Those Who Trust in the Lord are Like Mt. Zion: A Song of Security
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Psalm of Ascent-
What happens to our worship when we confess the truth of this Psalm?
Setting:
A Commentary on the Psalms, Volume 3 (90–150): Commentary Composition and Context
This psalm of trust seems to have been written when the nation was under a wicked government, either corrupt Israelite leaders or Gentile dominion.
Psalm 125:3 (ESV)
3 For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest on the land allotted to the righteous, lest the righteous stretch out their hands to do wrong.
The phrase “scepter of wickedness” seems to imply that at the time this song was written the nation was under the rule of some kind of wicked king. Either Gentile rule in a post-exilic time, or one of the many wicked kings that reigned throughout Israel’s history.
In this time of uncertainty this song was meant to cause believers to rest in the security that God afforded them.
“The emphasis of Psalm 125 is not on the precariousness of the Christian life but on its solidity. Living as a Christian is not walking a tightrope without a saftey net high above a breathless crowd, many of whom would like nothing better than the morbid thrill of seeing you fall; it is sitting secure in a fortress.” Eugene Peterson
The Psalmist wanted the believers to know that because of their trust in the Lord they were as secure as mountains.
We who trust the Lord are as secure as mountains.
What truths do we need to understand about our security?
1. Our security is never-ending (1)
1. Our security is never-ending (1)
1 Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
Remember the setting of the Psalm? The faithful believers in Israel were under the “scepter of wickedness.” Their earthly situation was anything but secure. And yet despite earthly circumstances and internal feelings and fears, the truth is that those who trust in the Lord are as secure as the mountains!
The Psalmist sets up a contrast in this Psalm. Verse one is introduced by a participle:
1- “Those who trust in the Lord.”
vv. 1-4 describe the security of those who put their trust in the Lord.
This is contrasted with v. 5-
5- “But those who turn aside.”
What is true about the ones who truly put their trust in the Lord?
A Commentary on the Psalms, Volume 3 (90–150): Commentary A. Believers Are as Secure as the Mountains (1)
This word “trust” is a strong word, meaning to find security, feel secure or confident, or to rely on something.
8 Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah
9 O Israel, trust in the Lord! He is their help and their shield. 10 O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord! He is their help and their shield. 11 You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord! He is their help and their shield.
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.
15 For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” But you were unwilling,
Notice the end of the verse in Isaiah- “But you were unwilling.” The context of this verse is Isaiah’s message to Hezekiah to trust the Lord to deliver Jerusalem from the Assyrian threat of invasion. This phrase tells of the importance of the object of our trust.
God is the supreme object of trust. But sometimes, like Hezekiah we are unwilling to put our trust in the Lord. Instead we misplace our trust.
Instead of trusting in the Lord who is our strength we put our trust in other things.
Examples:
Riches:
10 Put no trust in extortion; set no vain hopes on robbery; if riches increase, set not your heart on them.
Powerful People:
3 Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.
Modern day application: “Put not your trust in politicians or a political party, in whom there is no salvation.”
Strongly fortified nations:
52 “They shall besiege you in all your towns, until your high and fortified walls, in which you trusted, come down throughout all your land. And they shall besiege you in all your towns throughout all your land, which the Lord your God has given you.
Our own cleverness:
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
26 Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.
These are all examples of misplaced trust. Where should believers put their trust?
5 Thus says the Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord.
6 He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land.
7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord.
8 He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”
Or as our song states:
1 Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
Why does the psalmist use the comparison to Mount Zion?
A Commentary on the Psalms, Volume 3 (90–150): Commentary A. Believers Are as Secure as the Mountains (1)
The image of Mount Zion conveys the strength, security, and durability of their life of faith in the LORD. “Mount Zion” made a good comparison, for this was the location of the temple in Jerusalem. The rocky hill that was the foundation has stood securely for ages.
The true believer, the one who’s object of trust is the Lord, that one is as secure and immoveable in the faith as the rocky Mount Zion.
Even when we are dwelling in a land under the reign of the “scepter of wickedness” our security is never-ending.
What happens to our worship when we confess the truth of this Psalm?
What other truths do we need to understand about our security?
2. Our security is certain (2)
2. Our security is certain (2)
2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, from this time forth and forevermore.
A Commentary on the Psalms, Volume 3 (90–150): Commentary B. The Believers’ Security Comes from the Lord (2)
Believers are as secure as Mount Zion; and as the mountains around Zion provide the security, the LORD around his people makes them secure. The old city of Jerusalem was built on Mount Zion; on three sides there were valleys, but on the other side of the valleys a ring of mountains or hills that provided a natural defense for the city. Zion was not the highest point; the Mount of Olives on the eastern side was about 216 feet higher in elevation, and Mount Scopus on the other side was 250 feet higher than the holy city. Mount Zion was nestled in between these protective ridges.
Modern Day Jerusalem
Biblical times
“Jerusalem was set in a saucer of hills. It was the safest of cities because of the protective fortress these hill provided. Just so is the person of faith surrounded by the Lord. Better than a city wall, better than a military fortification is the presence of the God of peace. Geographically the city of Jerusalem had borders and bulwarks of extraordinary variety and intricacy which illustrated and enforced the reality of God’s secure love and care.” — Eugene Peterson
2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, from this time forth and forevermore.
Why did Jerusalem need its walls and mountains of protection?
How dangerous was life in the ancient world?
Cities like Jerusalem needed well built and complex systems of defense to make them safe. They went through extraordinary expense and effort in constructing defenses.
Did those defense efforts ever fail? Why?
Do we have the same need for protection today?
