In times of trouble, you will protect me. You will hide me in your tent and keep me safe on top of a mighty rock (Psalm 27:5, CEV).

Remic Rapids Park, Ottawa, ON, balanced rock sculptures by John Ceprano — photo by David Kitz

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is rock.

Here is an Encarta Dictionary definition for the word precarious. Precarious: 1. unsafe, dangerously unstable, unsteady, uncertain, or insecure. 2. not well founded, based on uncertain premises or unwarranted assumptions.

The rock sculptures of John Ceprano, as seen in the photo above, are a vivid picture of the word precarious. The rocks are delicately balanced. Setting them in these positions takes deft precision, incredible skill and a great deal of patience. On the evening when I took this photo, John was working on a new balanced sculpture. Three times it collapsed in a jumbled heap.

John’s rock sculptures remind me of this verse from the Psalms:

In times of trouble, you will protect me. You will hide me in your tent and keep me safe on top of a mighty rock (Psalm 27:5, CEV).

This verse seems like it contains a contradiction. On the one hand it says the LORD will hide and protect me in His tent. But within in that tent He will keep me safe on top of a mighty rock. It’s hard to hide on top of a rock.

There is nothing precarious about my life if it is hid in God—if it’s safe within His tent. There I can stand on top of my mighty Rock.

Response: LORD God, I’m thankful for the security I have in you. Troubles may come, but I am safe within you. Amen.

Your Turn: How do you view your salvation? Are you safe or precarious?