Text -- Psalms 125:1-3 (NET)

Psalm 125

125:1 A song of ascents. Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion; it cannot be upended and will endure forever. 125:2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, now and forevermore. 125:3 Indeed, the scepter of a wicked king will not settle upon the allotted land of the godly. Otherwise the godly might do what is wrong.

Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Psa 125:1

¹ sn Psalm 125. The psalmist affirms his confidence in the Lord’s protection and justice.

² sn The precise significance of this title, which appears in Pss 120-134, is unclear. Perhaps worshipers recited these psalms when they ascended the road to Jerusalem to celebrate annual religious festivals. For a discussion of their background see L. C. Allen, Psalms 101-150 (WBC), 219-21.

NET Notes: Psa 125:2

¹ map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

NET Notes: Psa 125:3

¹ tn Or “for.”

² tn Heb “a scepter of wickedness.” The “scepter” symbolizes royal authority; when collocated with “wickedness” the phrase refers to an oppressive foreign conqueror.

³ tn Or “rest.”

⁴ tn Heb “so that the godly might not stretch out their hands in wrongdoing.” A wicked king who sets a sinful example can have an adverse moral and ethical effect on the people he rules.