The safety of those who trust in God: a lesson from experience. "They that trust in the Lord are as Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abideth for ever," etc. ( Psalms 125:1 ). I. THEY REST ON AN IMMOVABLE FOUNDATION . "Cannot be moved, but abideth forever." II. ARE SURROUNDED AND PROTECTED AS BY A WALL OF MOUNTAINS . The distant mountains of Moab most probably alluded to, as Jerusalem was surrounded by no great mountains. God's protecting... read more
As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people. This is the true cause of his people's stability, which is like that of his holy mountain. The ubiquitous God stands round about his people, and protects them on every side. The mountains that am "round about Jerusalem" are, on the east, the Mount of Olives; on the south, the Hill of Evil Counsel; on the west, the ridge beyond the valley of Jehoshaphat; and on the north, the high ground about Scopas. All... read more
The encircling of Divine defense. "The Lord is round about his people." Robinson says, "The sacred city lies upon the broad and high mountain range which is shut in by the two valleys Jehoshaphat and Hinnom. All the surrounding hills are higher . On the east, the Mount of Olives; on the south, the so-called Hill of Evil Counsel, which ascends from the Valley of Hinnom; on the west the ground rises gently to the border of the great wady; while on the north the bend of a ridge which... read more
They that trust in the Lord - His people; his friends. It is, and has been always, a characteristic of the people of God that they trust or confide in him.Shall be as mount Zion - The mountain which David fortified, and on which the city was at first built, 2 Samuel 5:6-9. The name Zion became also the name by which the entire city was known.Which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever - A mountain is an emblem of firmness and stability; and it is natural to speak of it as that which could not... read more
As the mountains are round about Jerusalem - Hebrew, “Jerusalem - the mountains are round about her.” Jerusalem, except on the north, is encompassed with hills or mountains, so that although the city was built on hills - Zion, Moriah, Bezethah, Acra - it was itself surrounded by hills higher than any of these, and was, in a certain sense, in a valley. See the notes at Matthew 2:1. Compare the notes at Psalms 48:1-14.So the Lord is round about his people ... - As Jerusalem is thus protected by... read more
Psalms 125:1. They that trust in the Lord Who depend upon his care, and devote themselves to his honour; shall be as mount Zion Which is firm, as a mountain supported by providence, and much more so as a holy mountain, supported by promise; which cannot be removed Or, overthrown, by any winds or storms, both because of its own greatness and strength, and because of the divine protection afforded to it. read more
Psalms 125:2. As the mountains are round about Jerusalem Defending it, not only from stormy winds and tempests, the force of which these mountains broke, but from the assaults of its enemies. And such a defence is God’s providence to his people. His protection is round about them on every side, and is constant and persevering, from henceforth, says the psalmist, even for ever. Mountains may moulder and come to naught, and the rocks be removed out of their place, (Job 14:18,) but... read more
Psalms 125-128 Lessons from JerusalemAs the worshippers journey towards Jerusalem, they recall some of the varied experiences that the city has passed through. They see these as typical of the experiences of God’s people as a whole. Believers are like Jerusalem in that they are completely secure and fully protected (125:1-2). Although Jerusalem sometimes came under the rule of its enemies, God never allowed these enemies to control it for long, in case God’s people lost their devotion to him... read more
Title. Same as Psalms 120:0 . See App-67 . trust = confide. Hebrew. batah. App-69 . the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 . Shall be as mount Zion. Some codices, with one early printed edition and Syriac, read "are in Mount Zion". App-68 . for ever. Note the Figure of speech. Epistrophe ( App-6 ), the words being repeated at the end of the next line. read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 125:1-5
Such as cannot be moved. There can be little doubt, so it seems to me , that these psalms, from one of which our text is taken, were all of them songs of the exiles returning from their captivity in Babylon. Their very name—"Songs of Degrees"—denotes that they were sung as the people went up towards their land, their city, and the sanctuary of the Lord. But the frequent allusions to the Exile, to its degradation and sorrow, to the almost complete destruction which had there all but... read more