Finding Yourself in the Psalms

Psalm 125

A Psalm of Confidence in God

When the U.S. Mint moved the national motto to the edge of the $1 coin, officials claimed their decision would draw attention to the phrase "In God We Trust." Few observers agreed, and here at FRC, we voiced our concern that moving "In God We Trust" off the face of our coins was just one step toward removing it altogether. Eventually, Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kans.) sponsored a bill to restore the motto to its rightful prominence on the front or back of the coin. We are pleased to announce that President Bush signed Brownback's legislation into law last Wednesday as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2008.

David writes: (Psalm 11:3) "When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the

righteous do?”"

Times of TROUBLE

• stock market crash

• death of a loved one

• national unrest

• rebellious child

• news of debilitating illness

Psalm 125 “A Psalm of Confidence in God”

1. Trust YHWH because He is the Rock that cannot be shaken. 125:1

a. (Psalm 61:2) "From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I."

b. (Psalm 62:2) "He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken."

2. Trust YHWH because He will Keep you Safe. 125:2

a. He is at my RIGHT HAND. (Psalm 121:5) "The Lord watches over you— the

Lord is your shade at your right hand;"

b. He is BENEATH ME. (Deuteronomy 33:27) "The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He will drive out your enemy before you, saying, ‘Destroy him!’"

c. He is BEFORE ME. (Deut 1:30) "The Lord your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes,"

d. He is BEHIND ME. (Isaiah 52:12) "But you will not leave in haste or go in flight; for the Lord will go before you, the God of Israel will be your rear guard."

e. He is ABOVE ME. (Psalm 121:7) "The Lord will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life;"

f. He is AROUND ME. (Psalm 125:2) "As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people both now and forevermore."

g. He is IN ME. (Romans 8:11) "And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the

dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you."

h. He is NEAR. (Psalm 145:18) "The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth."

i. He is AFAR. (Psalm 139:8-10) "If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast."

A teenager named John. Blinded in a chemical explosion when he was 13 years old.

“How did that make you feel?”

“Life was over. I felt helpless. I hated God,” John replied. “For the first six months I did nothing to improve my lot in life. I ate all my meals alone. One day my father entered my room and said “John, winter’s coming and the storm windows need to be up – that’s your job. I want those hung by the time I get back this evening or else!”

“Then he turned, walked out of the room, and slammed the door. I got so angry. I thought, who does he think I am? I’m blind! I was so angry I decided to do it. I felt my way to the garage, found the windows, located the necessary tools, found the ladder, all the while muttering under my breath, “I’ll show them. I’ll fall, then they’ll have a blind and paralyzed son!”

John continued, “I got the windows up. I found out later that never at any moment was my

father more than five feet away from my side.”

j. What can man do to me? (Hebrews 13:6) "So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”"

3. Trust YHWH Because He is JUST. 125:3

4. Trust YHWH Because He Rewards His followers. 125:4

a. (1 Peter 3:9) "Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing."

b. (Revelation 11:18) "The nations were angry; and your wrath has come. The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your saints and those who reverence your name, both small and great— and for destroying those who destroy the earth.”"

5. Trust YHWH because He will punish those who Do not. 125:5

a. (1 Corinthians 4:5) "Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God."