Psalm 125



Bible Reading - Psalm 125

In this song the pilgrim worshipper declares his confidence in the Lord’s protection and vindication towards His faithful ones. He envisions the Lord surrounding His saints as a high wall would surround a fortified city and affirms that He will never cease to protect them in this way. The psalmist expresses trust that the Lord will not allow the unrighteous to rule over His people forever, whether the “scepter of wickedness” (v.3) is in reference to a foreign power or a wicked king in Jerusalem itself, and looks forward with confidence that the Lord will one day “do good…to those who are good” (v.4), but “lead [the unrighteous] away with evildoers” (v.5).

God calls His people throughout history to entrust themselves to His care and to His absolute rule whenever they are under the oppression of unjust rulers. For us this can take many forms: wicked men and women in power over our nation, unjust people with power over our communities, and even corrupt leadership within the church itself.

God is calling us through this psalm, no matter what situation we may find ourselves in, to have unshakable confidence in His protection over us, in His sovereign rule on our behalf, and in the fact that He will one day vindicate His people and expose these powers that be for what they really are.

Verse 3 presents a dilemma for God’s people: whenever the unrighteous have power over the righteous, it can very easily lead the righteous to act in unrighteous ways. The Lord is calling His people to be maintain their ultimate and supreme allegiance and loyalty to Him alone over any earthly power, to remain faithful to His way. He promises that in the end, when He vindicates His people once and for all, we will find that it was worth it.

ON THE COUCH WITH GOD

What can it look like for us, in our context and culture, to remain faithful to the Lord in the face of corrupt or unrighteous leadership? How might the Lord be calling you specifically to entrust yourself to His protection and His vindication?


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