Have I ever told you about the time I played football?
OK that narrows it down to nothing. So back when I was a boy, loving football as I did, I had the honour of playing for my junior school football team. I played two games for the school. After that I was not picked again. There are a number of reasons I have made up to outline why that was, reasons like the coach wanted to be fair to others; such was my impact on the team, he didn’t want me to be the focus of attention; conscious of what I brought to the team, he didn’t want to hamper the progress of others. These and others have served me well in helping to conveniently overlook the truth of the matter – I was awful.
I was the goalkeeper for the team. I volunteered to be so. Yet in doing so there were some aspects of being a goalkeeper that eluded. Chiefly those aspects were everything you needed to be a competent goalkeeper. Almost on principle I didn’t dive to prevent the ball crossing the line for a goal – diving being something any competent goalkeeper does without hesitation. I didn’t communicate with my defence to keep them alert. Once one goal was conceded I tended to just give in and make half-hearted efforts at ‘playing’ but usually ended up waiting for the full time whistle. It was a mercy when they relieved me of my goalkeeping duties after those two matches. I am sure I conceded double figures in both matches, so my successor just had to keep the figures below 10 to be a hero.
I don’t say all that to recollect the ravages of my ineptitude. (Indeed as I got older I got the hang of being a goalie, chiefly the requirement to be crazy, and actually enjoyed being a goalie on many occasions in leisure time play when having a kick about with colleagues.) I say all of that because a few of us were reading Psalm 121. Predominant in the psalm is the sentiment that God is a keeper. I was very intrigued by what that meant. Keeping, preserving, watching with protective intent.
God came across as the ultimate goalkeeper. Keeping the goal in mind, He preserved it so that none were conceded and no one could pierce through the final line of defence. As a result the goal remained intact and the ability to keep the goal intact is the platform on which football games can at best be won well and even at worst can never be lost.
The goal in mind that He safeguards are His people. He’s a keeper – He’s the keeper. This is very reassuring in tough times when it feels as though all hope is gone and I have conceded so much feeling like I am not worth the effort of preserving at all. He still come through, He watches and guards – and He will concede nothing as He protects His goal in the light of reaching and scoring His goals in the life, crucifixion and resurrection of His Son.
It’s great to know that God is the Keeper.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 