Psalm 125:1-6
“Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved but abides forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, from this time forth and forevermore. 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. Do good, O Lord, to those who are good, and to those who are upright in their hearts! But those who turn aside to their crooked ways the Lord will lead away with evildoers! Peace be upon Israel!”
Israel considers Zion to represent the center of the earth and the place where the Lord dwelt. All who put their trust in Yahweh will remain secure, while those who look to evil ways will be turned aside. As the chosen people and nation of God, those who abide in His precepts and statutes will be protected. Israel had the same problem you and I have, they often went after the little gods of this world, for they were not willing to wait on the Lord, they wanted it now. Does that sound like you and me?
“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.” This verse is referring to the authority of evildoers, but as often seen in the Scriptures, Israel often desires to be trendy like their pagan neighbors. For years I sought after being popular with my non-Christian friends and was silent about where I was putting my hope, Jesus refers to one like I was, as being ashamed of Him. The Jewish people knew the scepter and staff were symbols of kingship in ancient Israel.
“Do good, O Lord, to those who are good, and to those who are upright in their hearts! But those who turn aside to their crooked ways the Lord will lead away with evildoers! Peace be upon Israel!” What a great prayer, one each of us can and should pray, but never forget the heart of our Father. It is found in 2 Peter 3:9-10, “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.”
A word to the wise is sufficient, so please pay attention to a great prophet of God, Isaiah 64:6, “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind, our sins sweep us away.” If I understand the meaning of all, we are all like one unclean, and we need a Redeemer, one who has paid our full payment to a Holy God.
From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice
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