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Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved and will endure forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, now and forevermore. Evil people will not always rule the land the Lord gave to those who do right. If they did, those who do right might do what is evil (Psalm 125:1-3).

Reading the Bible well requires us our imagination. The Word of God is filled with images which require us to pause and appreciate, if we are to derive benefit from them.

If you have ever driven through the mountains, it will be easier to grasp the central image of this psalm. Jerusalem was a walled city on the top of a mountain surrounded by other mountains, some larger than hers. Standing on top of those walls, looking out at those mountains, an Israelite could feel secure.

Like the mountains surrounding Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people. Of course, God\u2019s protection of his people is worth more than mountains. This imagery of the mountains surrounding and protecting Jerusalem helps us understand one of God's qualities towards His people. But God is always more than the earthly image.

This sense of trust in God often comes when we enter our \u201choly places.\u201d These are the places and times, both personal and communal, when we look to our Lord, who is like a mountain that surrounds us. The Songs of the Ascents remind us that holy places are an important part of our faith, for they provide focal points for our relationship with God.

At this point in the psalm, we should recall the covenant relationship God formed with His people Israel. He promised to be their God and called them to follow His ways. If they reject His ways, they break covenant and cannot count on His protection. In fact, he promises to be against them if they persist in rebellion.

How do we use this psalm to strengthen our own faith? One way is to consider Jesus\u2019 beatitude, \u201cBlessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth\u201d (Matthew 5:5). Meek here, does not refer to someone who gets walked over constantly, but rather, to someone who has trained to do what is right, so they do it even when it is difficult, in other words, the righteous, those who trust in the Lord and are not shaken.

Such folks will inherit the earth, or what we often refer to as the new earth. The folks who included this psalm in the Bible were the refugees who came back from Babylon and struggled to establish a righteous Israelite society in the promised land. They were opposed by various other stronger nations, and by many fellow Israelites who gave up on righteous living to pursue dishonest gain.

The righteous were often left in the economic dust of these two groups, wondering where on earth God\u2019s protection for them was. It was tempting to abandon their vision of an obedient nation. \u2018Don\u2019t give up,\u2019 says the psalmist, \u2018evil folks will not endure. In the end, the righteous will dwell securely in the land.\u2019 God will see to it. \xa0

Many of the pilgrims making their way to Jerusalem singing this psalm were not the rich and privileged. They often were the victims of injustices in their daily lives. They most likely felt crushed. As they gathered in Jerusalem, the holy city, and worshipped together at the temple, some measure of confidence was restored. God does do good to those who are good, to those who are upright in their hearts, despite the circumstances that surround them each day.

In holy places, we can call on God to surround us like a mountain and keep us safe from the wicked ones and those who turn aside to crookedness. May we all find our \u2018holy places\u2019 \u2014 those places of gathering in which we gain new strength for the days of our journeys.

Life in God's church is not much different from that of Israel of old. It is not easy to live righteously before God, to love him and neighbour. May this psalm fire our imaginations to hear with new ears Jesus\u2019 solemn assurance, "In this world you will have trouble. But be encouraged! I have won the battle over the world" (John 16:33). May this psalm encourage us to live faithfully before him.