A Song of Ascents. Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
Ascents possibly sung by the people as they literally went up to the feasts in Jerusalem. Figuratively, it could also represent a song that shifts the thoughts from the natural to the spiritual, earthly to heavenly.
I. The People of Trust
Those This psalm is only about people who trust in the LORD, and whatever promises are found in this Psalm are for God’s people, those who place their faith in Him and live in obedience to Him. It is a fundamental truth that trust (faith in God) brings blessing; distrust (lack of faith in God) brings chastening.
II. The Quality of Trust
Trust to be confident in God. It expresses a feeling of safety and security (vv1-2) due to reliance upon God. This is not a feeling evoked by half-hearted trust but through a whole hearted trust (cf. Prov 3:5-6, Trust in the LORD with all [emphasis mine] your heart). This heart-trust involves the affections, the mind, and the will (or the feeler, thinker, and chooser). There is no petitioning the heart-drive of the inner man in trusting the LORD. We cannot allocate x-amount of space in our hearts for God and reserve the rest for us to do as we please. The whole heart must be invested and engaged in the act of trusting in the LORD; no half-heartedness will do! Only this quality of trust with the whole heart will produce the stability and security talked about in verses 1 and 2.
III. The Object of Trust
In the LORD
As mentioned in Lucottos last week, LORD in all upper case letters indicates the personal name of God, Yahweh. This was the name of God revealed to Moses (Ex 6:2-3). The precise meaning of Yahweh is debated. Most scholars agree that the meaning of Yahweh is probably best understood in the context of God’s existence, I AM WHO I AM (Ex 3:14, Zodi; cf. Jn 8:58).
According to A.H. Strong, Yahweh means Self Existent or eternal. C. Ryrie describes Yahweh as the active, self-existent One (Basic Theology). Unlike man who needs food and water to sustain existence, God needs absolutely nothing outside of Himself to exist; He is eternally self-sustainable.
Note the significance of the name of the LORD (YHWH) as suggested by Ryrie (Ibid):
- His name emphasizes His person – changeless, absolute eternal existence (Ex 3:14; Jn 8:58).
- His name emphasizes His presence (Ex 3:12, I will certainly be with you; cf. Heb 13:5-6). [His infinite presence does not take away from His Person; God is not a force; God is Spirit, Jn 4:24]
- His name emphasizes His power (Ex 6:6). [God is infinitely all powerful].
IV. The Benefit of Trust
A. Permanence
Zion (fortress, citadel, castle, fort) sometimes used as a figure of speech for the city of Jerusalem, the city of David as here (2 Sam 5:7). Beautiful in elevation, The joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion on the sides of the north, the city of the great King (Psa 48:2). Jerusalem depicts God’s ultimate seat of power on earth.
Which cannot be moved, but abides forever signifies stability and strength, secure and unshakeable, established. Compare Mt 7:24-25,
Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: (25) and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
Look at the opposite of this truth – "They that refuse to trust in the LORD are not like Mount Zion; they can be moved and will not abide forever." Compare Mt 7:26-27,
"But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: (27) and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."
Psalm 125:2
B. Protection
As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds His people from this time forth and forever.
As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds His people
Jerusalem is hilly country. From the Psalmist’s vantage point looking at the surrounding hills such as Mount Olives, Mount Moriah , and Mount Zion (all three are 2,000' + in elevation), along with the other hills, he envisioned them as the LORD protecting His people in Jerusalem from all sides, a protective barrier or hedge. This was the complaint of Satan with Job that God had made a hedge around him (cf. Job 1:9-10, left bankrupt and bereaved; Job 2:4-5, afflicted but alive). Here again we see that nothing enters our lives without God’s permission. This truth gives people fits.
Solomon wrote, Everything that happens was already determined long ago, and we all know that you cannot argue with someone who is stronger than you (Eccl 6:10, TEV). C.S. Lewis in his book, The Problem of Pain states, “To argue with God is to argue with the very power that makes it possible to argue at all.” Read what Daniel says,
He looks on the people of the earth as nothing; angels in heaven and people on earth are under his control. No one can oppose his will or question what he does (Dan 4:35, TEV; cf. Isa 45:9-12, TEV).
