Psalm 125: The Good, the Bad, and the Rule of the Wicked

Today’s reading is Psalm 125.

Your King Matters

Earlier this week, I suggested the possibility of reading these songs from the perspective of the king. Specifically, from the perspective of the Blessed King of Psalms 1-2. Perhaps, to be more clear, from the perspective of the kings of Israel and Judah who were called to be the Blessed King of Psalm 1-2.

When I read Psalm 125 from this perspective, my view of the psalm becomes a bit more nuanced. Certainly, as we learned yesterday for any and all pilgrims, seeing YHWH as loyal, firm, and permanent like the mountains surrounding Jerusalem provides confidence to stay in Jerusalem and wait on His justice against wicked rulers. But from the perspective of the ruler, this psalm drives home another point. If the pilgrim is in fact the king, he wants to be a good king, not a wicked king. After all, YHWH will not allow the scepter of wickedness to linger. God’s land is allotted for the righteous. The unrighteous will be judged and removed, even the unrighteous kings.

God knows an unrighteous king will lead His people to unrighteousness. Therefore, He will not allow the unrighteous rule to remain. That being said, the psalm does demonstrate in vs. 5, some people will turn to the crooked way of the wicked kings. God does not turn a blind eye to citizens who follow after their wicked king, claiming it isn’t the citizens’ fault. Rather, like king, like people. If people follow a wicked king into wickedness, they will be also follow him into God’s judgment.

Which gets us back to the perspective of every pilgrim. As a pilgrim, my King matters. If I submit to the scepter of wickedness, listening to the counsel of the wicked, I will walk in the way of the wicked which perishes (see Psalm 1). I can’t walk a way that perishes and expect to survive. Rather, no matter what the “rulers” around me do, I must stretch out my hand to God, submitting to Him. The psalmist does not mean I have to be perfect to be protected, but do not overlook the prayer for the Lord to do good to those who do good.

Our King really does matter. Who is your King?

Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 125.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier.

PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family

How does Psalm 125 prompt or improve your hope in God?

Psalm 60: Standing on the Promises

Today’s reading is Psalm 60.

David’s psalm begins with great lament over an awful defeat. However, the final lines envision a coming terrific victory by the power of God. David moves from claiming God has not gone out with his armies to believing his armies will do valiantly by the strength of God. What prompted the shift?

The hinge, I think, comes in vss. 6-8. The geographical markers mean more than David knew his maps. Shechem and Succoth in vs. 6 are particularly important. In Genesis 33, Jacob traveled back to the Promised Land from his time serving Laban. However, he feared his brother Esau (the father of the Edomites) might still want vengeance over the stolen blessing from years earlier. Instead of attacking and destroying Jacob and family, Esau welcomed Jacob into the land and actually moved out of his way. In Genesis 33:17-18, the two places mentioned to which Jacob traveled were Shechem and Succoth. In other words, David recalls an ancient time when Israel faced defeat from Edom (Esau). God made room for them because God keeps His covenants and promises. David is standing on the promise of God in this prayer.

The statement that God would divide and portion the land also calls God’s promises to mind. In Joshua, God promised the land to Israel and claimed He would divide and apportion it to the various tribes. All that land was His and He was giving it to Abraham’s offspring. Gilead, on the east of the Jordan, was God’s. However, He had promised it to Israel. Manasseh’s land, found on both sides of the river, was God’s. However, He had promised it to Israel. Ephraim and Judah, the two main tribes on the west of the Jordan, were God’s. However, He had promised it to Israel. These lands belonged to tribes of Israel because God had promised that land to Abraham’s descendants. David knew God would not simply give Abraham’s land to other nations. In fact, he knew Moab, Philistia, and Edom actually belonged to Israel’s God as well. David is standing on God’s promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob when he asks God to go with his armies.

We today should stand on God’s promises in our prayers. Learn what God has promised. Even when it seems those promises are not being fulfilled, stand on them, pray for them. Then watch them come to pass.

Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 60.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier sparked by this post.

PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family

How does Psalm 60 provide or increase your trust in God?