"Unshaken and Trusting" by Lynne McCarthy

Psalm 125

Observe  Those who trust in the Lord will not be moved, the first line of Psalm 125 assures us. The Lord is ever present and will not allow the wicked to govern His people. Those who choose their own way will find themselves in a place far from His love.

Interpret  The sixth Psalm of Ascents, this song encourages the pilgrims in their journey up Mt Zion, as immovable under their feet as they are under the Lord’s guidance.

Trusting in God is the extended theme. As the mountain fastnesses surround Jerusalem, protecting it, so God encircles and protects His faithful people. Evil cannot dwell there, because God has His hand on His holy place; without Him, His own people will too easily fall back into the sins of their forebears – it’s happened before.

The prayer in verse 4 asks for more than mere human prosperity, but for the riches of grace and good only God can supply. For those who stubbornly go their own way, and that refers to anyone in this pilgrim company, the Lord will let them continue, a most terrifying prospect (5a). For those who remain close to Him, blessings will go before and follow. Peace the world cannot give will be for Israel (5b), and for all His pilgrim people through the ages.

Apply  With the world roaring its anxiety, fear, desire, greed, idolatry etc etc at us, how do we remain unshaken as news of fresh disaster assaults us from all sides?

If we follow in the company of His saints, past and present, we have nothing to fear; by our intentional exercise of trust, God and His Word become more and more our strength, joy and shelter. But we are easily led away from His narrow, difficult path, and this Psalm reminds us to look at ourselves from God’s viewpoint – what do we see?

We know sin doesn’t pay. As we remain on His way, live out of His truth, the Spirit leads us into His life. We pay careful attention, discerning His voice through all that competing noise. But His still small voice, His Advocate Spirit, groans on our behalf and keeps us on the pilgrim way.

We pray for just leaders (3), in government, in the church, so that God’s righteous rule will be the norm.  It remains an ideal until Jesus comes again, but as we grow in trust, it’s unshakeable hope.

Ask  Will You keep me on Your path, Lord, distracted as I so easily am?  Will You keep that mirror clear and bright, so I see You reflected, encouraging, strengthening, and enlivening?

Pray  Lord, bless those who trust You, whether in seasons of hardship or pleasure. Today, I am like Mount Zion. I proclaim Your presence, sovereignty and peace, and the protection of Your people.  I declare that trusting in You brings bountiful blessings.  (Yohanna Katanacho, Praying through the Psalms. P.125)

Sing Psalm 125
Psalm 125 - Dr David Erb
Not Be Moved - James Block
A Meditation on Trust (sung in Hebrew) - Andi M.
Anatomy of the Soul - Unmoved Shall Endure