Psalm 125 — Enduring Faith — Aneel Aranha

Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion,
which cannot be shaken but endures forever.
As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
so the LORD surrounds his people
both now and forevermore.
The scepter of the wicked will not remain
over the land allotted to the righteous,
for then the righteous might use
their hands to do evil.
LORD, do good to those who are good,
to those who are upright in heart.
But those who turn to crooked ways
the LORD will banish with the evildoers.
Peace be on Israel.

Mountains are symbols of permanence and stability. They stand tall, unyielding against the forces of nature, whether it be storms, winds, or time itself. The mountains held great significance to the Israelites, especially Mount Zion. It wasn't the tallest mountain nor the most majestic, but it was the dwelling place of God's presence, the location of the Temple. To be compared to Mount Zion is not just to be called stable but also holy, set apart, and deeply connected to the divine.

The psalmist begins this short psalm by declaring, "Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever." The psalmist doesn't stop at the individual; he extends this endurance to the entire community. "As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people both now and forevermore." When we and our faith community are rooted in God, we can stand firm, and our enemy can do nothing to shake us.

In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus highlights this principle when he speaks about the wise man who built his house on the rock. "The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash" (Matthew 7:25-27).

In a world that often feels like shifting sand, where uncertainties loom large and challenges are many, Psalm 125 reminds us to anchor ourselves in God. If we do this, we will not be shaken but endure forever. 

God bless you.