Psalm 125:1-5 NKJV
125 Those who trust in the Lord
Are like Mount Zion,
Which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
So the Lord surrounds His people
From this time forth and forever.
3 For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest
On the land allotted to the righteous,
Lest the righteous reach out their hands to iniquity.
4 Do good, O Lord, to those who are good,
And to those who are upright in their hearts.
5 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!
On this Day of Pentecost, in Psalm 125, we find a melody of gratitude rising from the hearts of believers, resonating through the ages. Dr. Martin Luther, in his insights (in his “Summaries of the Psalms” of 1531), unveils the essence of this psalm as a hymn of thanksgiving, celebrating God’s steadfast protection over His people. “The 125th Psalm is a psalm of thanks,” Luther declares, capturing the essence of gratitude that permeates every verse.
The psalmist begins by affirming the security found in God, likening His protection to the surrounding hills that shield Jerusalem. Just as those hills stand firm, so does the Lord encircle His people, guarding them from every threat. This imagery reminds us that our strength and security rest not in earthly fortifications but in the eternal refuge found in God alone.
Luther further illuminates the psalmist’s confidence in God’s protection. He assures us that God will not tolerate indefinitely the power of the ungodly over His faithful. In a world fraught with spiritual conflict and opposition, this promise brings hope and assurance. The schemes of the faithless, whether master or student, will ultimately be thwarted by the hand of God.
As we reflect on Luther’s words, we cannot help but recognize the echoes of history reverberating in our own time. Just as our forebears faced trials and temptations, so too do we encounter the challenges of our day. Yet, amidst it all, we cling to the unshakeable truth that God remains sovereign over all.
Therefore, let us not grow weary or faint-hearted, but let us remain steadfast in our faith, hope, and trust in the Lord. For He is the one who bestows His blessings upon those who wait upon Him. Even in the midst of adversity, let us take refuge in His unfailing love and find courage in the assurance of His enduring faithfulness. Let us pray: O God, you taught the hearts of your faithful people by sending to them the light of your Holy Spirit. By that same Spirit give us a right judgment in all things that we may have and always rejoice in his holy comfort; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.