And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved.
The verse describes what a person says in prosperity, that his standing and position are secure and he will never be moved or shaken. That claim is trust in own strength and in own mountain and own position, and in preaching and influence when they are appreciated, without staying humble and lowly in spirit and without realizing constant dependence on God. It is failure to recognize personal weakness and vulnerability when circumstances seem favorable. Chapin's confidence that his position would stand by his own strength was of this kind, and his failure and present condition reveal human weakness when separated from God.
Such self-confidence makes a person careless and in constant peril. It leaves him tossed to and fro by the mind and affected by circumstances, so that surroundings color religious experience and weakness of character becomes apparent under temptation and trial. It leaves a person especially vulnerable to be overcome by temptation and to decline spiritually. This is because life is in an enemy's land where foes lurk behind every bush and rock to surprise those who are off guard. Satan plans to take advantage of hereditary and cultivated traits of character and to blind the eyes to personal necessities and defects, so that without constant prayer and reliance on God's power a person can be corrupted by worldly influences and fail to carry out God's purpose.
No mountain of human strength, plans, and influence is so strong that it cannot be moved. Such human plans and influence can be set aside, while God remains the source of strength and brings help, sometimes through the weakest instruments. Walking securely comes only through sensing danger, realizing personal weakness, overcoming defects of character, and looking steadfastly to Jesus in constant dependence, prayer, and watchfulness. It requires watching unto prayer with earnest, persevering longing for mercy at the mercy-seat with perseverance that cannot be denied, and then the Spirit of the Lord lifts up a standard when the enemy comes.
The verse describes what a person says in prosperity, that his standing and position are secure and he will never be moved or shaken. That claim is trust in own strength and in own mountain and own position, and in preaching and influence when they are appreciated, without staying humble and lowly in spirit and without realizing constant dependence on God. It is failure to recognize personal weakness and vulnerability when circumstances seem favorable. Chapin's confidence that his position would stand by his own strength was of this kind, and his failure and present condition reveal human weakness when separated from God.
Such self-confidence makes a person careless and in constant peril. It leaves him tossed to and fro by the mind and affected by circumstances, so that surroundings color religious experience and weakness of character becomes apparent under temptation and trial. It leaves a person especially vulnerable to be overcome by temptation and to decline spiritually. This is because life is in an enemy's land where foes lurk behind every bush and rock to surprise those who are off guard. Satan plans to take advantage of hereditary and cultivated traits of character and to blind the eyes to personal necessities and defects, so that without constant prayer and reliance on God's power a person can be corrupted by worldly influences and fail to carry out God's purpose.
No mountain of human strength, plans, and influence is so strong that it cannot be moved. Such human plans and influence can be set aside, while God remains the source of strength and brings help, sometimes through the weakest instruments. Walking securely comes only through sensing danger, realizing personal weakness, overcoming defects of character, and looking steadfastly to Jesus in constant dependence, prayer, and watchfulness. It requires watching unto prayer with earnest, persevering longing for mercy at the mercy-seat with perseverance that cannot be denied, and then the Spirit of the Lord lifts up a standard when the enemy comes.