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
For the rod of the wicked ; literally, the scepter of wickedness . Shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous . The possession, or inheritance, of the righteous, i . e . the land in which they dwell. This may fall for a time under the dominion of the wicked, but shall not "rest"— i . e . continue—under such dominion. Lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity; i . e . lest their patience be worn out, and they fall from grace. God will not try men beyond... read more
Delivered in order to be righteous. "The power of the oppressors, the enemies of God's people, shall not abide upon the land. The trial is to prove faith, not to endanger it by a too sharp pressure; lest, overcome by this, even the faithful put forth a hand (as in Genesis 3:22 ) to forbidden pleasure, or (as in Exodus 22:8 ) to contamination; through force of custom gradually persuading to sinful compliance, or through despair of good, as the psalmist ( Psalms 73:13 , Psalms 73:14 ... read more
The lot of the righteous. The previous verses have told how secure it is; these add other facts concerning it. I. THE ROD OF THE WICKED SHALL NOT REST UPON IT . 1. It may come upon the righteous . Often had done so; but it should not continue. It has been thought that reference is made here to the troubles of the righteous Nehemiah, by reason of the opposition and treachery he had to meet with (see Nehemiah 2:16 ; Nehemiah 6:10-14 , Nehemiah 6:17 ). It... read more
Do good, O Lord, unto those that be good . Give them their deservings. For their "goodness" repay them with "goodness." And to them that are upright in their hearts . Exegetical of the preceding clause. Only the " upright in heart " are really "good." read more
The claim of the upright. "Do good, O Lord, unto those that be good, and to them that are upright in their hearts." The upright man has a right to plead on the ground of his uprightness. But observe that the right to plead is quite different from the right to demand; and that the claim of the upright is based on the Divine mercy, consideration, and promise. The man is what God would have him be. The man may claim God's promises of blessing to those who are what he would have them be. ... read more
As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways . The word translated "crooked ways" occurs only here and in 5:6 . It means properly "by-paths," deviations from the straight path of right. The Lord shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity. God shall give them no better portion than he assigns to the open evildoers, since their heart is not really whole with him. But peace shall be upon Israel ; rather, but peace be upon Israel . The psalmist winds up with a prayer, not a... 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