'They that trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Zion, which cannot be
removed, but abideth for ever. 2. As the mountains are round about
Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about His people from henceforth,
even for ever.'--PSALM cxxv. 1, 2.
The so-called 'Songs of Degrees,' of which this psalm is one, are
probably a pilgrim's song-book, and possibly date from the period of the
restoration of Israel from the Babylonish captivity. In any case, this
little psalm looks very much like a record of the impression that was
made on the pilgrim, as he first topped the crest of the hill from which
he looked on Jerusalem. Two peculiarities of its topographical position
are both taken here as symbols of spiritual realities, for the
singularity of the situation of the city is that it stands on a mountain
and is girdled by mountains. There is a tongue of land or peninsula cut
off from the surrounding country by deep ravines, on which are perched
the buildings of the city, while across the valley on the eastern side
is Olivet, and, on the south, another hill, the so-called 'Hill of Evil
Counsel'; but upon the west and north sides there are no conspicuous
summits, though the ground rises. Thus, really, though not apparently,
there lie all round the city encircling defences of mountains.
Similarly, says the Psalmist, set and steadfast as on a mountain, and
compassed about by a protection, like the bastions of the everlasting
hills, are they whose trust is in the Lord. Faith, then, gives inward
stability, and faith secures an encircling defence.
But, more than that, notice that the mountains encompass a mountain.
Faith, in some measure, makes the protected like the Protector. And
then, beyond that, notice the two 'for evers.' Zion cannot be moved, it
'abideth for ever,' and 'the Lord is about His people from henceforth
and for ever.' To trust in God gives the transitory creature a kind of
share in the uncreated eternity of that in which he trusts. Now these
are four thoughts worth carrying away with us.