mh_parser/vol_split/19 - Psalms/Chapter 125.xml

<div2 id="Ps.cxxvi" n="cxxvi" next="Ps.cxxvii" prev="Ps.cxxv" progress="66.80%" title="Chapter CXXV">
<h2 id="Ps.cxxvi-p0.1">P S A L M S</h2>
<h3 id="Ps.cxxvi-p0.2">PSALM CXXV.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Ps.cxxvi-p1">This short psalm may be summed up in those words
of the prophet (<scripRef id="Ps.cxxvi-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.3.10-Isa.3.11" parsed="|Isa|3|10|3|11" passage="Isa 3:10,11">Isa. iii. 10,
11</scripRef>), "Say you to the righteous, It shall be well with
him. Woe to the wicked, it shall be ill with him." Thus are life
and death, the blessing and the curse, set before us often in the
psalms, as well as in the law and the prophets. I. It is certainly
well with the people of God; for, 1. They have the promises of a
good God that they shall be fixed (<scripRef id="Ps.cxxvi-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.125.1" parsed="|Ps|125|1|0|0" passage="Ps 125:1">ver. 1</scripRef>), and safe (<scripRef id="Ps.cxxvi-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.125.2" parsed="|Ps|125|2|0|0" passage="Ps 125:2">ver. 2</scripRef>), and not always under the hatches,
<scripRef id="Ps.cxxvi-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.125.3" parsed="|Ps|125|3|0|0" passage="Ps 125:3">ver. 3</scripRef>. 2. They have the
prayers of a good man, which shall be heard for them, <scripRef id="Ps.cxxvi-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.125.4" parsed="|Ps|125|4|0|0" passage="Ps 125:4">ver. 4</scripRef>. II. It is certainly ill with
the wicked, and particularly with the apostates, <scripRef id="Ps.cxxvi-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.125.5" parsed="|Ps|125|5|0|0" passage="Ps 125:5">ver. 5</scripRef>. Some of the Jewish rabbies are of
opinion that it has reference to the days of the Messiah; however,
we that are members of the gospel-church may certainly, in singing
this psalm, take comfort of these promises, and the more so if we
stand in awe of the threatening.</p>
<scripCom id="Ps.cxxvi-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.125" parsed="|Ps|125|0|0|0" passage="Ps 125" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Ps.cxxvi-p1.8" osisRef="Bible:Ps.125.1-Ps.125.3" parsed="|Ps|125|1|125|3" passage="Ps 125:1-3" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.125.1-Ps.125.3">
<h4 id="Ps.cxxvi-p1.9">The Security of God's
People.</h4>
<div class="Center" id="Ps.cxxvi-p1.10">
<p id="Ps.cxxvi-p2">A song of degrees.</p>
</div>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.cxxvi-p3">1 They that trust in the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.cxxvi-p3.1">Lord</span> <i>shall be</i> as mount Zion, <i>which</i>
cannot be removed, <i>but</i> abideth for ever.   2 As the
mountains <i>are</i> round about Jerusalem, so the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.cxxvi-p3.2">Lord</span> <i>is</i> round about his people from
henceforth even for ever.   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.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxxvi-p4">Here are three very precious promises made
to the people of God, which, though they are designed to secure the
welfare of the church in general, may be applied by particular
believers to themselves, as other promises of this nature may. Here
is,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxxvi-p5">I. The character of God's people, to whom
these promises belong. Many call themselves God's people who have
no part nor lot in this matter. But those shall have the benefit of
them and may take the comfort of them, (1.) Who are
<i>righteous</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.cxxvi-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.125.3" parsed="|Ps|125|3|0|0" passage="Ps 125:3"><i>v.</i>
3</scripRef>), righteous before God, righteous to God, and
righteous to all men, for his sake justified and sanctified. (2.)
Who <i>trust in the Lord,</i> who depend upon his care and devote
themselves to his honour. All that deal with God must deal upon
trust, and he will give comfort to those only that give credit to
him, and make it to appear they do so by quitting other
confidences, and venturing to the utmost for God. The closer our
expectations are confined to God the higher our expectations may be
raised from him.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxxvi-p6">II. The promises themselves.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxxvi-p7">1. That their hearts shall be established
by faith: those minds shall be truly stayed that are stayed on God:
<i>They shall be as Mount Zion.</i> The church in general is called
<i>Mount Zion</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.cxxvi-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Heb.12.22" parsed="|Heb|12|22|0|0" passage="Heb 12:22">Heb. xii.
