Useful Bible Studies > Songs of Ascent Commentary
Last part: God is with his people
In verse 3, the subject of Psalm 125 changes. We have seen that God is with his people. And because of that, they are always safe. However, now, in this life, they have many troubles. The reason, as the poet explains, is the power of wicked people.
God gave the land in Israel to his people. They received it as their permanent possession. Each family received the land which that family would always own. But the poet wrote about wicked people who had taken the land. They controlled the land as powerful rulers do. And so God’s people suffered.
God allows this for a time. But it cannot be the permanent arrangement. At the right time, God must act as the judge. He must deal with the matters that human judges have been unable or unwilling to do. He must issue judgements that are fair, right and good. He must rescue his people, and he must punish evil people.
The poet writes especially about people who change their minds. It is wonderful when an evil person decides to serve God. God forgives that person, and he changes that person’s life. But that is not the poet’s subject.
Instead, he writes about good people who become evil. And that is terrible. In verse 3, he says that the success of evil people might persuade good people to become evil. And in verse 5, he explains that God will punish such people.
So God gives security to people who trust him. They do not need to be afraid, because he will certainly save them. But people – even good people – who become evil should be very afraid. They should know that God is against them. They must stop their evil behaviour at once and they must confess their wrong deeds to God. Otherwise, they will certainly not avoid their punishment.
Next part: Psalm 125 as poetry
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© 2015, Keith Simons.