Ps 123-125 give us the second group of three psalms in the Psalms of Ascent, dealing with troubles and trials, God’s help and protection and the deliverance we ultimately will receive from Him. Psalm 123 talks of the contempt and ridicule faced by believers from those whose opposition to God is manifested in very concrete ways experienced by God’s people. The opposition Nehemiah faced when rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem is just one example of this (Neh 2:19, 4:1-9), and it can be both distressing and wearing for people to endure the drip-drip-drip effect of negativity and hostility. The opposition is so great that destruction is inevitable if God is not factored into the equation (Ps 124:3-7), but the psalms remind us that we are not without help. Ultimately, we are not destroyed because of God’s presence with us and help towards us.
The antidote to opposition is a right view of God. We are urged to lift our eyes up to the One enthroned in heaven (Ps 123:1). God is far greater than any opposition we may face and Ps 124 is exultant in tone, because God on our side makes all the difference (Ps 124:7-8) Paul’s question ‘If God is for us, who can be against us?’ (Rom 8:31) has much the same tone. Ps 125 reminds us of the security and confidence we have in God, likening our position to the solidity and security of Mount Zion (Ps 125:1-2) God surrounds us and protects us. We may well have a long time to wait before we see the rule of God firmly established, but we have assurance that this will be the final result of history. This enables us to carry on trusting in the everyday, whether that is in prosperity or trial.
