Martin Luther on Psalms 125:2

Verse. 2. As the mountaines are about Ierusalem: so is the Lord about his people from henceforth and for euer.

Where many hundred thousands of men are there, are scarsely 7. thousand which knowe God or beleue in God, and yet for their sakes the whole multitude is called Gods people.. Euen so was it in Ierusalem. Ierusalem called holy by the figure Synecdoche where a part is taken for the whole. Albeit the greater part was wicked and godles yet was Ierusalem called holy, not onely in respect of a small number of the godly: but also because God had his abiding there. So when there was not one iust person in Sodome but Loth with his two daughters, yet could not the angell destroy Sodome with fire so long as Loth was in it. Likewise where 4 or 5. or 10. godly persons are to be found, for their sakes the whole citie is called holy. For these are the elect corner stones, these are ye precious pearles which God so highly estemeth, and for whose sakes he spareth the wicked. Therefore saith Dauid: As Ierusalem is compassed about with mountaines, so doth the Lord compasse his people and mightely defend them on euery side. In like maner Zachary prophecieth of a citie whose wall is of fire. These similitudes doe set forth vnto vs the safetie of Gods people, that weake and litle por[illegible: 1 letter] flocke, against all daungers. Upon this promise if we also doe rest which at this day enioy the inestimable benefite of Gods holye word, we shall be defended against the rage of Satan & the whole worlde, not by fiery and brasen walls, but by the Lord him selfe. These thinges albeit we cannot comprehend, yet should we beleue them so certainly as if we did see them with our bodily eyes. If we should see our selues compassed about with brasen and fiery walls, we would be without all feare, and triumph against Satan. But it is a matter of faith, not to trust vnto that which the eyes see, but which the worde offereth and promiseth. This one thing therefore is lacking in vs, that we haue not the eyes of the spirite, but we iudge according to the eyes and sense of the fleshe. For else we should be no more afraide then they which beeing closed within the walls of an inuincible castle, feare not the force and power of their enemyes, be they neuer so terrible. We must not doubt therefore, but if we beleue, we are compassed about with fiery and brasen mountaines, that is to say, we abide for euer inuincible against the rage of Satan and all the powers of darkenes. Blessed therefore is he that beleueth.

These mountaines are the Angells, which compasse vs on euery side, that Satan with his angells and ministers can not hurt vs as he would. Whose malice and power is such that if they did not continually beholde vs, continually defend vs and watch ouer vs, he would destroy vs euery moment. This can all they testifie which knowe that Satan is a murtherer and a lyer, which can not abide to see the godly prosper, & therefore he seketh by all meanes to roote them out from the face of the earth. That we are not then vtterly consumed, it is the benefite of these mountaines, by whom we are so compassed and defended. Some times Satan hurleth his dartes at vs as it were through the window to destroy vs, and worketh vs in deede some sorrow, but he can not moue vs.

This similitude seemeth to be taken out of the story of Helizeus in the 2. boke of the Kinges, where the seruaunt of Helizeus saw the hilles about him full of fiery chariotes and horsemen compassing Helizeus round about, and mightely defending him. This succour which the seruant of Helizeus sawe, and the Prophet beleued when he saw nothing, is, saith the Prophet, round about all them which trust in the Lord: as also the 34. Psalme witnesseth: The Angell of the Lorde pitcheth round aboute them that feare him. But our eyes are shut vp and see not these miracles, whereof notwithstanding we haue dayly experience.

This promise then will neuer deceiue vs: onely let vs not deceiue our selues. If therefore we did beleue, no doubt, we shoulde sleepe, we should liue, we should dye, yea (that more is) we should suffer what so euer Satan and the world can doe against vs, without all feare. For thus should we thinke: If I suffer any thing, it is not without the will of God nor without good cause, well knowne, though not [illegible: 1 letter]nto me, yet vnto God. Therefore although Satan breake through the wall in one place, yet shall he neuer be able vtterly to ouerthrowe it altogither. Thus should we think in our troubles and afflictions, and comfort our selues with the good will of God. But we are afraid when any trouble commeth, and neuer feele that securitie which faith bringeth. Thus doe we worthely suffer the punishment of our incredulitie which we nurrishe within vs, although we be called away from it by so many notable places of the Scripture.

Besides all this, it is not enough that we are compassed about with fiery walles, that is, with the sure custody, the continuall watch and warde of the Angells, but the Lorde him selfe is our wall: so that euery way we are defended by the Lorde against all daungers. Aboue vs he is a heauen, on both sides he is as a wall, vnder vs he is as a strong rocke whereuppon we stand: so are we euery way sure and safe. Nowe, if Satan through these munitions cast his dartes at vs, it must needs be that the Lorde him selfe shall be hurt before we take harme. But great is our incredulitie, which heare all these thinges in vaine. Yet must they be taught and learned, lest the time come that we be destitute of all counsell and comfort in these matters. For certain it is that the hower shal come when we must haue experience of these thinges or else vtterly perish.

Where he addeth: From henceforth & for euer. By these words he sheweth that this vigilancie of the Lorde our God euer vs, is not temporall, but eternall, according to that which he said before in the first verse of this Psalme: They shall remaine for euer. Let vs learne therfore out of this Psalme, that our constancy and perseuerance consisteth in this, that we are defended by the power and prouidence of the Lord on euery side.