A Brief Explication of the Last Fifty Psalms, Psalm 125
PSALME CXXV.
THe scope of this Psalme is to confirme the faith of the believer, persecuted and oppressed by the wicked, that he may hold out walking in the straight way of Gods obedience: and to this end, the Psalmist useth four arguments. The first is from the stability of the believers felicity, v. 1, 2. The second, is from the short time of his trouble, which he shall suffer by persecutors, v. 3. The third, is from the goodnesse which God will manifest toward him, set down in the Psalmists prayer, v. 4. The fourth, is from the Lords judgement upon backsliding hypocrites, who make shift for themselves to be freed from trouble by unlawfull meanes, v. 5.
Vers. 1. THey that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Sion, which cannot be removed: but abideth for ever.
2. As the mountaines are round about Ierusalem, so the LORD is round about his people: from hence forth even for ever.
From the first encouragement to trust in God in the time of trial; Learn, 1. There is no service more acceptable to God, or more profitable to us, then glorifying of God by faith in him, when tentations do assault us, as the professing of the duty, and motives which are used here do teach us. 2. Seeing the happinesse of the believer is so established that he cannot misse of it, he may the more chearfully hazard in God service all things temporal and moveable, trusting in the Lord: They that trust in the Lord, shall he as mount Sion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever. 3. The preservation of the believer, and the stability of his blessednesse, floweth not from any strength in himselfe, but from the Lords guarding of him: As the mountaines are round about Ierusalem, so the Lord is round about his people.
Ver. 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.
From the second encouragement of the beleever to trust in God in the time of trial; Learn, 1. No promise made to the believer, must secure him from being exercised with trouble, but rather must fore-warne him of, and fore-arme him against trouble: for here it is presupposed he may be burthened by the rod of the wicked. 2. It is a sore trial for the godly, to have their Rulers their persecutors for righteousnesse, but this exercise shall not last long: For the rod (which is the signe of power) of the wicked, shall not rest on the lot of the righteous. 3. Because there is hazard lest the believer should faint in trouble, therefore the Lord will not trie his own who believe in him above their strength, but will give them a deliverance that they may escape: The rod of the wicked shall not rest on the lot of the righteous, lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity.
Ver. 4. Do good, O LORD, unto those that be good: and to them that are upright in their hearts.
From the third motive to believe in God in time of trial especially; Learn, 1. The true believer is a good man, harmless, bountifull, delighting to do good to all men▪ and to do wrong to no man, for here he is so called: Do good, O Lord, to those that be good. 2. Albeit the believer seem to be hardly handled by afflictions, yet shall it afterward appear that God hath thereby been working for his welfare; for the pra…er of the Psalmist indited by God, doth promise so much; Do good, O Lord▪ unto those that be good. 3. As a man that trusts in God is honest in his heart, how weak soever, in doing the good he would, and he taketh care not only to cleanse his life, but also to purifie his heart: so shall he be dealt with by God as a good man, whatsoever be his own estimation of himselfe: Do good to those that are good, and unto them that a…e upright in their heart.
Ver. 5. As for such as turn aside unto their crooked wayes, the LORD shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity: but peace shall be upon Israel.
From the fourth motive to believe in God for bearing out in trial; Learn, …. In the time of trial, there will sundry be found hypocrites, counterfeit dealers, misbelievers; who will shift for themselves, and turn aside from the obedience of faith, by their own crooked …ourses, as here is insinuated: As for such that turne aside unto their crooked wayes. 2. God will decipher hypocrites, who do not trust God, or do not adhere to the obedience of faith in time of trouble and triall, and will put them as complyers with the wicked, in the same reckoning with his open enemies: The Lord will lead them forth with the workers of iniquity. 3. To look upon the judgements of God, pursuing backsliding mis-believers in time of persecution, should be a strong motive, to make professors constant in the obedience of faith, on all hazards in time of trial: for the punishment of the wylle mis-believer is set down here, to teach men to be honest and stout in the faith and obedience of God; For such as turn aside unto their crooked wayes, the Lord shall lead them forth with the workers of in…quity. 4. Whatsoever trouble the Lords people shall be put unto in the time of trial, they shall still remaine in Gods favour and grace; and when the Lord hath purged his Church in some measure, by winnowing corrupt hypocrites out from among his people, the Church shall be restored to her peace▪ But peace shall be upon Israel.