Psalms 125:1-2

Psalms 125:1. They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.

Various conquerors have destroyed the buildings upon Mount Zion, but the mountain itself is still there. None have ever dug it up, and cast it into the Mediterranean Sea. It stands fast, and will stand there as long as the world endures; and «they that trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Zion,» they shall abide as firmly as that sacred mountain does. Nothing can move them, or remove them; they are in the hands of Christ, and none can pluck them thence. «My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all;» says Christ, «and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.» Oh, what a solidity does faith give to a man!

Psalms 125:2. As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about his people from henceforth even for ever.

This verse shows the believer's safety, as the former one showed his stability. As the mountains stood to guard the sacred city, so does God stand round about his people as a wall of fire. Before any can hurt the believer, they must first break through the ramparts of the Godhead. It is not merely said that horses of fire and chariots of fire are round about his people, though that is true; but that the Lord himself is round about them, and that not occasionally, but «henceforth even for ever.» I believe in the eternal safety of the saints, and I would base it upon these two verses alone if there were no other Scriptures to that effect. If they never are to be moved any more than Mount Zion, and if God is round about them for ever, then they must live, and they must stand. There is no «if» or «but» put in here, «provided that they behave themselves,» and so on. No; but, trusting in God, they never shall be moved, and God will be round about them as their sure defense. I fancy I hear someone say, «If it be so, why am I tried and troubled?» Ah, my brother, it was never contemplated that you should be free from trouble! There is a rod in the covenant; and if you never feel it, you may suspect that you are not in the covenant.

Psalms 125:3. For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity.

You will feel that rod, but it shall not rest upon you. The days of persecution shall be shortened for the elect's sake; and though, perhaps, the devil may be more furious with you than ever, having great wrath because he knows that his time is short; yet God will put an end to your suffering, your persecution, your oppression, for he knows your frame, and he is aware that, perhaps, if the temptation were pushed too far, you might yield. Therefore will he makes way of escape for you; he means to try and test you, but not too much, he will abate the fierceness of man's wrath, and deliver you.

Psalms 125:4. Do good, O LORD, unto those that be good, and to them that are upright in their hearts.

True believers are good; especially are they good at heart, for grace has made them so, and God therefore will do them good. He will bless them more and more; he will sanctify them, and prepare them for the ineffable goodness that is at his right hand for ever and ever.

Psalms 125:5. As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the LORD shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity: but peace shall be upon Israel.

There are there always have been in the Church of God some who have been the Church's dishonour. They have crooked ways of their own, and, in due time, under stress of persecution, or through temptation, they «turn aside unto their crooked ways.» They leave the path of trustfulness and holiness, as Judas did, as Demas did, as many beside have done. What will God do with them? He will «lead them forth;» he will show them up; he wilt bring them into the light; and in what company will he lead them forth? Why, «with the workers of iniquity,» for if they were not such in outward action, they were really so in thought and heart. And where will he lead them? He will lead them forth to execution; they shall go among the malefactors, they shall be led forth to die. But will this hurt the Lord's people? No; when the chaff is separated from the wheat, the wheat shall be all the purer. «Peace shall be upon Israel.» All the Lord's chosen, pleading, princely people his Israel shall have peace upon them. May we all be found amongst them, for Christ's sake! Amen.