Read Psalm 125:1-5 1Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever. 2As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, from this time forth and forevermore. 3For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest on the land allotted to the righteous, lest the righteous stretch out their hands to do wrong. 4Do good, O Lord, to those who are good, and to those who are upright in their hearts! 5But those who turn aside to their crooked ways the Lord will lead away with evildoers! Peace be upon Israel!
The pilgrims can see Mount Zion as they climb ever nearer. For them the mountain is not just a geographic feature, it is a symbol of covenant life in God. Like the mount, God himself cannot be moved. Like the mount, God abides forever. Like the mount, God surrounds his people. The mountain is a bastion of goodness and justice. Its king (scepter) will not tolerate wickedness. Its people will experience the goodness of the Lord, and the peace of Israel.
Anyone who’s read their Old Testament history should know that the utopia described in this psalm was never fully realized, often far from it. Wicked kings ruled from Jerusalem. Altars to Baal dotted the landscape. The law of God was rejected. And so God led them away into exile. Zion would never be the same.
But in Christ we have come to heavenly Zion the book of Hebrews says. There Christ himself rules. There his goodness abounds. There his praise is sung. There God surrounds us, protects us, inspires us, forevermore.
Everyone at Heavenly Mount Zion (the church) is good. Not because they are actually good, but because the Christ in them is good. In Christ we are upright in heart. Not because we have achieved this uprightness, but because it has been imputed to us through the circumcision of our hearts by the Spirit. In Heavenly Zion God did good to the one and only person who has been good, his Son, Jesus. And now by our union with Christ we share in God’s goodness. We live in his peace. That’s to live is Christ.
Prayer. Jesus, you alone are good. You alone have done good. All my goodness is yours. From you and for you. Continue to pour your goodness over me. Amen.
To Live is Christ 