06 Enjoying Security
“They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever. As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about his people from henceforth even for ever.” Ps 125:1-2
Trust is a critical element of worship. This is not trust in the sense we often use to express saving faith. But the type of trust spoken of in psalm 125 deals with trusting God to protect and keep one from the enemy and his crooked ways.
Trust expressed in worship is the absolute conviction that good will ultimately triumph and God will reward His own. This type of trust glorifies God and exalts His position in our lives.
As you prepare to enter the presence of God in worship, you should reflect upon the protection that is yours as part of your relationship with Him. He is the only security that truly exists. There is no fortress that can withstand other than that fortress that surrounds God’s people.
Fortress Jehovah
“They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever. As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about his people from henceforth even for ever.” Ps 125:1-2
The pilgrims rounded the winding road on their trek to the temple to keep the holy day. Suddenly as they traveled the last curve in the road, the mountain of God’s holiness dominated the vista before them. Mount Zion with the temple on top was majestic and one of the most beautiful sights any Hebrew could think of. They would sing of this place; the symbol of man living in harmony with God’s perfect will. They would dream of this place; the sincerest desire of every Jew was to keep the feasts in the city of God, the mountain of His holiness.
For the Jew, Jerusalem is the eternal city. And so it is, for God will cause the New Jerusalem to come down out of heaven to rest upon the new earth some day. It was from this mindset that the disciples associated the destruction of Jerusalem, as they knew it with the end of the world in Matthew chapter 24. They assumed that the destruction of Jerusalem, the return of Jesus for His Church, and the end of the world would all happen at the same time (Matt 24:3).
As these pilgrims began the final leg of their journey and climbed up the steep road to the top of Mount Zion they would sing these songs of ascending. And in psalm 125 they expressed the security of walking with God. It is a song of worship that tells of the certainty of the believer’s ultimate victory. As the pilgrims climbed the hill to the temple, they compared the security we have in the Lord with the eternal city of Jerusalem.
“They that trust in the Lord…” (vs. 1)
Is your confidence fixed in God? Is He the source of your hope? Does He find a prominent place in all of your dreams and aspirations? Are you firmly convinced of the ultimate victory that awaits the righteous?
If so, you have found an anchor that is by far more substantial than anything of permanence that this world can offer. Those who place their confidence in God and have complete confidence in both His ability and His desire to reward the righteous, are building upon the most solid foundation there is. You are like Mount Zion, the eternal city. You will not be removed, but the rock upon which you are rooted will cause you to abide forever.
An allegory is drawn between Jerusalem and the surrounding mountains in verse 2. The righteous is compared to Jerusalem and the mountains around are compared to the protection of God that surrounds the believer. Take a look around you, child of God. There are many mountains and many valleys in between. But each mountain and every valley speaks of the protection of God, the goodness of God, the mercies of God. From where you stand today in every direction there are ups and downs, mountains and valleys. But God has been with you every step of the way and He promises to continue to go with you. He protect you in the hard times and in the good times. All of that rough terrain around you is truly the presence of God that protects and keeps you.
“As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about his people from henceforth even for ever.” Ps 125:2
The pilgrims would look back at the road traveled and then forward to the city of God on top of the hill. And then this song about the security of the righteous would drift from their lips. God has been with you every step of the way. And He is the foundation upon which you stand. He will cause you to be established forever, if you continue to place your trust in Him. He is our fortress and His name our strong tower.
Limiting the Wicked
“For the rod [scepter] of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity.” Ps 125:3
This song of worship now reminds the righteous of God’s gracious restraint upon the wicked. The psalm moves from the topic of God’s protection around the godly to His limitations upon the wicked. The word “rod” can be better translated as “scepter,” as does the NIV, NKJV, and NASB.
God does not suffer the wicked to practice oppressive rule over the righteous without strict limitations. God is always mindful of man’s temporal nature and the tendency of men to yield to the domination of the wicked and indeed to put forth their hands to practice wickedness also. For this reason the wicked are limited by God. Those who place their trust in God shall not be ashamed.
The phrase “the lot of the righteous” speaks of the territory given by God to His people. It is the “land allotted to the righteous” (NKJV). God has given you authority over a certain realm. That is your lot; the portion of your inheritance. Further, the Lord will limit the influence of the wicked over your allotted territory. The reason why is He does not want you to become discouraged and put your hand unto iniquity. Instead, the Lord intends you to claim the territory He had given you and become all that you can be for Him. Will you rise up and claim your lot?
Do Good Unto the Good
“Do good, O LORD, unto those that be good, and to them that are upright in their hearts.” Ps 125:4
And here is a prayer offered to the God who always does right by His people. It is the essence of our hope that the Lord will reward according to our what is in our hearts. Is there any doubt that He is the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him (Heb 11:6)? God will do good to those that be good.
Lest we feel that being good is beyond our reach and that it is a mark that few can ever reach, this quality is further defined.
“…them that are upright in their hearts.” Ps 125:4
The goodness that God seeks to reward is first a quality of the heart. Of course, what is in one’s heart will be reflected in actions and attitudes. This prevents uprightness of heart from being a purely academic quality.
At the heart of sin is sin in the heart.
“For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.” Mark 7:21-23
True cleansing must begin at the heart level or it is only outward reformation instead of inward transformation. It is with the whole heart that we must seek God.
“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” Jer 29:13
The wicked are perverse and return to their crooked ways. This is because their heart never got straightened out. One cannot walk straight and live straight unless he gets his heart straight!
“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.” Ps 125:5
Conclusion:
Trust expressed in worship is the absolute conviction that good will ultimately triumph and God will reward His own. This type of trust glorifies God and exalts His position in our lives.
As you prepare to enter the presence of God in worship, you should reflect upon the protection that is yours as a result of your relationship with Him. He is the only security that truly exists.
© 2008 Nevin Bass. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced for the purpose of resale without written permission.
