Unshaken

Psalm 125 is another of my favorite psalms, in part because there was a song we used to sing at my church way back when that was based on it.  I especially love the first two verses.

Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever.

As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people both now and forevermore. (Psalm 125:1-2)

These are two vivid pictures the psalmist gives us here.  First, of a mountain that cannot be shaken.  And he sings that those who trust in God are like Mount Zion.

Why could it not be shaken?  For its mere size?

No.  Mount Zion is only about 2,400 feet high compared to say Mount Everest at 29,000 feet.  Compared to Everest, it’s a mere hill.  But it could not be shaken because God himself was watching over it.

More than that, God surrounds us as the mountains surround Jerusalem.   He is our fortress.  He is the one who protects us from the Enemy that would destroy us.

The psalmist then expresses confidence in God’s justice.  That he would not let the evil rule over his people, lest they fall into doing evil themselves.

This is not to say, unfortunately, that it never happens.  It does.  But I do believe God puts limits on it.  Limits to what evil rulers can do to believers, and limits to their length of reign.

As Charles Spurgeon rightly points out, the last days will be like this when God shortens the time of the tribulation for the sake of those he has chosen.  (Matthew 24:22)

The psalmist thus prays that God would pour his goodness on those who are his, and reminds himself that the day of judgment will come for those who do evil.  (4-5)

He then closes by praying,

Peace be upon Israel.  (5b)

Life is not always easy.  But let us always put our faith in God, knowing that he is watching over us, and that he is with us.  Because of that we will never be shaken.

When times do get tough, let us pray as the psalmist did, for God’s favor and for his peace.

If we do, we will find that the same God that watched over Israel thousands of years ago, is the same God that watches over us today.