Psalm 125: The Surrounding Song
For Meditation
While a number of the Psalms of Ascent we have looked at so far are meditations on the journey to Jerusalem, Psalm 125 is a meditation on the city of Jerusalem itself. The Psalmist recalls the geography of the city, which was situated high up on a hill and was surrounded by mountains on nearly every side (v.2). The mountains were a built-in security system for Jerusalem, making it one of the most defensible cities in the ancient world. The psalmist is remembering Jerusalem’s secure position and then employing the image of the city as a metaphor for his own life.
Is your life secure? That is the question of this psalm. No one is safe from danger– the psalmist acknowledges the “scepter of the wicked” that brings destruction (v.3). And yet, he boldly asserts that “as the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, both now and forever more” (v.2). Psalm 125 calls us into a godly confidence that assures us we live securely even in a world of danger and instability.
As you prepare for worship, meditate on this psalm prayerfully. Read it out loud. As yourself, what makes you feel threatened right now? What makes you feel insecure and afraid? Then, imagine the Lord surrounding you as the mountains surrounded Jerusalem, holding you fast no matter what. Rest in the safety of his love.
Psalm 125
1 Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion,
which cannot be shaken but endures forever.
2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
so the Lord surrounds his people
both now and forevermore.
3 The scepter of the wicked will not remain
over the land allotted to the righteous,
for then the righteous might use
their hands to do evil.
4 Lord, do good to those who are good,
to those who are upright in heart.
5 But those who turn to crooked ways
the Lord will banish with the evildoers.
Lead your own Home Worship Service
We are currently encouraging small gatherings with Parish Groups, home groups, or several households for worship. You can watch the online worship service on Sunday morning together, or lead your own worship service using the home worship resources we provide. The home worship service guide follows the same rhythms of that week’s live service. Sing along to prerecorded music, bring a guitar, or sing unaccompanied! We will also provide resources to lead a Bible study as an alternative to watching the sermon.