Peace Is Ours in Psalm 125 if We Stand on the Immovable

“Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever.” Psalm 125:1

Mount Zion was immovable. The mount communicates eternal steadfastness. Yet, it is only a comparison, an illustration, of the trustworthiness of the Lord in whom we put our trust. Having trust is important; being worthy of that trust is so much more important. The Lord God is worthy of trust. Don’t trust in yourself or other gods; instead, put your trust in God who abides forever and cannot be moved.

“As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, from this time forth and forevermore.” Psalm 125:2

I have called my journey through grief an intense schoolhouse. Life has a way of reinforcing truth through experiences. As I walk through life, I learn that God is worthy of my trust. He is an immovable foundation that abides forever. He is like trustworthy Mount Zion. Even in an intense schoolhouse.

“The psalmist continually returns to the image of the mountains; there is nothing so massive, so strong, and secure.” Jerry Rankin, In the Secret Place: A Pilgrimage Through the Psalms

And while I’m learning to stand by faith on my immovable God, I realize he’s also like mountains that surround me. He’s a forever foundation underneath me, but he’s also an immovable and forever garrison of mountains around me.

“For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest on the land allotted to the righteous, lest the righteous stretch out their hands to do wrong.” Psalm 125:3

We stand on a firm foundation, and we are surrounded by protective mountains; however, we exist in the context of a broken world. Tears, death, mourning, crying, pain, and all manner of evidence of brokenness permeate our lives. But, “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4).

We are eternally safe if we are his possession. We are safe if we press up under the shadow of his wings. We are not self-sufficient. We are not an island to ourselves. We are fully dependent. His righteousness is our righteousness. As Paul says, “…he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy…” (Titus 3:5).

“Do good, O Lord, to those who are good, and to those who are upright in their hearts!” Psalm 125:4

In this psalm of ascents, the psalmist prays that the Lord will do good to those who are good and upright. This prayer must be kept in the same context of the message of another psalm. “They have all fallen away; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one” (Psalm 53:3). There are none good, but we are made good by the blood of the Lamb. Keep this lesson in the forefront of your mind and heart—in a broken world that gives no hope, there is a mount that provides a firm foundation for hope.

The psalmist’s prayer continues. The fallen who reject the Lord will go the way of the destruction. The unrepentant, who have no faith, will follow their own crooked ways. “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death” (Proverbs 14:12).

In a similar moment, Joshua says, “And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve…But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15).

Choose good or choose evil.

If you’re walking in a story of brokenness, choose good. Stand on the mount. Look at the mountains surrounding you. Realize brokenness is temporal. Hide under his eternal protection. Run from wickedness to choose good. And peace will be yours, even in your storm.

“But those who turn aside to their crooked ways the Lord will lead away with evildoers! Peace be upon Israel!” Psalm 125:5