A Song of Ascents
This is part of the 15 Songs of Ascent written for Israel to sing while they were travelling to Jerusalem as they started to celebrate feasts in the city. These were songs of reflection reminding them of God’s character.
Psalm 125 is a short psalm with only five verses and is divided into four ideas.
1) Ps 125: 1-2 is a song of confidence
a)“Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures
forever.”
Jerusalem is built on Mount Zion made completely of solid rock as a monument to the fact that God’s people will endure and will be preserved to the end. The image of eternal
steadfastness, it cannot change.
The emphasis is upon the object of our trust – God. In a world that constantly change with Brexit, social media, artificial intelligence, environmental issues and work we can easily be shaken. Our security come from who God is, His unfailing commitment to redeem His people in their ups and downs.
b)“As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people now and
forevermore”
Mount Zion is surrounded by other mountains such as the Mount of Olives on the east,
Mount Scopus to the west and other hills on the west and south acting as a sentinel to
guard the city.
Like mount Zion surrounded by hills we are surrounded by the presence of God, loved and secure. It is important to remind ourselves that stability, security and foundation never changed.
2) Ps 125: 3 is a promise
“The scepter of the wicked will not remain over the land allotted to the righteous, for then the righteous might use their hands to do evil”
Evil is temporary and will not have the final word over God’s people. Christians can’t expect immunity from trial but in every situation, God works for our good, bringing us closer to Him and deepening our faith and giving us hope.
3) Ps 125: 4 is a prayer
“Lord, do good to those who are good, to those that are upright in heart.”
We wish well on those that do well.
4) Ps 125:5 is a note of warning
“But those who turn to crooked ways the Lord will banish with the evildoers.”
God knows our hearts and He will judge us. Everything hidden will be revealed.
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