As I write today’s reflection, the city in which I live is in another lockdown. It’s a measure by our government to protect us from the risks of catching Covid-19, a virus that has swept the world. Right now, the world is shaking. It’s hard to see an end in sight. People are learning to live with uncertainty. Plans, short or long term, can’t be made. People lack financial security. Levels of anxiety and depression are rising. God’s people suffer from crises such as this, just like anyone else. However, they have a stability and security which others may lack, because “those who trust in the Lord . . . cannot be shaken” (Psalm 125:1).

Unlike in Psalm 124, there is no mention of any particular threat to Israel’s safety in Psalm 125. Nevertheless, should that come, the psalmist is confident that the wicked would not rule the land God had promised to His people.

The psalm highlights one danger in allowing the wicked to take control—they might tempt God’s people into sin (v. 3). For example, the righteous may be tempted to worship the gods of the wicked in order to win favour with their new overlords. Likewise, the early church took very seriously the moral and spiritual purity of its members. For up to a year or more, new converts had to attend classes to test and prove the genuineness of their faith before they could be admitted to full church membership. The early believers knew that a morally compromised church would have little impact on an unbelieving world.

The threat of turning to evil leads the psalmist to remind the righteous that God does good to those who are good. These righteous men and women “are upright in heart” (v. 4). Similarly, Paul writes to the church in Rome to bring about “the obedience that comes from faith” (Romans 1:5; 16:26), showing us New Testament believers that we mustn’t drive a wedge between faith and obedience.

We begin the Christian life by obeying the call to repent and believe, and we continue in it by living as joyful slaves to righteousness (6:16, 18). Paul goes on to warn the church that a lifestyle of slavery to sin results in death. Or, in the words of Psalm 125, “those who turn to crooked ways the Lord will banish with the evildoers” (v. 5).

How should a Christian respond to life’s turmoils? First, we remember that God is in control and is sovereign over events like pandemics. We can trust Him to bring such ordeals to their appointed end. Second, we keep doing His will. In the situation of a lockdown, for instance, we can do God’s will by obeying our governing authorities. That’s one way to fulfil His command to love those around us, particularly the needy and suffering. Then God’s peace, or well-being, will be on us (v. 5).