Psalm 125:5 - Printer Friendly

ESV: But those who turn aside to their crooked ways the Lord will lead away with evildoers! Peace be upon Israel!

NIV: But those who turn to crooked ways the Lord will banish with the evildoers. Peace be on Israel.

NASB: But as for those who turn aside to their crooked ways, The Lord will lead them away with those who practice injustice. Peace be upon Israel.

CSB: But as for those who turn aside to crooked ways, the Lord will banish them with the evildoers. Peace be with Israel.

NLT: But banish those who turn to crooked ways, O Lord. Take them away with those who do evil. May Israel have peace!

KJV: As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the Lord shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity: but peace shall be upon Israel.

NKJV: As for such as turn aside to their crooked ways, The Lord shall lead them away With the workers of iniquity. Peace be upon Israel!

This is a warning to those tempted to follow the wickedness of the world (1 John 2:16). Israel routinely suffered from this problem (Judges 2:16–19). Many people ignored the Lord and participated in idolatry (Nehemiah 9:26–27). Eventually, this led to conquest by Babylon and the exile of the entire nation (2 Chronicles 36:17–21). Sin has consequences, both on earth (Proverbs 3:5–8; 8:35–36; 14:12) and in eternity (Revelation 20:11–15). Those who believe in the Lord, yet join in sin, can expect to suffer the same negative earthly consequences as non-believers (1 Timothy 5:6). At worst, their life might suggest that they are not believers at all (Matthew 7:13–14, 21).

The song ends with a sincere prayer for Israel's protection and serenity. For virtually all of history, Israel has been attacked by those who hate the Jewish people and their God. Modern-day believers should join in asking God to send peace and safety to Israel (Psalm 122:6; Romans 10:1).

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.

Accessed 11/22/2024 12:43:34 PM