Psalm 125:4 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Do good, O Lord, to those who are good, and to those who are upright in their hearts!

NIV: Lord, do good to those who are good, to those who are upright in heart.

NASB: Do good, Lord, to those who are good And to those who are upright in their hearts.

CSB: Do what is good, Lord, to the good, to those whose hearts are upright.

NLT: O Lord, do good to those who are good, whose hearts are in tune with you.

KJV: Do good, O Lord, unto those that be good, and to them that are upright in their hearts.

NKJV: Do good, O Lord, to those who are good, And to those who are upright in their hearts.

In this psalm, the writer has encouraged those who feel the pressures of an ungodly world. This could be interpreted as coming in the form of an oppressive government weighing on Israel. Or it may be from wicked culture tempting believers to turn from the Lord. In either case, God offers spiritual protection for those who choose to follow Him (Psalm 125:1–2). Evil governments cannot last forever (Psalm 125:3; Revelation 20:4) and God always offers a way to obey Him without sinning (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Now the writer pleads with God to reward those who obey Him. This does not mean those who are morally perfect (Romans 3:23). Those who are "upright in their hearts" are those who sincerely submit to the Lord and His will (Proverbs 1:7; Psalm 16:1; 25:8). God never promises to deflect all danger or sorrow while we live in this fallen world (John 16:33). Yet those who obey Him are at much less risk of suffering the consequences tied to sin (Proverbs 3:5–8; 8:35–36; 14:12). It is also good for believers to ask for God's blessing. Twice, Scripture records Nehemiah praying that the Lord will remember him and send good things (Nehemiah 5:19; 13:31). Jesus taught His followers to expect good things from their heavenly Father (Luke 11:13).

The writer of this psalm may have lived around Nehemiah's time, when exiled Jews returned to Jerusalem (Ezra 2:1). During that process, the nation experienced ridicule and threats from enemy nations (Nehemiah 4:1–4).

Psalm 125:4–5 builds a contrast in the song's closing verses. The psalmist prays for God to bless those who sincerely seek Him and His will. The writer also believes those who follow the evils of an evil culture will suffer the same fate as the wicked. With optimism, the psalmist pleads for God's protection and peace to fall on the nation of Israel.

The psalmist reassures those under pressure from pagan government. Faith in God will keep them secure, like Zion, the mountain at Jerusalem (2 Samuel 5:7; 1 Kings 8:1). He prays for the Lord to honor those who honor God. Those who fall away will suffer the consequences. As a prior song did for Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6), this one prays for peace on the nation of Israel.

At times, Israel struggled under the domination of foreign powers. These included eras of Babylonian captivity (2 Chronicles 26:17–21; Ezra 2:1) as well as post-exile occupation by Greece and Rome. This psalm may have been written in response to some of this history. Fifteen psalms (Psalms 120—134), including this one, were labeled songs "of ascent" and used by pilgrims traveling to Jerusalem for festivals (Deuteronomy 16:16).

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.