Psalms 125:1-4

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

What comfort there is in this verse to all who trust in the Lord! We never expect to see anyone tear up mount Zion by the roots. The Romans have been there, and ploughed mount Zion as a field, but they could not remove it, it is there still, and the natural features are the same as they were in the days of Abraham and David. Mount Zion «cannot be removed but abideth for ever.» Men have swept away much that was built on it, but mount Zion is there still, nor shall any human power ever be able to remove it; and, glory be to God, neither men nor devils shall ever be able to remove us if we trust in the Lord, for we «shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.»

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

At Jerusalem, there is first the deep valley round the hill, and then afterwards a range of encircling mountains, but the munitions of stupendous rock are nothing compared with those eternal ramparts which protect the people of God.

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 into iniquity.

«The rod of the wicked» may fall upon the lot of the righteous, but it shall not «rest» there. The godly may be oppressed for a season, but that season shall not be too long for them to endure. God will not allow his servants to be tried above what they are able to bear, lest their faith should fail, and, in order to escape from their oppressors, they should «put forth their hands unto iniquity.»

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

The psalmist prays to Jehovah to do good to those whom he has made good, for there are none who are naturally good; and there is a special goodness which he bestows upon those whom he has made good by the effectual working of his good Spirit. When they no longer lean this way or that way, but stand upright in their integrity, then shall they know this special goodness of the Lord.

Psalms 125:5. As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways,

Ways of policy, of falsehood, of self-seeking, of presumptuous sin, of backsliding,

Psalms 125:5. The LORD shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity:

If they will work iniquity, they shall go with those that work iniquity. Each one shall go to his own company; if we have loved the people of God on earth, and have walked in God's ways here, we may confidently expect to be gathered with his elect above; but if we have turned aside to crooked ways, what can we expect but that, where the workers of iniquity go, there we too shall go? «As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, Jehovah shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity:»

Psalms 125:5. But peace shall be upon Israel.

What a blessed benediction that is, peace! It is the one thing that we want above everything else. We are sometimes glad to know more; but we often tire even of knowing, and would rather sit down as children who are satisfied with what they have been told by others who do know. We wish to be very useful in the world, and, blessed be God, we can never rest unless we are useful; but there are times of weariness when the best blessing for us, the blessing which shall most help to fit us for future service, is perfect peace, that peace of which our Saviour said to his disciples, «Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you.» Are all of you who are trusting in Christ in the enjoyment of that peace at this moment? If not, you are not living up to your privileges as believers.

This exposition consisted of readings from PSALMS 123, 124, and 125.