Psalm 125
Those who trust in Yahweh * are like the Mountain of Zion.
He will never be shaken, * the Enthroned of Jerusalem.Like the mountains around it, * Yahweh is around his people * from now to eternity.
The scepter of the wicked surely will not rest * over the land allotted to the just,
provided the just do not stick * their hands into mischief.Show your goodness, Yahweh, to the good, * to the upright of heart.
But those who are tottering for their crookedness, * may Yahweh turn them away with the evildoers.Peace upon Israel!
1. A gradual canticle.
125:0 This is Psalm 125 in the whole Psalter, the 25th of the third part, the 6th of the Gradual Psalms, and the first of those pertaining to doing good, or perfection in goodness. For the first step here is firmness of purpose in persevering in good, because of the confidence he has in God, because of God's own help, and because of consideration of the punishment of deviating from the good. After the usual title, there is considered: (1) firmness of purpose and confidence in God, (2) a request for divine grace, without which a firm purpose cannot last: "Show your goodness", (3) the punishment of those who deviate from the good they began: "But those who are tottering". In the first there is noted (1) the firmness of those who trust in God, (2) the perpetuity of their firmness: "He will never be shaken".
They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Sion:
Those who trust in Yahweh are like the Mountain of Zion.125:1.1 The idea is: Those who trust in Yahweh, not in the world, are firmly and stably like the Mountain of Zion. —Jer 17:7 Blessed is the man who trusts in Yahweh. Therefore —Sir 12:21 Trust in Yahweh and (Vul) remain in your place. —Sir 39:11 (?) When the wise man dies his renown will not cease, but he will stand firm.
he shall not be moved for ever that dwelleth 2. in Jerusalem.
He will never be shaken, the Enthroned of Jerusalem.125:1.2.1 Here is the perpetuity of their firmness, [(1) in action, (2) in suffering: "Like the mountains around it".] The idea is: Whoever has trust will be stable and, dwelling in the heavenly Jerusalem by hope and confidence, will never be shaken. —1 Mac 2:61 Those who trust in him will not be weak. —Prov 10:25 The righteous will be established forever. But there is the objection that many had confidence and hope in eternal things, but were later moved from their purpose. If you answer that the condition and the consequence must be taken conjunctively, that does not help, because it is certain that one will not fall while he has confidence. —The answer is that the statement states the power of charity, which is sufficient to resist any temptation. The Gloss offers two readings of this verse, one with both verbs in the plural, the other with both verbs in the singular.
Mountains are round about it: so the Lord is round about his people from henceforth now and for ever.
Like the mountains around it, Yahweh is around his people from now to eternity.125:1.2.2.1 Here is shown firmness in suffering, with (1) a prayer for firmness, that is, protection by God and his saints, (2) the source of that protection: "The scepter of the wicked". In the first, there is mention of the protection (1) of men or angels, (2) of God: "Yahweh is around". The idea is: Someone who trusts in the Lord is strengthened to do good, and also the mountains, the greater saints, are around him, those to whom he lifted up his eyes earlier (Ps 124). —Zech 9:8 I will encamp by my house as a guard. —Judith 7:8 The Israelites do not rely on their spears, but on the height of the mountains where they dwell.
Then comes the Lord's own protection, with (1) his protection, (2) its duration: "from now to eternity". The idea is: The saints around the people protect them; so also Yahweh is around his people. —Zech 2:9 I will be for her an encircling wall of fire. —Is 26:1 We have a strong city; he sets up salvation as walls and bulwarks. It is necessary for the Lord to guard and encircle his own, because —1 Pet 5:8 Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking some one to devour. —Ps 12:8 On every side of the just the wicked prowl, to bring them down.
And that is from now to eternity. This is the duration of the protection promised in Mt 28:20 I am with you always, to the close of the age.
3. For the Lord will not leave the rod of sinners upon the lot of the just: that the just may not stretch forth their hands to iniquity.
