Christian Photographers Community

Psalm 125

Once again, in the dawn of the day, the people ascend through the streets of Jerusalem and up the hill to Mt. Zion to join in the worship of Jehovah and the reading of the Torah.  As they come, they sing, and the words echo from the temple, down the hill and throughout Jerusalem.

The song they sing is a song of preparation for worship, a song that reminds all the people of the benefits of belonging to the covenant kingdom of Jehovah.  It reminds them, as they sing it, that He is their defense, that he will always keep and defend them, and that His keeping power is for eternity as well as for time!

Specifically, He will not allow "the scepter of wickedness" to rest on "the land allotted to the righteous," because, says the psalmist, such domination by the wicked might result in irresistible temptation to wickedness for the covenant people.  Simply put, God wants a pure people, a holy people who do His will.

Then the song appropriately shifts to intercessory prayer.  After all, prayer is the means God uses to accomplish the defense of His people.  So the people sing and ask Jehovah to bless the good and upright in heart - His own true people.  It isn't a prayer for others. The defense of which they have just previously sung is, for His people alone - not for all those who might happen to dwell in Jerusalem with them.  The following warning is therefore appropriate: "As for such as turn aside to their crooked ways, the Lord shall lead them away with the workers of iniquity!"

Thus the benediction that follows is also only for those who seek to keep the covenant of their Lord.  So, as they ascend, they sing, "Peace be upon Israel!"  They must be aware as they come, as they are singing their way up to the temple, that peace with God and peace from God can only be for true members of the covenant nation, for those whose hearts are toward Jehovah.

Are you one of them?  There can be no peace from God if you're not.  The message of this song is that if you are one of His true people, then He will keep you - forever!