22</scripRef>), and it shall in <i>this</i> respect be like
<i>Mount Zion,</i> it shall be built upon a rock, and its interests
shall be so well secured that <i>the gates of hell shall not
prevail against it.</i> The stability of the church is the
satisfaction of all its well-wishers. Particular persons, who trust
in God, shall be established (<scripRef id="Ps.cxxvi-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.112.7" parsed="|Ps|112|7|0|0" passage="Ps 112:7">Ps.
cxii. 7</scripRef>); their faith shall be their fixation, <scripRef id="Ps.cxxvi-p7.3" osisRef="Bible:Isa.7.9" parsed="|Isa|7|9|0|0" passage="Isa 7:9">Isa. vii. 9</scripRef>. <i>They shall be as Mount
Zion,</i> which is firm as it is a mountain supported by
providence, much more as a holy mountain supported by promise. (1.)
They <i>cannot be removed</i> by the prince of the power of the
air, nor by all his subtlety and strength. They cannot be removed
from their integrity nor from their confidence in God. (2.) They
<i>abide for ever</i> in that grace which is the earnest of their
everlasting continuance in glory.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxxvi-p8">2. That, committing themselves to God, they
shall be safe, under his protection, from all the insults of their
enemies, as Jerusalem had a natural fastness and fortification in
the <i>mountains</i> that <i>were round about it,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.cxxvi-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.125.2" parsed="|Ps|125|2|0|0" passage="Ps 125:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>. Those mountains not only
sheltered it from winds and tempests, and broke the force of them,
but made it also very difficult of access for an enemy; such a
defence is God's providence to his people. Observe, (1.) The
compass of it: <i>The Lord is round about his people</i> on every
side. There is no gap in the hedge of protection which he makes
round about his people, at which the enemy, who goes about them,
seeking to do them a mischief, can find entrance, <scripRef id="Ps.cxxvi-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:Job.1.10" parsed="|Job|1|10|0|0" passage="Job 1:10">Job i. 10</scripRef>. (2.) The continuance of
it—<i>henceforth even for ever.</i> Mountains may moulder and
<i>come to nought, and rocks</i> be <i>removed out of their
place</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.cxxvi-p8.3" osisRef="Bible:Job.14.18" parsed="|Job|14|18|0|0" passage="Job 14:18">Job xiv. 18</scripRef>),
but God's covenant with his people cannot be <i>broken</i>
(<scripRef id="Ps.cxxvi-p8.4" osisRef="Bible:Isa.54.10" parsed="|Isa|54|10|0|0" passage="Isa 54:10">Isa. liv. 10</scripRef>) nor his
care of them cease. Their being said to stand fast <i>for ever</i>
(<scripRef id="Ps.cxxvi-p8.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.125.1" parsed="|Ps|125|1|0|0" passage="Ps 125:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>), and here to
have God <i>round about them for ever,</i> intimates that the
promises of the stability and security of God's people will have
their full accomplishment in their everlasting state. In heaven
they shall <i>stand fast for ever,</i> shall be as <i>pillars in
the temple of our God and go no more out</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.cxxvi-p8.6" osisRef="Bible:Rev.3.12" parsed="|Rev|3|12|0|0" passage="Re 3:12">Rev. iii. 12</scripRef>), and there God himself, with his
glory and favour, will be <i>round about them for ever.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxxvi-p9">3. That their troubles shall last no longer
than their strength will serve to bear them up under them,
<scripRef id="Ps.cxxvi-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.125.3" parsed="|Ps|125|3|0|0" passage="Ps 125:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>. (1.) It is
supposed that the <i>rod of the wicked</i> may come, may fall,
<i>upon the lot of the righteous.</i> The rod of their power may
oppress them; the rod of their anger may vex and torment them. It
may fall upon their persons, their estates, their liberties, their
families, their names, any thing that falls to their lot, only it
cannot reach their souls. (2.) It is promised that, though it may
come upon their lot, it shall not rest there; it shall not continue
so long as the enemies design, and as the people of God fear, but
God will cut the work short in righteousness, so short that even
<i>with the temptation he will make a way for them to escape.</i>
(3.) It is considered as a reason of this promise that if the
trouble should continue over-long the righteous themselves would be
in temptation to <i>put forth their hands to iniquity,</i> to join
with wicked people in their wicked practices, to say as they say
and do as they do. There is danger lest, being long persecuted for
their religion, at length they grow weary of it and willing to give
it up, lest, being kept long in expectation of promised mercies,
