LEAVE IT TO CLEAVER: Spiritual Topography

“The mountains surround Jerusalem and the Lord surrounds his people, both now and forever” (Psa. 125:2 CSB).

Topography is the study of the earth’s surfaces. A topographical map shows the elevations of mountains and hills, as well as the depths of valleys and low places. Contour lines feature how the hills and valleys slope. The map details the earth’s physical features in a particular area. If you look at a topographical map of the area around Jerusalem, you will see how this verse rings true. Mountains do surround the city.

The psalmist used this surrounding of Jerusalem by mountains as a picture of how the Lord surrounds His people. The surrounding by God is not transient. The Lord surrounds us for all time — in past times, in current hours and in eternity future. How comforting it is to know the Lord encloses us in His care.

The writer of Hebrews gives an interesting example of being surrounded. His picture of encircling is by a cloud of witnesses. Those witnesses are on the north, east, south and west, plus all the mid-points in between… all around us! The heroes of faith detailed in Hebrews 11 are a part of this enclosure about us. As the writer begins the chapter, he states: “Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us,keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:1-2).

It seems to me Christians have a cheering section that is all about them every step of life. Those cheerleaders are God’s people from ancient days. Yes, and in the crowd are those who have recently gone on before us. They accompany the host that views us to urge us on in the fulfillment of our lives. The crowd shouts out to complete our journey just as our Lord completed His. Go on! Go on! We are surrounded. Since we are surrounded, let us raise our hands in a surrender of praise!