The pilgrims who journeyed to Jerusalem from different directions would all see the low mountains surrounding Jerusalem. The city stood on a mountain and would give a sense of security, which is important to people of faith. The statement of confidence in the Lord that opens this psalm shows no reservation as to the pilgrim's trust in the Lord. To know the presence of God with us, even though we do not see Him with natural eyes, is as real to those who trust Him as if we could reach out our hand and touch Him. Human senses do not limit faith because it has a greater assurance than what we feel. It has the word of God to reaffirm the reality of the One who saved and keeps us. The presence of God is more comforting than the sight of mountains that remain unchanged.
The mountains speak to us of safety and security, of rising above the temptations in the valley of wickedness and apostasy. The danger of apostasy is real, and the outcome is too serious and lasting even to consider. There is no hope for the apostates like Cain, Balaam, Korah, Judas, and others. Wicked leaders of government and religions of men, as well as business, seek to corrupt the righteous into compromise for the sake of material or personal gain. Thankfully, our Lord is the One who preserves us from looking in all the wrong places for our satisfaction.
Mount Zion is a geographical place, sometimes called a spiritual position. Positionally, a believer is safe and secure in Christ. Fads of society, including religious fads, come and go. Buzzwords come occasionally, and people use them to impress others with their understanding of the times and to be socially accepted among unbelievers. Our Lord does not change. He is not shaken from His sovereign purposes by the ideas of people who want to be so tolerant that no one is excluded from heaven as far as they are concerned. But God has not lost control of anything. Those to whom He has given the responsibility of leading others often do lose control. They do that to please people. The modern pilgrim has much to contend with in this wishy- washy world, with unprincipled people who lead.
There is a great deal of difference between those who want what is good and upright and those who, in their “crooked ways,” are joined with “workers of iniquity.” Those who are saved by God’s grace and want to obey the Lord in their service and lives are “good,” but not in themselves. Acceptance in Christ is how righteousness is imputed to us. It is His righteousness in us that is good. Not anything that we do to make ourselves worthy of salvation. Righteous living and imputed righteousness are given to us by God when we put our trust in Him. Salvation is “not of works,” which is good. “There is none that doeth good, no not one.”
At the end of this psalm, there is the assurance that peace will come to Israel. When the Jews finally turn to the Lord Jesus Christ and recognize Him as their Savior and Messiah, the peace they have sought since they left Egyptian bondage as a recognized people will finally come. We pray for the peace of Jerusalem, and it will come. “Peace shall be upon Israel.”
PSALM 125 PEACE WILL COME v.1-3. A Statement of Confidence. “They that trust… so the Lord…” v.4-5. A Prayer for Favor. “Do good, O Lord…”