they begin to distrust the promise, and to think of casting God
off, upon suspicion of his having cast them off. See <scripRef id="Ps.cxxvi-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.73.13-Ps.73.14" parsed="|Ps|73|13|73|14" passage="Ps 73:13,14">Ps. lxxiii. 13, 14</scripRef>. Note, God
considers the frame of his people, and will proportion their trials
to their strength by the care of his providence, as well as their
strength to their trials by the power of his grace. <i>Oppression
makes a wise man mad,</i> especially if it continue long; therefore
<i>for the elect's sake</i> the days shall be shortened, that,
whatever becomes of their lot in this world, they may not lose
their lot among the chosen.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Ps.cxxvi-p9.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.125.4-Ps.125.5" parsed="|Ps|125|4|125|5" passage="Ps 125:4-5" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.125.4-Ps.125.5">
<h4 id="Ps.cxxvi-p9.4">The Security of God's
People.</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.cxxvi-p10">4 Do good, <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.cxxvi-p10.1">O
Lord</span>, unto <i>those that be</i> good, and <i>to them that
are</i> upright in their hearts.   5 As for such as turn aside
unto their crooked ways, the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.cxxvi-p10.2">Lord</span>
shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity: <i>but</i>
peace <i>shall be</i> upon Israel.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxxvi-p11">Here is, 1. The prayer the psalmist puts up
for the happiness of those that are sincere and constant (<scripRef id="Ps.cxxvi-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.125.4" parsed="|Ps|125|4|0|0" passage="Ps 125:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>): <i>Do good, O Lord!
unto those that are good.</i> This teaches us to pray for all good
people, to <i>make supplication for all saints;</i> and we may pray
in faith for them, being assured that those who do well shall
certainly be well dealt with. Those that are as they should be
shall be as they would be, provided they be <i>upright in
heart,</i> that they be really as good as they seem to be. <i>With
the upright God will show himself upright.</i> He does not say, Do
good, O Lord! to those that are perfect, that are sinless and
spotless, but to those that are sincere and honest. God's promises
should quicken our prayers. It is comfortable wishing well to those
for whom God has engaged to do well. 2. The prospect he has of the
ruin of hypocrites and deserters; he does not pray for it (<i>I
have not desired the woeful day, thou knowest</i>), but he predicts
it: <i>As for those,</i> who having known the way of righteousness,
for fear of the rod of the wicked, basely turn aside out of it
<i>to their wicked ways,</i> use indirect ways to prevent trouble
or extricate themselves out of it, or those who, instead of
reforming, grow worse and worse and are more obstinate and daring
in their impieties, God shall <i>send them away, cast them out,</i>
and <i>lead them forth with the workers of iniquity,</i> that is,
he will appoint them their portion with the worst of sinners. Note,
(1.) Sinful ways are <i>crooked ways;</i> sin is the perverting of
that which is right. (2.) The doom of those who turn aside to those
crooked ways out of the right way will be the same with theirs who
have all along walked in them, nay, and more grievous, for if any
place in hell be hotter than another that shall be the portion of
hypocrites and apostates. God shall <i>lead them forth,</i> as
prisoners are led forth to execution. <i>Go, you cursed, into
everlasting fire;</i> and <i>these shall go away;</i> all their
former righteousness shall not be mentioned unto them. The last
words, <i>Peace upon Israel,</i> may be taken as a prayer: "God
preserve his Israel in peace, when his judgments are abroad
reckoning with evil-doers." We read them as a promise: <i>Peace
shall be upon Israel;</i> that is, [1.] When those who have
treacherously deserted the ways of God meet with their own
destruction those who faithfully adhere to them, though they may
have trouble in their way, shall have peace in the end. [2.] The
destruction of those who walk in crooked ways will contribute to
the peace and safety of the church. When Herod was cut off <i>the
word of God grew,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.cxxvi-p11.2" osisRef="Bible:Acts.12.23-Acts.12.24" parsed="|Acts|12|23|12|24" passage="Ac 12:23,24">Acts xii. 23,
24</scripRef>. [3.] The peace and happiness of God's Israel will be
the vexation, and will add much to the torment, of those who perish
in their wickedness, <scripRef id="Ps.cxxvi-p11.3" osisRef="Bible:Luke.13.28 Bible:Isa.65.13" parsed="|Luke|13|28|0|0;|Isa|65|13|0|0" passage="Lu 13:28,Isa 65:13">Luke
xiii. 28; Isa. lxv. 13</scripRef>. <i>My servants shall rejoice,
but you shall be ashamed.</i></p>
</div></div2>