Day Six: Psalm 125

The psalmist/pilgrim has now reached the sixth step in the ascent to the Holy Temple. Psalm 125, one of the psalms of ascent or what Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI calls “an ideal little prayer book for the pilgrimage to Zion with a view to the encounter with the Lord in the Temple”, offer a unique perspective on trust.

Mount Zion becomes one of the focal points of this psalm. The fact that it is used in this psalm made it perfect for the pilgrim approaching Jerusalem. As the Holy City came into sight, it stirred a sense of deep trust in the Lord. Mt Zion is seen as a secure rock that is immovable. In psalm 18, the psalmist exclaims, “I love you, Lord, my strength; O Lord, my rock, my fortress, my savior; my God, my rock where I take refuge . . .” Here we can see the roots of the stirrings of trust in the psalmist. Seeing Zion surrounded by other mountains also gave the impression of it being protected. Thus, the image of the Lord surrounding His people with His protection. This verse always gives me confidence!

This trust becomes important as the psalmist finds life under the rule of a foreign king to be a challenge to that very trust. There are temptations to turn from the Lord’s ways to follow that of the presiding king. Thus, the trust in the Lord to drive away the temptation so that the way of the wicked will not be followed. Again, it is a call to trust in the protection of the Lord.  Pope Emeritus Benedict says “thus, the Psalm instills a deep trust in the soul. This is a powerful help facing difficult situations when the external crisis of loneliness, irony, and contempt of believers is associated with the interior crisis that consists of discouragement, mediocrity, and weariness. We know this situation, but the Psalm tell us that if we have trust, we are stronger than these evils.”

Interesting trivia: the second set of three psalms of ascent (psalm123-125) are used in the complementary psalmody in the Liturgy of the Hours for use at Mid-Day Prayer (traditionally prayed around noon). This is an option when all three daytime hours (Mid-Morning, Mid-Day, and Mid-Afternoon) are prayed. At one of the daytime hours the assigned psalms for the day are prayed; at the others, those in the complementary psalms are used for prayer! Each day, we are on a journey to the Heavenly Jerusalem – these second three psalms of ascent help the one who prays them at this hour to enter into that reality of looking back at the day entered into so far: have my eyes been fixed on the Lord? Has it turned to Him for help in my need? Where are the times that I know in hindsight that He was “on my side”? Have I continued to trust in His promise of protection and help? Stay tuned for more interesting trivia on the other three psalms assigned to Mid-Afternoon Prayer!

Pray Psalm 125 in your bible using the steps of Lectio Divina as shared in  praying with the scriptures on the St. Joseph Retreat Center website blog.

What causes the sense of trust to arise in the psalmist as Mt. Zion comes in sight?

When temptations arise, how does this trust help the psalmist?

When temptations arise that cause of faith to falter, how could you use this psalm to help?

As you pray this psalm, think also of the joy that will occur when we see and enter the Heavenly Jerusalem. How can this help us to persevere in times of trial and temptation?

What words or phrases stood out to you? Write them down in your journal, or memorize them so that they can give your courage on the journey to the Heavenly Jerusalem!