Psalms Chapter 125 · Matthew Poole

Psalm 125:1 A Song of degrees. They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever. THE ARGUMENT

This Psalm was designed for the consolation and encouragement of God’s church and people in all ages, against all the plots and malice of their enemies.

The stedfastness of such as trust in God,

Psalm 125:1-3. A prayer for the godly to do them good, and against the ungodly to destroy them,

Psalm 125:4 ,5.

Removed,

or,

overthrown, by any winds or storms; partly because of its own greatness and strength; and partly because of the Divine protection afforded to it.

Psalm 125:2 As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about his people from henceforth even for ever. As the mountains are round about Jerusalem;

by which it was defended both from stormy winds and from the assaults of its enemies.

Psalm 125:3 For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity. The rod of the wicked;

the power and authority of cruel tyrants.

Shall not rest;

not continue for ever, nor too long.

Upon the lot of the righteous;

upon the habitations and persons of good men.

Lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity;

lest through human frailty and the great weight or long continuance of their troubles they should be driven to impatience, or to despair, or to use indirect and sinful courses to relieve themselves.

Psalm 125:4 Do good, O LORD, unto those that be good, and to them that are upright in their hearts. As thou hast promised to keep thy people from evil,

Psalm 125:3, be pleased also to vouchsafe unto them those blessings which are good for them. Or thus, having declared God’s tender care of his people, and his promise made to them, he now prayeth for the execution of the said promises.

Psalm 125:5 As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the LORD shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity: but peace shall be upon Israel. But those hypocrites, who either through fear of the rod, mentioned

Psalm 125:3, or for other considerations, shall turn aside from the ways of God, which for a time they professed and seemed to own, unto sinful courses, whom he opposeth to the

upright,

Psalm 125:4,

the Lord shall lead them forth, to wit, unto punishment, as malefactors are commonly led to the place of execution.

With the workers of iniquity;

with the most obstinate and profligate sinners, of whose plagues they shall certainly partake, as they did of their sins.

Upon Israel;

upon the true Israel of God.