Those Who Trust In The LORD Are Like Mount Zion
Devotional
Companion to the Psalter
A Devotional Guide to the Psalms
Object:
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 ...
-- Psalm 125:1-2a
Theme: God protects his faithful
Outline
1-3 -- Our security is God's surrounding presence, our foes will not be allowed to drive us to despair.
4-5 -- Prayer for the loyal-hearted, and warning of the fate of the disloyal.
Notes
• Affirmation of Faith
• One of the Song of Ascents (Psalms 120-134).
• Read Nehemiah 6 for background.
• "Scepter of wickedness" = the rule of the wicked and heathen powers.
• "Upright in their hearts" = the loyal and sincere.
For Reflection
• The psalmist says (v. 3) that God won't permit the dominion of evil to remain over the land, lest the righteous adopt evil tactics themselves. That would be to counter evil with evil, which is not God's way of overcoming, however popular it is with the world's thinking.
• Jesus warned of the days when "because of the increase of lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved." (See Matthew 24:12-13.) Influences and disappointments can make us hard and cynical, withdrawn into self, causing love to grow cold. What can we do to prevent that?
• Saint Paul said, "God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it." (See 1 Corinthians 10:13.)
• Bottom line: those who trust in the Lord have God's presence surrounding and protecting them. We may feel utterly trapped, seeing no way out. But we trust God's plan will proceed to its goal, even if we do not see it in this lifetime.
Prayer
Lord God, give to us such faith and good hope in you, that we will not succumb to temptations to evil, nor lose our love in Christ for all people, nor give way to the grave sin of despair. Keep us in fellowship with you for the kingdom you have prepared for us from the foundation of the world, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
so the LORD surrounds his people ...
-- Psalm 125:1-2a
Theme: God protects his faithful
Outline
1-3 -- Our security is God's surrounding presence, our foes will not be allowed to drive us to despair.
4-5 -- Prayer for the loyal-hearted, and warning of the fate of the disloyal.
Notes
• Affirmation of Faith
• One of the Song of Ascents (Psalms 120-134).
• Read Nehemiah 6 for background.
• "Scepter of wickedness" = the rule of the wicked and heathen powers.
• "Upright in their hearts" = the loyal and sincere.
For Reflection
• The psalmist says (v. 3) that God won't permit the dominion of evil to remain over the land, lest the righteous adopt evil tactics themselves. That would be to counter evil with evil, which is not God's way of overcoming, however popular it is with the world's thinking.
• Jesus warned of the days when "because of the increase of lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved." (See Matthew 24:12-13.) Influences and disappointments can make us hard and cynical, withdrawn into self, causing love to grow cold. What can we do to prevent that?
• Saint Paul said, "God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it." (See 1 Corinthians 10:13.)
• Bottom line: those who trust in the Lord have God's presence surrounding and protecting them. We may feel utterly trapped, seeing no way out. But we trust God's plan will proceed to its goal, even if we do not see it in this lifetime.
Prayer
Lord God, give to us such faith and good hope in you, that we will not succumb to temptations to evil, nor lose our love in Christ for all people, nor give way to the grave sin of despair. Keep us in fellowship with you for the kingdom you have prepared for us from the foundation of the world, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
