Jerusalem is a surprising place for God to choose as His dwelling.

It’s on the edge — rocky, rugged, poor for farming, lacking a major water source, and far from the great imperial centers.
It’s an outpost, constantly under threat.

And yet that is what makes its placement strategic in God’s design.

Nestled among mountains, Jerusalem stands as a fortress. As Psalm 125 says, when pilgrims speak of the mountains surrounding Jerusalem, they speak of security, trust, and the Lord’s unshakable protection.

Jerusalem’s placement reminds us of our own place before God:
We live on the edge, daily facing the threat of defeat.

That, I believe, is why God selected Jerusalem — to remind us of our vulnerability.
To be vulnerable means we are woundable.

That’s why we need a God of protection — a mighty fortress is our God:

“A bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood
Of mortal ills prevailing.”

When we recognize that the land and life around us are dry and barren, we realize we need the living water of Jesus Christ — the one who quenches our thirst and guards our hearts.
Our daily sustenance and security come from the Lord.

Are you on the edge of defeat?
Join the pilgrims who sang Psalm 125:

“Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion,
which cannot be shaken but endures forever.
As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
so the Lord surrounds his people both now and forevermore.”