with them when they die. 

4)      Education – Statistics from the U.S. Department of Labor support the fact that higher levels of education result in higher wages.  (2)  However, this is no guarantee for many struggle to find jobs with sufficient pay to cover student loans after graduation.  This has led to student loan debt becoming the second highest consumer debt behind mortgage debt.  (3)  Those seeking stability in life through education can find themselves with higher gross wages but less disposable income due to large student loan payments. 

Psalm 125 reminds us that just as Israel found stability in the Lord, we too can find stability in life through a relationship with the Lord.  This stability is an eternal stability that is unshakable (Psalm 125:1).  It is secure with the Lord surrounding His people with a hedge of protection (Psalm 125:2).  It is a stability that will outlast the wicked (Psalm 125:3).  To enjoy this stability, one has to repent or turn from their wicked way of life and turn to God. 

Unlike the psalmist who had to look forward to salvation from the promised Messiah, we have the benefit of looking back to the finished work of Messiah on the Cross of Calvary.  Romans 10:9-10 provides simple instructions for finding stability in life through Christ through confession with our mouths of Jesus as our Lord.  If you have never done so, I urge you to find this stability by praying with me now.

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, was buried, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

You now have a solid foundation upon which to build Godly stability in life.  To build upon this foundation requires practice of the disciplines of prayer, Bible study, and spending time with others that also have a stable relationship with Jesus.  Remember that prayer does not need to be some eloquent choice of words but is just a simple conversation with God.  The Bible is God speaking to us, but none of us has complete understanding of what we read so do not feel intimidated when the words do not seem to make sense.  Instead allow God to speak to you through His Word and little by little you will gain understanding of what it says.  This stresses the importance of being with other believers who may have a higher level of understanding and are able to teach us. 

Seek stability in life through a personal relationship with God and spending time to get to know Him through prayer and His Word. 

1. Britannica. Leaning Tower of Pisa. www.britannica.com. [Online] Britannica. [Cited: July 22, 2018.] https://www.britannica.com/topic/Leaning-Tower-of-Pisa.

2. U.S. Department of Labor. Education Level and Pay. www.dol.gov. [Online] U.S. Department of Labor. [Cited: July 24, 2018.] https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/wages/educational.

3. Friedman, Zack. Student Load Debt Statistics in 2018: A $1.5 Trillion Crisis. www.forbes.com. [Online] Forbes, June 13, 2018. [Cited: July 24, 2018.] https://www.forbes.com/sites/zackfriedman/2018/06/13/student-loan-debt-statistics-2018/#5a3c776b7310.