For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: Psa 125

1 Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion,
    which cannot be shaken but endures for ever.
2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
    so the Lord surrounds his people
    both now and for evermore.

3 The sceptre of the wicked will not remain
    over the land allotted to the righteous,
for then the righteous might use
    their hands to do evil.

4 Lord, do good to those who are good,
    to those who are upright in heart.
5 But those who turn to crooked ways
    the Lord will banish with the evildoers.

Peace be on Israel.

A. Find Out

1. Who are like what, and why? v.1
2. What picture is given to illustrate what the Lord does? v,2
3. What will not happen? v.3a
4. Why? v.3b
5. What does he ask for those who do good? v.4
6. What will happen to those who turn to crooked ways? v.5

B. Think:

1. What, here, are spin-offs of trusting in the Lord?
2. What do you think is the meaning of verse 3?
3. How are good and evil doers distinguished?

C. Comment:

                In this sixth ‘song of ascents’ the pilgrim meditates on the security and peace they know by trusting in the Lord (remember they are on their way up to Jerusalem and the Temple to meet the Lord)

                He starts by declaring that those who trust in the Lord are like the ‘mountain’ that Jerusalem is built upon (v.1), specifically the ‘mountain’ where the Temple is situated, that obviously is immovable and unshakable. As they look around the hills or ‘mountains’ surrounding Jerusalem they reflect that that is just how the Lord surrounds and protects His people (v.2) and so they are utterly secure.

                Then they let their eyes scan out over the countryside that is Judah or Israel and they declare that the rule (the sceptre is held by a ruler) of evil people will not be permitted in this land, because then even the righteous might be tempted into wrong doing (v.3)

                They close this psalm thinking about how the Lord differentiates between those who do good and those who do evil. They ask the Lord (to confirm His word?) to do good to those of His people who are good and upright in heart (v.4), to bless them in their faithfulness. They declare that those who turn from the truth and from doing what is right (from the straight path) will be banished from the Land together with all other wrong doers.

D. Application:

1. Rejoice in the security you have in the Lord.
2. Be a person who always does good and never does evil.