Good morning,
Several weeks ago I taught on learning songs from the Bible. Then I began to teach the “songs” in the context in which they were written. This week I am teaching on Psalm 19, 125, and 122. Please join us as we learn more about God’s word.
This passage is one of the Scripture songs. Verses 1 and 2 of Psalm 125 picture the security that believers have in the Lord.
Psalm 125
Faith keeps us standing (1-2)
They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever. 2 As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people from henceforth even for ever.
Faith keeps us obeying (3)
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.
Faith keeps us praying (4)
4 Do good, O Lord, unto those that be good, and to them that are upright in their hearts.
Faith keeps us hoping (5)
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.
Faith Keeps Us Standing (v. 1-2). Spiritual security and stability belong to those who walk by faith. The city of Jerusalem was firmly established and could not be shaken. For one thing, it was built on a solid foundation of rock that went deep into the ground. The city was surrounded by a number of hills and probably two sets of walls. Even more, Jerusalem was home to the holy temple of Jehovah and the throne of David. God’s glory and God’s authority dwelt among His people.
The writer did not say that God’s people should be like Mount Zion but that they are like Mount Zion. We are built upon the solid Rock, Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 3:11; 1 Peter 2:4-8). He dwells within us and He surrounds us with His protection and mercy. As people of faith, we shall not be moved (16:8; 21:7; 62:6). Like Paul, we say, “None of these things move me” (Acts 20:24). We have a marvelous standing, for we stand in God’s grace (Rom. 5:2; Gal. 5:1), and we stand by faith (Rom. 11:20). We take our stand on the truths of the Word of God (2 Thessalonians 2:15) and stand in the will of God (Col. 4:12). It is God who enables us to stand (2 Cor. 1:21, 24), and because He does, we are able to accomplish the work He wants us to do (1 Cor. 15:58). When we begin to trust ourselves or other people, and we bypass the Lord, then we begin to waver, stumble, and fall.
Faith Keeps Us Obeying (v. 3). The land of Israel belongs to the Lord, and He allowed His people to dwell there as long as they obeyed His covenant (Lev. 25:2, 23, 38). The land was assigned by lot to the various tribes (Josh. 14–19) and was never to be sold to anyone outside the tribe. But over the years, their sins defiled the land, and the Lord finally had to send the people to Babylon to give the land the rest and cleansing it needed. While the people were away, some of the land was taken over by strangers, including Gentiles from neighboring nations, and this had to be straightened out when the exiles returned. Israel was under Persian rule during the postexilic years, and the Persian officers could do as they pleased. Some of the Jews became weary of this arrangement and capitulated to the Persians. But the “scepter of wickedness” was wielded not only by Persians but also by greedy Israelite’s who disobeyed God’s law and exploited their own people (Neh. 5). The prevalence of evil makes it easier for everybody to sin (Matt. 24:12), but the Lord will not permit this to go on forever. The people who trust God will obey His Word no matter what others may do, and they will not succumb to temptation (1 Cor. 10:13).
Faith Keeps Us Praying (v. 4). Jesus taught us to keep on praying and not become discouraged if the answer is long in coming (Luke 18:1-8). The times may be bad, but there are always good people in bad times, people who trust God and obey His will. No matter how depressing the times may be, people of faith pray and receive good things from the hand of their Father (Luke 11:9-13). To live by faith is to keep our eyes on the Lord (123:1; Heb. 12:1-2), rest on the promises of His Word, and do what is right no matter what others may say or do. Faith means living without scheming.
Faith Keeps Us Hoping (v. 5). People of faith know that God will one day judge the disobedient, no matter how much they seem to get away with resisting God and abusing others. The future is your friend when Jesus is your Lord. It is not easy to walk on the narrow way, but it leads to life, while the broad way leads to destruction (Matt. 7:13-27). They may be enjoying the pleasures of sin now, but what will the outcome be? “Mark the blameless man, and observe the upright; for the future of that man is peace. But the transgressors shall be destroyed together; the future of the wicked shall be cut off” (37:37-38 NKJV).
The life of faith is not easy, but the life of unbelief is much harder–in this life and in the life to come. (Be Exultant (Psalms 90-150), Repackaged, Warren W. Wiersbe)
Faith is how we got saved and faith is how we must live our Christian life. Faith will lead us home to heaven and a face to face meeting with our Lord Jesus Christ.
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001
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