Psalm 125
Israel’s Stability
A song of ascents.
1 Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion.
It cannot be shaken; it remains forever. y
2 The mountains surround Jerusalem
and the LORD surrounds his people,
both now and forever. z
3 The scepter of the wicked will not remain
over the land allotted to the righteous,
so that the righteous will not apply their hands to injustice. a
4 Do what is good, LORD, to the good,
to those whose hearts are upright. b
5 But as for those who turn aside to crooked ways,
the LORD will banish them with the evildoers. c
Peace be with Israel. d
Psalm 125. 125:1. Throughout the Psalter, the psalmists record only three elements that cannot be shaken (unless God shakes them): the earth, Mount Zion (Jerusalem), and those who trust in the Lord / live godly lives. The author of Ps 125 (125:1) references the latter two elements. (Being unshakable does not mean not being affected by external forces but rather means not being moved off God’s unshakable foundation.)
125:2–5. God’s presence ensures this immovable security (125:2); he does not allow his people’s enemies to rule over them forever (to protect them from following their captor’s evil ways) (125:3; cf. Dt 7:1–4). The psalmist seeks God’s blessing for true believers (whose foundation is sure) (125:4) but his judgment for those who walk with the wicked (whose foundation is not the true God) (125:5).