We should really heed the words of Solomon; it is fruitless to argue with God about the circumstances that have entered our lives. We can never do battle with the LORD and win; it’s futile; a waste of time and effort. The sooner we learn this; the better off we will be. God does what He wills for His glory with the hedge or protective ring He has placed around us. He lets the enemy in, and He keeps them out. No creatures in heaven dare ask the LORD Who reigns on High for what purpose He does thus and so for they know Yahweh is holy and omnipotent. There is no need to question for He is the great I AM, infinitely trustworthy. God alone is worthy to receive praise, honor, and glory.
Remember the model prayer Jesus gave His disciples when they ask Him to teach them how to pray (Lk 11:1-4). One aspect of that prayer was Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven (v2). God’s will is carried out in heaven – instantly and completely. This is the Divine expectancy. There is no backtalk, delay, attitude, and whining or complaining, only an immediate and total response to the will of the Almighty God. When we cop an attitude or begin to doubt God this only reveals that our knowledge of Him is deficient; a lack of knowledge of God is no defense for the believer. Truly, the opposite of submission to the LORD is stupid. There is no better word in the English language to describe it! Being stupid doesn’t pay for a believer; I’ve been there done that!
Again, I am reminded of Job, Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him (13:15). Job was willing to trust to the point of death, if need be. Absolutely nothing enters our lives unless God approves it. He lets the enemy in and He keeps the enemy out to accomplish His purpose in our lives.
From this time forth and forever This phrase from this time forth occurs five times in the Bible and only in the Psalms (Psalm 113:2; 115:18; 121:8; 125:2; 131:3). There is probably no major historical event associated with this phrase by the Psalmist. It looks to be an expression of a realization of the greatness and goodness of God in some way. It serves as a launch pad (from this time forth) where the heart is lifted upward into space in thanksgiving and praise toward God and never making a reentry (forever), an attitude of life for life. We have all attended a worship service where the worship leader talks about an amazing thing God has done and says something to the effect, “Lift up your hands , church, and praise the LORD from this time forth and forevermore! This phrase from this time forth and forever is a similar expression. With these kind of words, it is obvious the Psalmist was feeling pretty good about his situation.
Psalm 125:3
C. Preservation
This verse gives the reason for verses 1-2.
For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest on the land allotted to the righteous, lest the righteous reach out their hands to iniquity.
Historically, God allowed Gentile nations to invade and conquer Israel because the people of God turned from Yahweh to serve deaf, dumb, and dead idols. The people were often separated from the blessings of God because of unrepentant sin. It took foreign domination to break them of their idolatry. The danger of idolatry today is that it has never lost its potency to provoke the righteous anger of the LORD. We may not worship some object made of wood, stone, or metal, but an idol can be anything of the mind or something tangible that prevents us from obeying God’s will that is always in accordance with the Scriptures. What are we sacrificing our time and money to that is keeping us from serving God?
We can willfully separate ourselves from the blessing of God because of idols of our choosing such as involvement with pornography, fornication, adultery, gossip, drugs, alcohol, and etc. Even something harmless and become harmful to our spiritual health when it prevents us from obeying God. Idolatry may also include sports, spouse, family, friends, hobbies, travel, work, and so on.
Even though the Lord surrounds us, this fact does not provide us immunity to trials and tribulations. God uses these to test our faith or chasten us for sinful behavior. But with those TaTs, God in His sovereign power puts limitations upon the scepter of the wicked. All throughout the Scriptures you can see God using the wicked to test or chasten His people even though the wicked do not realize this.
Scepter (lit., rod) rule of wicked Gentile powers, foreign domination (demonic forces are foreign domination, too).
Shall not rest shall not remain or settle down forever. Again, the reason Gentile powers were allowed by Yahweh to invade and conquer Israel was because the people moved away from God. Sin’s intrusion will not permanently separate the blessings of God from the believer. When will we ever learn that sin prevents us from possessing and enjoying the blessings of God?
On the land allotted to the righteous literally, Canaan, some say this has reference to Jerusalem only.
Righteous those saved by faith and walking in obedience to the LORD.
Lest the righteous reach out their hands to seize upon anything wrongfully, or even only… to lay one’s hand upon anything (K&D).
To iniquity
The LORD knew their limitations on how much testing they could endure before abandoning their trust in Him. (cf. 1 Cor 10:13). Iniquity is a masculine singular noun meaning injustice, unrighteousness. The word refers to anything that deviates from the right way of doing things (Zodi). We are not to yield under evil pressure in order to escape suffering. We are to resist until God’s stays the persecution. It is natural to respond kind for kind. We are to react spiritually, not naturally. There is a latent tendency to judge the immediate circumstances and do as the wicked and forsake the ways of God. Daniel purposed in his heart not to defile himself but not all believers have this conviction. We need to (I)magine (F)urther.