What kinds of defense might we build? Home security alarms, cameras, self-defense weapons, combat training…
Are those defenses full proof? Does the believer have a much better source of protection?
Illustration: John G. Paton pg. 199ff
1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
5 You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.
11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.
15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.
2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, from this time forth and forevermore.
What happens to our worship when we confess the truth of this Psalm?
What other truths do we need to understand about our security?
3. God promises to limit the oppression we will face (3)
3. God promises to limit the oppression we will face (3)
3 For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest on the land allotted to the righteous, lest the righteous stretch out their hands to do wrong.
The scepter of wickedness- wicked government, wither an unbelieving Israelite King or a Gentile power.
“Shall not rest on the land alloted to the righteous”- The idea is that it would not remain forever, it would not settle upon the land. Yet for a time the believers would have to endure living under the burden of a government characterized by wickedness.
Might we be called to endure living in a land whose government is characterized by wickedness? Then this promise in v. 3 is particularly relevant.
God promises the believers of Israel that this wicked government will not permanently rest upon the land lest the righteous stretch out their hands to do wrong. “this wickedness will not burden the righteous to the extent that, or “so that,” they would turn away from their integrity. The “rod of wickedness” will be over them, but it will not be so powerful that the righteous will abandon their integrity.” —Ross
13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
While believers might be forced to endure the reign of a wicked government making it difficult for them to maintain their integrity God will always limit the oppression we face so that we will not abandon our faith all together.
A Commentary on the Psalms, Volume 3 (90–150): Commentary C. Their Faith Will Survive Wicked Domination (3)
The assurance of the psalmist is that the wicked government would not be able to pressure the faithful to comply with evil practices, or influence them to live on a lower standard of righteousness. This assurance does not mean that believers would not be persecuted or reproached for their faith; it means that they will not waver in their faithfulness. The world system, ancient or modern, allows and promotes practices that are contrary to the will of God, and to live by the higher law often brings persecution.
“Evil is always temporary. The worst does not last. Nothing counter to God’s justice has any eternity to it.” —Eugene Peterson
What happens to our worship when we confess the truth of this Psalm?
What other truths do we need to understand about our security?
4. In times of wickedness prayer is essential to our perseverance (4)
4. In times of wickedness prayer is essential to our perseverance (4)
4 Do good, O Lord, to those who are good, and to those who are upright in their hearts!
While it is true that God will not tempt us above that we are able, it is also true that in order to endure when wickedness rules the land we need God’s favor!
This is a prayer! The psalmist is praying that God would do good to those who are good (those who really are believers), i.e. those who are upright in their hearts.
The prayer begins with an imperative. Lord! Do Good! The psalmist does not use the imperative to command God, but to stress the urgency of the prayer.
When we are suffering at the hands of wicked men, we desperately need to go to God and pray for His favor.
A Commentary on the Psalms, Volume 3 (90–150): Commentary II. God’s People Need Divine Favor (4)
There are good people being tested severely and suffering under wicked governments, trying to hold to their integrity; so the prayer is that the LORD do good things for them.
The mystery of the Christian life!
God’s part in our security?
1 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 forevermore.
3 For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest on the land allotted to the righteous, lest the righteous stretch out their hands to do wrong.
Our part in our security?
4 Do good, O Lord, to those who are good, and to those who are upright in their hearts!
When we endure times of trial, wickedness, and persecution it is essential that we pray for God’s divine favor so that we can continue to persevere!
What happens to our worship when we confess the truth of this Psalm?
What other truths do we need to understand about our security?
5. In times of wickedness those who abandon the faith will face God’s judgement (5)
5. In times of wickedness those who abandon the faith will face God’s judgement (5)
5 But those who turn aside to their crooked ways the Lord will lead away with evildoers! Peace be upon Israel!
Here is the contrast that was set up in v. 1- those who put their trust in the Lord- their security is never-ending, certain, God promises not to tempt them beyond their ability, they can cry out in prayer for God’s favor to help them persevere.
But those who turn aside...
The idea of turning aside is a figurative idea for abandoning the faith and following the way of the world and the wicked.
Those who see the oppression of the wicked rulers and turn aside to participate in their wickedness to escape suffering or persecution those ones the Lord will lead away with evildoers!
“their crooked ways”
A Commentary on the Psalms, Volume 3 (90–150): Commentary III. Unbelievers Who Turn aside from the Faith to Wickedness Have No Security in the Coming Judgment (5)
It is put into the plural to intensify the idea of their activities as crooked or perverse; and the form is a reduplicated form to add to the intensity. So this verse is not referring to a small infraction of God’s law or a sin of ignorance; it describes giving oneself over to corrupt activities.
19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.
Allen Ross calls these people “make-believers.” They will be exposed when difficult times come.
And what will be their fate? The Lord will lead them away with evildoers.
A Commentary on the Psalms, Volume 3 (90–150): Commentary III. Unbelievers Who Turn aside from the Faith to Wickedness Have No Security in the Coming Judgment (5)
The verb “lead away” could be taken literally to refer to causing them to go into some captivity; or, it may be figurative (a comparison) for destroying them in judgment.
What happens to our worship when we confess the truth of this Psalm?
Notice how the psalm ends.
Peace be upon Israel! Another prayer.
A Commentary on the Psalms, Volume 3 (90–150): Commentary III. Unbelievers Who Turn aside from the Faith to Wickedness Have No Security in the Coming Judgment (5)
This peace will finally come when the LORD removes the wicked rulers from the land—and with them the wicked people in general
The Psalm ends with an eye of faith looking forward to better times: times of peace. But in the meantime it reminds us that our security is in the Lord in contrast to those who turn aside—they will be judged.