Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion,
which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
so the Lord surrounds his people,
from this time forth and forevermore.
For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest
on the land allotted to the righteous,
lest the righteous stretch out
their hands to do wrong.
Do good, O Lord, to those who are good,
and to those who are upright in their hearts!
But those who turn aside to their crooked ways
the Lord will lead away with evildoers!
Peace be upon Israel!
In this Psalm, the psalmist compares the Lord’s protection to the city of Jerusalem which possessed natural defenses that prevented enemies from overwhelming her. This is cause for praise to Yahweh for it is but another indication that those who trust in Him find safety and security. This image is an expression of praise because the Psalmist realizes how well he and his fellow believers can rely on God for support in times of temptation and doubt. The Lord will provide every believer with the necessary resources to overcome any and all of these onslaughts from the world, the flesh and the devil.
Yet although God’s people are secure, they have to realize that they have a choice to make regarding how they will live. If they trust God and live according to His commands, they will find blessing and deliverance. However, if they decided to live according to the ways of the world and the lustful desires of their own flesh, they would find that God would not turn His back on them. And yet He promised to inflict the same punishments upon them as He had inflicted on their enemies and on the wicked in general. God is obligated to do this because the people who have chosen to call Him Lord are bound to serve Him. Their lives bear testimony to His name for praise and blessing if honoring to Him, but cursing and ridicule if not. Failure to obey would result in discipline that would teach the value and wisdom of obedience.