the Italian architect, Bonnano Pisano, began work on what would become his most famous project: A free-standing bell tower for the cathedral in the city of Pisa. Pisano dreamed that his great masterpiece would be visible from miles away. So he designed a tower eight stories tall – 185 feet high.
There was just one “little” problem. As construction of the tower progressed, the builders soon realized that the soil on one side of the tower was much softer than they had originally thought, and the foundation was way too shallow.
Sure enough, even before the tower was finished, it began to tilt. It took 176 years to build the Tower of Pisa, during which time builders tried to compensate for the “tilt.” Foundations were shored up. The upper levels were even built at an angle to try to make the top of the tower look straight. But nothing worked. The bell tower of Pisa now tilts at about a four-degree angle.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa has stood for over 800 years. Some experts say that no matter what is done, one day it will fall – because it is ultimately leaning on nothing but air.
In the Old Testament of the Bible, God talks a lot about leaning. He uses it as a metaphor for what people rely on or trust in – what they put their weight on.
At times, God’s people relied on the wrong things. They relied on treaties with foreign countries, such as Egypt and Aram, to bail them out against their enemies, rather than relying on God (2 Kings 18:21, 2 Chronicles 16:7-8). They leaned on their money and their own machinations, claiming to lean only on the Lord (Micah 3:11). They trusted in their own human wisdom and whims instead of trusting the Lord with all their hearts (Proverbs 3:5).
Leaning our weight fully on any institution, person, or thing here in this world is foolish. It’s like building a freestanding bell tower that leans on nothing. In every instance, God’s people of the Old Testament eventually collapsed under the weight they placed on something other than God.
With God, however, we have a strong foundation. When the weight of our worries makes us wobble – when our weak knees begin to give way – we have something to lean on.
In 1887, music teacher Anthony J. Showalter received two letters on the same day from former students, both telling him that their wives had recently passed away. As he sat down to write letters of consolation, he drew inspiration from Deuteronomy 33:27: “The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.”
That night, Showalter composed the lyrics to one of the most beloved hymns of all time.
“Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms; Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.”
We all lean on something. But governments fail. Politicians disappoint. Money runs out. Work ends. Even our own wisdom gives way under the weight of life. Leaning on those things is like building a tower that leans on the wind.
The good news is that we have someone who holds us up when our knees wobble and our feet give way. Beneath us are the everlasting arms of our Savior – loving arms which stretched out on a cross for our forgiveness, powerful arms which now promise to hold us forever.
Lean on him. He will never let you fall.
Pastor Andrew Schroer has been a pastor for over 25 years and is currently serving at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Edna, Texas. You can find his latest books, “364 Days of Thanksgiving” and “364 Days of Devotion,” on Amazon.com.
