Permanence: Where Security Comes From
GOD’S WORD
PSALM 125; Psalms 120-134;
DEVOTIONAL BY
MAJOR ANTHONY JULIANA
DIVISIONAL COMMANDER FOR
ALABAMA, LOUISIANA, AND MISSISSIPPI
Psalm 125 is one of the short but profound Psalms in the collection known as the Songs of Ascent (Psalms 120–134). Most scholars agree that these songs were sung by Hebrew pilgrims as they ascended to Jerusalem for one of the three annual pilgrimage feasts. It is easy to imagine these travelers, dusty from the road and inspired by the sight of the holy city, singing, “As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people both now and forevermore”(Psalm 125:2).
Mountains symbolize protection and timeless strength. Jerusalem, encircled by hills, offers a powerful metaphor for God's presence wrapping around His people. In verse one, the psalmist declares, “Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever.” This simple line paints a vivid picture of permanence. It asks the timeless question: where does real security come from? The answer is unwavering trust in the Lord.
Cultivate Unshakable Trust in God
The psalmist begins with trust because it is the foundation of spiritual permanence. However, true trust in God cannot coexist with trust in other things. We cannot fully trust in the Lord until we let go of our reliance on what is temporary—our wealth, abilities, positions, or relationships. Only God is strong and eternal enough to offer lasting security.
The phrase “those who trust in the Lord” carried deep meaning for the original singers. It reminded them of their covenant relationship with God—a God who was powerful, faithful, and always near. Perhaps that resonates with you today. Your security in God is not based on your feelings or surroundings but on His enduring nature. Trust in His power, His promises, and His permanence.
Charles Spurgeon once said, “If you do not know much, yet if you are trusting in the Lord, you shall be as Mount Zion, which cannot be removed.” Our stability comes not from the depth of our understanding, but from the depth of our surrender.
Seek and Rely on God's Protection
The first three verses of this psalm offer three precious promises to God’s people. Although they are designed to secure the welfare of the church in general, they may be specifically applied by you and me, as we have other promises of God:
- Singularity: The hallmark of the believer is singular trust in God. Many claim faith in God, but few practice total trust. Psalm 125 promises comfort and permanence to those who do.
- Stability: “It abides forever.” Just as the mountains protect Jerusalem from storms and invaders, God shelters those who trust in Him. His providence creates a spiritual fortress that no enemy can breach.
- Safety: The image of Mount Zion, God’s dwelling place, speaks of enduring safety. It reminds us that God’s protection is not temporary or fragile. It is permanent and offered to all who trust in Him—now and forever.
When you surrender to God, you don’t simply receive momentary relief. You are drawn into a secure, unshakable relationship with the Lord of eternity. He surrounds you like the mountains surround Jerusalem, offering security that cannot be moved.
Live Righteously and Turn Away from Sin
In verses 4 and 5, we shift from divine permanence to personal choice, in which the Psalmist tells us that wicked people were trying to rule Israel. The psalmist believed that God would not allow this to happen. God was always near His people, as the mountains were all around Jerusalem. The psalmist expresses his concern as He prays that God will not wait too long to send help. The bottom line of this psalm leads its readers to embrace the truth that “Nobody can move us”, or “Nobody will make us think something else’” other than to trust in God. This echoes the covenant principle established at Mount Sinai: blessings for obedience, consequences for disobedience.
But there’s a divine twist of amazing grace involved for us. The gospel reveals that God did good even to those who were not good. The Apostle Paul wrote that in due time Christ died for the ungodly (Romans 5:6) and reminded us, “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). God’s mercy is not earned but given. However, His call remains: those who trust in Him must walk uprightly. They must reject the crooked paths that lead to destruction.
The psalmist acknowledges a real danger: if God delays too long, the righteous might become discouraged or corrupted by the wicked. That concern resonates today. Prolonged injustice or suffering can tempt even faithful hearts to compromise. But the psalm ends with hope, not despair. Those who remain upright will see the goodness of God.
By contrast, those who “turn aside to their crooked ways” are warned of judgment. These are not merely imperfect people but those who deliberately twist the path to suit their own purposes. They may appear close to God’s people, but their path leads away from Him. “The Lord shall lead them away,” the psalmist says soberly.
God does not need to be begged to judge disobedience; it is the natural consequence of rejecting His ways. But for those who remain faithful, there is protection, purpose, and peace.
Pursue Peace in All Areas of Life
Psalm 125 closes with a blessing: “Peace be upon Israel.” The Hebrew word for peace, shalom, means more than the absence of conflict. It suggests wholeness, harmony, and flourishing. It is the natural result of living in right relationship with God.
Jerusalem’s very name contains this hope for peace. For the pilgrim, arriving at the city was not just a physical destination but a spiritual arrival at the place of divine presence and blessing. For today’s believer, we are called to live in and extend that peace to others.
If you trust in God, He surrounds you. If you remain upright, He secures you. And if you live as a peacemaker, He uses you.
Questions for Reflection and Prayer
- Where in your life are you tempted to seek security outside of God?
- What does it mean for you to live with “unshakable trust” in today’s uncertain world?
- Are there areas in your life where you've “bent your path” rather than walked uprightly? What would repentance look like?
- How can you pursue and extend peace in your relationships, church, or community?
INDIVIDUAL PRAYER
Lord, You are my mountain of protection, my place of peace, and my source of strength. Teach me to trust You with a whole heart. Guard me from the crooked paths and lead me in uprightness. May Your peace surround me and flow through me. In Jesus' name, Amen.
OUR CORPORATE PRAYER
Heavenly Father, thank You for the way in which You take care of us, Your masterpiece creation. In Your Word, You said that those who trust in You, God, would be like the mountain of Zion. Absolutely nothing can move it, because it is a rock-solid mountain you can always depend on! As the mountains encircle Jerusalem and You, oh God, encircle Your people, this is who You are both in the past and in our future days. To those whose hearts are right and who follow You and Your ways, may we seek to know You and, as a result, find throughout our communities where You are blessing and come alongside You in whatever that may be. We adore You and love You and thank You for all You do in Your amazing and awesome name, Jesus Christ, amen.