The scepter of the wicked surely will not rest over the land allotted to the just, provided the just do not stick their hands into mischief.125:1.2.2.2 Here he shows by whom they are protected, by God and the saints, (1) from punishments inflicted on the evil, (2) from letting them fall into sin by impatience or any other way: "provided the just". The idea is: I said that the Lord surrounds his own, which is clear because the Lord will not allow the scepter of the wicked to rest over the land allotted to the just, that is the saints, who are the lot of God. —Col 1:12 He has qualified us to share in the inheritance of his saints in light. The scepter of the wicked is their political power, which the Lord sometimes allows them to have over his own, to afflict them for their correction. —Is 10:5 Woe to Assyria, the rod of my anger, the staff of my fury! But the Lord does not allow this scepter to stay long over his own, but he removes it. —Is 14:5 Yahweh has broken the staff of the wicked, the scepter of rulers. —Nahum 1:13 I will break his yoke from you. —Is 30:32 With sweeps of the rod, Yahweh will punish Assyria.
Then they are protected from sin, with the idea: He will not allow the scepter of the wicked to rule, that the just may not stick their hands into mischief. They do this when, during persecution, they fall into impatience. But they do not stick their hands into mischief when they endure and understand that this tribulation is useful for them, in the light of 2 Cor 4:17 For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison. —Heb 12:11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant; later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. —Nahum 1:9 The enemy shall not rise a second time. For they will not stick their hands into mischief, but flee from it as from poison. —Sir 21:2 Flee from sin as from a snake.
4. Do good, O Lord, to those that are good, and to the upright of heart.
Show your goodness, Yahweh, to the good, to the upright of heart.125:2 This part of the Psalm is a prayer that the above—mentioned firmness may be retained. So he asks the Lord (1) to help the good in their action, (2) to help the just in their understanding: "to the upright". The idea is: Those who trust are strong to do good and endure evil but, because they cannot do that without you, I ask you, Lord, to show your goodness, by infusing or increasing grace in the good, that they may do good. —2 Mac 1:2 May God do good to you, and may he remember his covenant with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, his faithful servants. A similar thought is in Zech 8:15 I purposed in these days to do good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah.
To the upright of heart: for a right interior intention is necessary for an action to be meritorious. —Prov 21:29 An upright man considers his ways. —Cant 1:3 The righteous love you (Vul). God is good to them in the present by increasing his grace, in the future by glorifying them in their soul for their right intention, and in their body for their good work. —Wis 10:17 Wisdom paid holy men the reward for their labors. For both the present and the future —Is 61:7 In your land you shall possess a double portion.
5. But such as turn aside into bonds, the Lord shall lead out with the workers of iniquity: peace upon Israel.
But those who are tottering for their crookedness, may Yahweh turn them away with the evildoers. Peace upon Israel!125:3 Here there is reference to the return given to the good and the evil, for this contributes to the strengthening of the saints. There is (1) the punishment of the evil, (2) the reward of the good: "Peace upon Israel". In the first, there is the punishment of the wicked (1) for sins of omission, (2) for sins of commission: "may Yahweh turn them". The idea is: The saints who trust in God will be stable, and I ask you, Lord, to give them the grace of persevering. It is good to stand firm, because Yahweh will turn away those who turn aside from their obligations, by not doing what they obliged themselves to do, which is a sin of omission. —Ps 20:8 They stumble (Vul: are obliged) and fall. Therefore Elihu says in Job 36:21 Take heed, do not turn to evil, for this you have chosen rather than affliction. —Jer 5:25 Your crimes have prevented these things, your sins have turned back these blessings from you.
They will be punished with the evildoers, for he will punish the latter for their wicked deeds. —Mt 25:41 Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire. —Is 31:2 He will arise against the house of the evildoers, and against the helpers of those who work iniquity. —Prov 5:22 The iniquities of the wicked ensnare him.
But peace will be upon Israel, on the people formed to see God. —Is 3:10 Tell the righteous that it shall be well with them, for they shall eat the fruit of their deeds. —Gal 6:16 Peace and mercy be upon all who walk by this rule, upon the Israel of God. —Is 32:18 My people will abide in a peaceful habitation. —Phil 4:7 The peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.