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"Do good, O LORD, to those who are good, and to those who are upright in their hearts!"

~ Psalm 125:4

 

A psalm of unshakeable encouragement and sober warning!

If we trust in the LORD, we cannot be moved, we will abide forever (v.1); his presence will surround us like mountains on all sides (v.2); we will have peace (v.3); he will do good to us as only he can (v.4).

But if we choose (“stretch out our hand” v.3) to do wrong, then we will experience the consequences of our sin.  Not punishment for our sin, because Jesus has taken our punishment and given us his goodness and righteousness (v.4). 

For those who only pretend or appear to be saved, and continue to engage in the evil desires of their sinful hearts (“turn aside to their crooked ways” v.5), they themselves will have to bear the punishment for their sins for all eternity (v.5).

May you be encouraged both by the direct encouragements and by the sober warnings.  We can take such promises of judgment as gracious warnings from our loving heavenly Father.  We do not deserve so many reminders and “heads ups”.  And truly, the perseverance of the saints is only possible because of God’s preservation of the saints.