Planted!

20 Nov

Planted! (originally published Dec. 29, 2017)

One of my favorite verses is Psalm 55:22, “Cast your burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain you: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.” The New Testament version of this is found in 1 Peter 5:7, “Casting all your care upon him; for he cares for you.”

Websters dictionary lists at least ten synonyms for the word “move”. They include proceed, persuade, activate, drive, impel, start, stir, act, budge, and evacuate. Not all of these fit the context of this verse, however. Changing residence and evacuation (as in bodily waste), for instance, are not necessarily classifiable as undesirable actions.

The Hebrew word used in this verse is môwƫ (pronounced “mote”). It has the negative connotation of wavering, slipping, falling, or of being off course. While there are five other references in the Old Testament that are translated “moved” from this same Hebrew word, it appears twenty times in the Psalms, eight of which were written by David.

Psalm 1:3 presents the opposite consequence, the security of being unmoved in terms of “…a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he does shall prosper.” This righteous person “…walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful…But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law does he meditate day and night” (Ps. 1:1-2,6).

To be moved in the sense of Psalm 55:22 is to be displaced from your biblical beliefs. The verse does not say that there will never be pressure to stray from the precepts of God’s Word. Nor does it indicate that everyone will be sustained by the Lord. It is a promise to those who, by faith, cast their cares on the Lord. Since God is the Almighty, He is infinitely more capable than you to carry that burden.

What is it that encumbers you so terribly? Is it lack of forgiveness that has led to bitterness? Is it worry about the future? Are you fretting for the safety or health of a loved one? Has your daily routine become more than you can handle? Are you afraid someone will find out that secret sin from your past? In holding on to something that requires more strength than you have, you are inviting emotional and spiritual devastation. God calls on you to let go of your concerns. There is nothing you can do to change your circumstances. Why waste time and energy maintaining and nurturing anxiety for something over which you have no control?

Jesus invites you to “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matt. 11:28-30).