Psalms

Psalms 125: The LORD surrounds those who trust

Begin in prayer

Before we hear of mountains surrounding Jerusalem, let us consider what gives our hearts stability when pressure comes. Ask God to lead us to Jesus and keep our trust joined to upright steps.

I will encamp around my house against the army, that no one pass through or return; and no oppressor will pass through them any more: for now I have seen with my eyes.

Zechariah 9:8

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word, and help us to see Christ. Show us that the Lord surrounds those who trust Him, limits wicked rule and judges crooked ways. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

Those who trust the Lord are compared with Mount Zion, which remains forever. As mountains surround Jerusalem, the Lord surrounds His people now and forever. Wicked rule will not remain over the righteous inheritance, so the righteous will not put their hands to evil. The prayer asks God to do good to those whose hearts are upright. Those who turn aside to crooked ways will be led away with evildoers, and peace is sought for Israel.

As you read Psalms 125, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD surrounds those who trust Him, limits wicked rule and judges crooked ways, giving His people lasting security.

Trust in the Lord gives His people the stability pictured by Mount Zion. The mountains around Jerusalem then picture His surrounding care, reaching from the present into forever. Wickedness has a sceptre, an image of ruling power, yet it will not remain over the inheritance allotted to the righteous. The reason concerns their obedience, keeping oppressive rule from drawing their hands into evil. Prayer therefore asks goodness for people whose hearts remain upright beneath that pressure. Their integrity belongs beside their trust, keeping the promise joined to the way they walk. Those who turn into crooked paths face the Lord's judgment with other workers of iniquity. The closing wish for Israel's peace follows that distinction, seeking the good of a people surrounded and governed by the righteous Lord.

How does Psalm 125 show us that the LORD surrounds those who trust Him, limits wicked rule and judges crooked ways, giving His people lasting security?

The LORD gives lasting security to those who trust Him.

Mount Zion pictures a stability the trusting people receive from God. The mountains around Jerusalem picture His care surrounding them. That care begins now and continues forever.

God limits wicked rule so His people will keep their hands from evil.

The wicked sceptre will not remain over the righteous inheritance. Its pressure could tempt the righteous to use their own hands wrongly. God's restraint therefore protects their obedience as well as their dwelling.

God does good to the upright and judges those who turn to crooked ways.

The prayer asks goodness for those upright in heart. People who turn aside into crooked ways will be led away with evildoers. The final wish for peace belongs with this clear distinction between the two paths.

Memorise

As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so Yahweh surrounds his people from this time forward and forever more.

Psalm 125:2

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, what crooked step am I excusing instead of trusting the Lord Jesus under pressure?

The song says, “Yahweh surrounds his people from this time forward and forever more.” Those who trust Him are compared with Mount Zion. His care holds them while His judgment remains against crooked ways.

We have chosen crooked paths and deserve to be led away with workers of iniquity. Jesus carried His people's sins to the cross and died under God's righteous judgment against their crooked ways, securing their peace with Him. The Father raised Him from the grave. His completed obedience and sacrifice are enough for their forgiveness and righteous acceptance, securing what their own uprightness could never earn.

Turn from your crooked ways and trust Jesus Christ. All who come to Him receive forgiveness. Ask Him to keep your hands from evil when pressure makes compromise attractive. The Lord surrounds everyone trusting Christ with lasting care and calls His believing people to pursue the peace that agrees with His righteous rule.

Parent's note

Tell your children that the Lord surrounds those who trust Him, limits wicked rule and judges crooked ways. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for surrounding care and ask Him to restrain wickedness, preserve obedience and give His people peace. Bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

Remain in me, and I in you. As the branch can’t bear fruit by itself, unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you, unless you remain in me.

John 15:4

Righteous Lord, Your care surrounds Your people and Your judgment exposes crooked ways. Please forgive the compromises we have excused and bring us to Jesus for mercy. Restrain wicked rule, protect those under oppression and keep their hands from evil. Give our children trusting hearts and help Your church pursue peace with upright lives. Amen.