Psalm 73, TEV, illustrates how the Psalmist almost reached out and took hold of ungodly behavior but the LORD preserved him.
(1) God is indeed good to Israel, to those who have pure hearts.
(2) But I had nearly lost confidence; my faith was almost gone
(3) because I was jealous of the proud when I saw that things go well for the wicked.
(4) They do not suffer pain; they are strong and healthy.
(5) They do not suffer as other people do; they do not have the troubles that others have.
(6) And so they wear pride like a necklace and violence like a robe;
(7) their hearts pour out evil, and their minds are busy with wicked schemes.
(8) They laugh at other people and speak of evil things; they are proud and make plans to oppress
others.
(9) They speak evil of God in heaven and give arrogant orders to everyone on earth,
(10) so that even God’s people turn to them and eagerly believe whatever they say.
(11) They say, “God will not know; the Most High will not find out.”
(12) That is what the wicked are like. They have plenty and are always getting more.
(13) Is it for nothing, then, that I have kept myself pure and have not committed sin?
(14) O God, you have made me suffer all day long; every morning you have punished me.
Okay, here comes the turning point!
(15) If I had said such things, I would not be acting as one of your people.
(16) I tried to think this problem through, but it was too difficult for me
(17) until I went into your Temple. Then I understood what will happen to the wicked.
(18) You will put them in slippery places and make them fall to destruction!
(19) They are instantly destroyed; they go down to a horrible end.
(20) They are like a dream that goes away in the morning; when you rouse yourself, O Lord, they
disappear.
(21) When my thoughts were bitter and my feelings were hurt,
(22) I was as stupid [emphasis mine, I told you this word best describes it; but I at least left out the animal part!] as an animal; I did not understand you [a deficient knowledge of God plays havoc with our obedience].
(23) Yet I always stay close to you, and you hold me by the hand.
(24) You guide me with your instruction and at the end you will receive me with honor.
(25) What else do I have in heaven but you? Since I have you, what else could I want on earth?
(26) My mind and my body may grow weak, but God is my strength; he is all I ever need.
(27) Those who abandon you will certainly perish; you will destroy those who are unfaithful to you.
(28) But as for me, how wonderful to be near God, to find protection with the Sovereign LORD and
to proclaim all that he has done!
Psalm 125:4
C. Provision & purpose
Do good, O LORD, to those who are good, and to those who are upright in their hearts.
The Psalmist asked for God’s blessing on the good (those who walk in obedience of faith in God) and the upright (moral excellence of the heart).
Truly God is good to Israel, to such as are pure in heart (Psa 73:1).
… no good thing will He [the LORD] withhold from those who walk uprightly (84:11).
This is akin to Rom 8:28, And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Psalm 125:5
D. Peace
As for such as turn aside to their crooked ways, the LORD shall lead them away with the workers of iniquity. Peace be upon Israel!
Distrust in the LORD brings about judgment.
Their is emphatic. This is a heart issue.
As for such as turn aside to their crooked ways not agreeing with the word of God, the rule of faith and practice (Gill), to turn aside their paths in a crooked direction from the right way (K&D). These are the hypocrites, those masquerading as members of God’s people, tares among the wheat.
Workers of iniquity (cf. Psa 28:3) Inquity is a masculine noun meaning nothingness, trouble, sorrow, evil, or mischief. The primary meaning is emptiness and vanity, nothingness. Zodi
The LORD shall lead them away bringing forth for judgment. The LORD is going to clean house one day!
Peace be upon Israel (cf Psa 122:6-8) the Israel of God (Gal 6:16)
The key to peace within and without (peace does not mean the absence of conflict) is seen when we couple verses one and five – Those who trust in the LORD … peace. Oh, that not only Israel but all peoples of the earth would place their trust in Yeshua and find the peace only Jesus Christ can give.
Isa 26:2-4, ESV, Open the gates, that the righteous nation that keeps faith may enter in. (3) You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. (4) Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.
This is the value of trust for the believer. Trust brings blessing; distrust brings chastening.
Sometimes to understand a thing we have to look at what it is not. Let’s visit verse 1 one more time,
Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
Let’s read now by looking at it from those who don’t trust the LORD,
“Those who don’t trust the LORD are not like Mount Zion; they can be moved, and do not abide forever.”
Who or what do you have your trust in?
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