Notes on the Book of Psalms, Psalm 125
The cxxv. PSALM.
For the encouragement of the faithful and sincere hearted, the Psalmist tells them, as what they must meet with, so what they may trust in, firm protection in their sorest affliction. And addeth praier to promise. But bids the hypocrites, hands off, tells them their doom, that are in, but not of the Church, to whom onelyonly blessedness belongs.Psalm cxxv.
See the title of the 120 Psalm.A song of degrees.
1THey that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Sion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.1 BElieve firmly in the Lord, and you shall be established, every such an one is as dear to God as mount Sion it self, where is his Temple, Ark, and all his sanctuarie-worship, every faithful servant of God, being spiritually all these, a living Temple, Priest, and sacrifice, a very heaven on earth, in whom God is really, more than typically present, and to whom belongs all the promises made to the Church in general, so that though he may be externally assaulted, and seemingly indangered with ghostly enemies, and manifold temptations and trials, as Jerusalem by the Gentile nations round about, yet shall the same invincible guard and protection be upon him, and them that so believe, as upon it, so that the gates of hell shall never prevail against them to un-establish or disinterest them, as to the rock whereon they, and the whole Church of God are built unmoveably by faith, Christ Jesus.
2As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people from henceforth even for ever.2 See you the hills that compass this Citie Jerusalem, hence let your faith, helped by setting your imagination on work, raise a suitable Idea of Gods encompassing his faithful Church and people, yea every such one, by his Almighty power and guard of Angels for their sure defence, and preservation against all assaults of the world and divel, who also surround them, and this is as everlasting as those mountains; an infallible truth for all and every faithful servant of the Lord in all ages, and places of the world now and ever to trust unto.
3 Not that the godly are in this world exempt from oppression and temptation,3For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous: lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquitie. no, for they are the great eye-sore of Satan the Prince of the world, and all his malignant instruments, and natural Subjects, the men of the world, which with their utmost malice and power shall labour to afflict the faithful, as the Gentile nations do Israel, and, partly for their sins, partly for their trial and exercise of their graces, which God sets much by, they may be permitted to sit sore upon their skirts, and put them to it, but this be sure of, that the siedge shall be raised before the Town be taken, no afflictions, nor afflictors by what ever wicked practises, shall any longer be permitted to oppress the righteous than they have grace to sustain them under it; God allwayes gages one by the other, afflictions to the faithful are often less, never more; tempted they may be and sint, hey may by their frailtie and strength of temptation, but fall away by sinning they never shall, for God is faithfull, who will not suffer them to be tempted above that they are able, but will with the temptation make a way to escape, that they may be able to bear it.
4 This is thy promise which as in faithfulness it is4Do good, O Lord, unto those that be good, and to them that are upright in their hearts. made, so as faithfully shall it be performed to those that are faithful and holy, but thou wilt be sought unto by them and for them, for thy promise and its performance is of grace not of debt, even to the righteous themselves; O Lord, therefore be intreated in the name and for the sake of all thy people, to be ever mindful of it to do according to it in time of need; Let merciemercy and protection be extended seasonably and effectually to those that themselves are good, and suffer in a cause that is good by those that are evil. Yea, bless with all manner of blessings those that in sinceritie of heart believe in thee, and are careful to please thee with integritie of soul, and universalitie of obedience active and passive.
5As for such as turn aside unto their crooked wayes, the Lord shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquitie: but peace shall be upon Israel.5 But as for those linsy-woolfy professours, Israelites after the flesh, that have a room in the Church, but no firm rooting in religion, that serve the Lord in shew, and not in substance, neither know him perfectly, believe in him firmly, nor serve him sincerely, either with a right heart, or by a right rule, but are divided in their faith and affections, trusting and obeying by halves, deviating into by-wayes and carnal confidences of their own to their own self-pleasing; such hypocrites. counterfeits in pietie, how ever commixed with the Godly, partakers of their outward priviledges and formal worshippers of the same God in the self-same ordinances, yet the all-seeing and heart-searching eye of God knows them, notes them, and esteems them, as bad as the very Gentiles who worship Idols, these making an Idol of the true God when they worship him, and their reward and portion shall be alike, judgement shall be pronounced against them both, and they cast out, the vile from the precious, which here are undistinguished, into the place of execution & torment together. But blessed are they that are Israelites indeed, that worship God in spirit and in truth, who onelyonly are the Israel and Church of God, grace and peace from God their Father, through Christ their Saviour, shall be their portion, interessed in their consciences, to their unspeakable consolation here, with assurance of glory hereafter.