Reflections on Psalms 125

 Psalms 125(Contemporary English Version)

1. (A song for worship.) Everyone who trusts the LORD is like Mount Zion that cannot be shaken and will stand forever.
   
2. Just as Jerusalem is protected by mountains on every side, the LORD protects his people by holding them in his arms now and forever.
   
3. He won't let the wicked rule his people or lead them to do wrong.
   
4. Let's ask the LORD to be kind to everyone who is good and completely obeys him.
   
5. When the LORD punishes the wicked, he will punish everyone else who lives a crooked life. Pray for peace in Israel!

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There is nothing in life that is certain, except for those who "trust in the Lord." They are like Mount Zion that "cannot be shaken; it remains forever." (125:1) In what way are those who trust in the Lord unshakable? They will not be shaken from their righteousness to turn to injustice. We may shake our heads at this thinking it not to be true. We know any number of people who are found in the congregation of believers who have turned to injustice. But the operative statement is, "Those who trust in the Lord." One may join the congregation of believers and have the appearance of being righteous but not truly trust in the Lord. They have placed their trust in something else and turned to injustice in pursuit of it.

Verse 3 tells us that wickedness will not be allowed to rule long enough that those who trust the Lord are shaken and "apply their hands to injustice." It brings to mind 1 Corinthians 10:13, "God is faithful and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape, so that you are able to bear it." The "way of escape" spoken of in Psalms 125 is the removal of "the scepter of the wicked."

Trusting in the Lord, then, is the way of peace. For the wicked will be removed leaving the righteous in peace. Any who are drawn away from righteousness by the influence of the wicked and apply their hands to injustice will be banished along with the evildoers. (verse 5) But those who trust in the Lord will remain and enjoy peace and the Lord will do what is good to them.