Bible Commentaries

John Trapp Complete Commentary

Psalms 125

Verse 1

Psalms 125:1 « A Song of degrees. » They that trust in the LORD [shall be] as mount Zion, [which] cannot be removed, [but] abideth for ever.

Ver. 1. They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion] Great is the stability of a believer’s felicity. Winds and storms move not a mountain; an earthquake may, but not easily, remove it. That mystical mount Zion, the Church, immota manet, is unmoveable; so is every member thereof, for the main of his happiness.


Verse 2

Psalms 125:2 As the mountains [are] round about Jerusalem, so the LORD [is] round about his people from henceforth even for ever.

Ver. 2. As the mountains are round about Jerusalem] That is, say some, as the angels; but we take it literally. Jerusalem was surrounded with many high mountains, which were a great safeguard to it; yet did not always defend it, as the Lord doth his, by being a wall of fire round about them, Zechariah 2:5.


Verse 3

Psalms 125:3 For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity.

Ver. 3. For the rod of the wicked shall not rest] Fall upon the lot of the righteous it may, notwithstanding that former promise of God’s protection; but he will take care they be not tempted above that they are able, 1 Corinthians 10:13; he sets the time, and appoints the measure, Psalms 30:5, Revelation 2:10.

Lest the righteous, &c.] Overcome by impatience, or drawn aside by the world’s either allurements or affrightments, should yield and comply, or seek to help themselves out of trouble by sinister practice. God (saith Chrysostom) doth like a lute player, who will not let the strings of his lute be too slack, lest it mar the music, nor suffer them to be too hard stretched or screwed up, lest they break.


Verse 4

Psalms 125:4 Do good, O LORD, unto [those that be] good, and [to them that are] upright in their hearts.

Ver. 4. Do good, O Lord, unto those that be good] But afflicted by those men of thy hand, Psalms 17:14, who are the rod in thine hand, Isaiah 10:5. Do good in thy good pleasure (for nothing can be claimed by the very best) to such, according to thy promise, Psalms 125:3, which here I put in suit for them; let the Lord be with the good, 2 Chronicles 19:11.

And to them that are upright in their hearts] For such only are good indeed, and approved in Christ, as was Apelles, Romans 16:10, and Nathanael, John 1:47, notwithstanding their infirmities. Hypocrisy imbaseth the purest metal, turneth gold into rusty iron; sincerity doth the contrary by a divine kind of alchemy.


Verse 5

Psalms 125:5 As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the LORD shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity: [but] peace [shall be] upon Israel.

Ver. 5. As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways] In lubricitates vel tortuositates, such as pretend piety to their worldly and wicked designs and dealings; dissemblers, warpers, versuti et vafri, who would defraud God of heaven if they could tell how.

The Lord shall lead them forth] Quantumvis reluctantes, as cattle led to the slaughter; or malefactors to execution. Transfugas arboribus suspendunt, they hang up fugitives, saith Tacitus concerning the Germans; there is martial law for such, Hebrews 10:38-39, as there is for scoundrels among us.

With the workers of iniquity] They shall to hell with the rest of the wicked crew, notwithstanding their professions and pretences of piety, whereunto they are perfect strangers; hypocrites are the freeholders of hell, and other evil persons are, as it were, tenants to them; shall have their part with them, Matthew 24:51.

But peace shall be upon Israel] Peace shall be upon them and mercy, Galatians 6:16. "The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies, neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth; for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid," Zephaniah 3:13.

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