Psalm 125:3














The previous verses have told how secure it is; these add other facts concerning it.

I. THE ROD OF THE WICKED SHALL NOT REST UPON IT.

1. It may come upon the righteous. Often had done so; but it should not continue. It has been thought that reference is made here to the troubles of the righteous Nehemiah, by reason of the opposition and treachery he had to meet with (see Nehemiah 2:16; Nehemiah 6:10-14, 17). It may be so; but the truth is ever applicable.

2. If it continue outwardly, it will not inwardly. With the wicked, when suffering comes, there is no alleviation, no blessed peace of God, no communion with him, no bright hope, no sustaining Holy Spirit. But these are all in the lot of the righteous. God's saints have ever enjoyed them. Hence it matters but little, if the inward grace be given, whether the outward rod be removed or no.

3. But it generally is removed both outwardly and inwardly. It is not suffered to be permanent. The troubles of the righteous are but as going through a tunnel; it may be very long and very dark and very drear, but it is only a tunnel, and ere long the light is reached again.

II. GOD WILL NOT SUFFER THEM TO BE TEMPTED ABOVE THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO BEAR. This is the reason given why "the rod of the wicked shall not rest," etc.

1. There are other reasons. God's love for his people. He has no pleasure in their pain. No, but in their affliction he is afflicted. Hence "he will not always chide," etc. (Psalm 103.). Then, because they are in Christ (cf. Romans 8:1).

2. But there is this reason also. It would defeat the very end God has in view. He desires his people to be perfected in righteousness. But if the "rest of the wicked" always "rested," etc. - that unmitigated, unalleviated rod - it would be more than our poor frail humanity could bear. The righteous would be discouraged, and this would be fatal to them, as it ever is. The condition of fidelity is to be strong and of a good courage.

III. THEIR LOT WILL BECOME BRIGHTER AND BRIGHTER. (Ver. 4.) The prayer simply states what is God's perpetual way. He is good to them that are good, adding ever to his grace (Proverbs 4:18).

IV. BUT MUST NEVER BE DEPARTED FROM. To turn aside from it is certain misery (ver. 5). The most wretched souls on the face of the earth are those that have turned aside from God to wicked ways, such as are all the ways of sin. - S.C.

Lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity.
The shepherd would keep his sheep from straggling. His distress is that all in Israel are not true Israelites. Two sorts of people, described by the poet, have ever been in the Church. The second class, instead of being at the trouble to "withstand in the evil day," will "put forth their hands unto iniquity." Rather than feel, they will follow the rod of the wicked. They will "turn aside unto their crooked ways," sooner than risk temporal and material interests. If they do not give themselves fully to the Egyptians or Philistines, Babylonians or Samaritans, they go far in compliance to gain their favour, and sometimes so far as to share in their plunder. Slipping from the King's highway into the tortuous by-paths of selfishness and compromise, they are without excuse. No sufferings in God's service are reasons for unfaithfulness and apostasy. His grace makes us able to drink whatever cup His providence administers. He adapts our trials to our strength, and proportions our strength to our trials (1 Corinthians 10:13). The way of escape is never crookedly parleying with false friends, but always direct obedience to the will of God. At the worst, it is death; and then the worst is best. Whatever may happen from the rod of the wicked, it is of the greatest moment to shun the wickedness of their rod. The treacherous and pliable exchange the lot of the righteous for the portion of evil-doers.

(E. J. Robinson.)

People
Psalmist
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Allotment, Allotted, Evil, Forth, Hands, Heritage, Iniquity, Lest, Lot, Rest, Resteth, Resting, Righteous, Rod, Scepter, Sceptre, Sinners, Upright, Wicked, Wickedness, Won't, Wrong
Outline
1. The safety of such as trust in God
4. A prayer for the godly, and against the wicked

Dictionary of Bible Themes
Psalm 125:3

     5513   sceptre
     7150   righteous, the

Psalm 125:1-4

     8442   good works

Library
Mountains Round Mount Zion
'They that trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever. 2. As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about His people from henceforth, even for ever.'--PSALM cxxv. 1, 2. The so-called 'Songs of Degrees,' of which this psalm is one, are probably a pilgrim's song-book, and possibly date from the period of the restoration of Israel from the Babylonish captivity. In any case, this little psalm looks very much like a record of the impression
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Security of the Church
We shall consider the text, first, as relating to the Church as a whole, and then we shall endeavor to note how it applies to every individual in particular. I. FIRST, THE CHURCH AS A WHOLE is secured by God beyond the reach of harm. She is ably garrisoned by Omnipotence, and she is castled within the faithful engagements of the covenant. How often has the Church been attacked; but how often has she been victorious? The number of her battles is just the number of her victories. Foes have come against
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 3: 1857

Letter ii (A. D. 1126) to the Monk Adam
To the Monk Adam [3] 1. If you remain yet in that spirit of charity which I either knew or believed to be with you formerly, you would certainly feel the condemnation with which charity must regard the scandal which you have given to the weak. For charity would not offend charity, nor scorn when it feels itself offended. For it cannot deny itself, nor be divided against itself. Its function is rather to draw together things divided; and it is far from dividing those that are joined. Now, if that
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux

Calvin -- Enduring Persecution for Christ
John Calvin was born in 1509, at Noyon, France. He has been called the greatest of Protestant commentators and theologians, and the inspirer of the Puritan exodus. He often preached every day for weeks in succession. He possest two of the greatest elements in successful pulpit oratory, self-reliance and authority. It was said of him, as it was afterward said of Webster, that "every word weighed a pound." His style was simple, direct, and convincing. He made men think. His splendid contributions to
Various—The World's Great Sermons, Volume I

The Unchangeableness of God
The next attribute is God's unchangeableness. I am Jehovah, I change not.' Mal 3:3. I. God is unchangeable in his nature. II. In his decree. I. Unchangeable in his nature. 1. There is no eclipse of his brightness. 2. No period put to his being. [1] No eclipse of his brightness. His essence shines with a fixed lustre. With whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.' James 1:17. Thou art the same.' Psa 102:27. All created things are full of vicissitudes. Princes and emperors are subject to
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

Psalms
The piety of the Old Testament Church is reflected with more clearness and variety in the Psalter than in any other book of the Old Testament. It constitutes the response of the Church to the divine demands of prophecy, and, in a less degree, of law; or, rather, it expresses those emotions and aspirations of the universal heart which lie deeper than any formal demand. It is the speech of the soul face to face with God. Its words are as simple and unaffected as human words can be, for it is the genius
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

Links
Psalm 125:3 NIV
Psalm 125:3 NLT
Psalm 125:3 ESV
Psalm 125:3 NASB
Psalm 125:3 KJV

Psalm 125:3 Bible Apps
Psalm 125:3 Parallel
Psalm 125:3 Biblia Paralela
Psalm 125:3 Chinese Bible
Psalm 125:3 French Bible
Psalm 125:3 German Bible

Psalm 125:3 Commentaries

Bible Hub
Psalm 125:2
Top of Page
Top of Page