Martin Luther on Psalms 125:2

Verſe 2. As the Mountains are about Jeruſalem, ſo is the Lord about his People, from henceforth and for ever. Where many hundred thouſands of men are, there are ſcarcely ſeven thouſand which know God, or believe in God, and yet for their ſakes the whole Multitude is called God▪s people, Even ſo was it in Jeruſalem. Jeruſalem called holy by the figure Synecdoche where a part is taken for the whole. Albeit the greater part was Wicked and Godleſs, yet was Jeruſalem called Holy, not only in Reſpect of a ſmall Nnmber of the Godly; but alſo becauſe God had his abiding there. So when there was not one juſt perſon in Sodom but Lot with his two Daughters, yet could not the Angel deſtroy Sodom with fire ſo long as Lot was in it. Likewiſe where four or five or ten godly Perſons are to be found, for their ſakes the whole City is called Holy. For theſe are the Elect corner ſtones, theſe are the precious Pearls which God ſo highly eſteemeth, and for whoſe ſakes he ſpareth the Wicked. Therefore ſaith David, As Jeruſalem is compaſſed about with Mountains, ſo doth the Lord compaſs his People and mightily defend them on every ſide. In like manner Zachary Prophecyeth of a City whoſe Wall is of fire. Theſe Similitudes do ſet forth unto us the Safety of Gods People, that weak and little poor Flock, againſt all Dangers. Upon this promiſe if we alſo do reſt, which at this day enjoy the ineſtimable Benfit of Gods Holy Word, we ſhall be defended againſt the Rage of Satan and the whole World, not by fiery and brazen Walls, but by the Lord himſelf. Theſe things albeit we cannot comprehend, yet ſhould we believe them ſo certainly as if we did ſee them with our bodily Eyes. If we ſhould ſee our ſelves compaſſed about with brazen and fiery Walls, we would be without all fear, and Triumph againſt Satan. But it is a matter of Faith, not to truſt unto that which the Eyes ſee, but which the Word offereth and promiſeth. This one thing therefore is lacking in us, that we have not eyes of the Spirit, but we judge according to the eyes and ſenſe of the Fleſh. For elſe we ſhould be no more afraid then they which being cloſed within the Walls of an invincible Caſtle, fear not the force and power of their Enemies, be they never ſo terrible. We muſt not doubt therefore, but if we believe, we are compaſſed about with fiery and brazen Mountains, that is to ſay, we abide for ever invincible againſt the Rage of Satan and all the Powers of Darkneſs. Bleſſed therefore is he that believeth. Theſe Mountains are the Angels, which compaſs us on every ſide, that Satan with his Angels and Miniſters cannot hurt us as he would; Whoſe Malice and Power is ſuch, that if they did not continually behold us, continually defend us and watch over us, he would deſtroy us every moment. This can all they teſtifie which know that Satan is a Murtherer and a Lyar, which cannot abide to ſee the godly proſper, and therefore he ſeeketh by all means to root them out from the face of the Earth. That we are not then utterly conſumed, it is the benefit of theſe Mountains, by whom we are ſo compaſſed and defended. Sometimes Satan hurleth his Darts at us as it were through the window, to deſtroy us, and worketh us indeed ſome ſorrow, but he cannot move us. This ſimilitude ſeemeth to be taken out of the Story of Helizeus in the ſecond book of the Kings, where the ſervant of Helizeus ſaw the Hills about him full of fiery Chariots, and Horſemen compaſſing Helizeus round about, and mightily defending him. This ſuccour which the Servant of Helizeus ſaw, and the Prophet believed, when he ſaw nothing, is ſaith the Prophet, round about all them which truſt in the Lord: as alſo the 34. Pſalm witneſſeth; The Angel of the Lord pitcheth round about them that fear him. But our eyes are ſhut up and ſee not theſe miracles, whereof not with ſtanding we have daily experience. This promiſe then will never deceive us; only let us not deceive our ſelves. If therefore we did believe, no doubt, we ſhould ſleep, we ſhould live, we ſhould die, yea (that more is) we ſhould ſuffer what ſoever Satan and the world can do againſt us, without all fear. For thus ſhould we think, if I ſuffer any thing, it is not without the Will of God, nor without good cauſe, well known, tho' not unto me, yet unto God. Therefore although Satan break through the wall in one place, yet ſhall he never be able utterly to overthrow it altogether. Thus ſhould we think in our troubles and afflictions, and comfort our ſelves with the good Will of God. But we are afraid when any trouble cometh, and never feel that ſecurity which Faith bringeth. Thus do we worthily ſuffer the puniſhment of our infidelity which we nouriſh within us, although we be called away from it by ſo many notable places of Scripture. Beſides all this, it is not enough that we are compaſſed about with fiery Walls, that is, with the ſure Cuſtody, the continual Watch and Ward of the Angels, but the Lord himſelf is our Wall: ſo that every way we are defended by the Lord againſt all Dangers. Above us he is a Heaven, on both ſides he is as a Wall, under us he is as a ſtrong Rock whereupon we ſtand: ſo are we every way ſure and ſafe. Now, if Satan through theſe munitions caſt his darts at us, it muſt needs be that the Lord himſelf ſhall be hurt before we take harm. But great is our incredulity, which hear all theſe things in vain. Yet muſt they be taught and learned, leaſt the time come that we be deſtitute of all Counſel and Comfort in theſe matters. For certain it is that the hour ſhall come when we muſt have experience of theſe things, or elſe utterly periſh. Where he addeth, From henceforth and for ever. By theſe words he ſheweth that this vigilancy of the Lord our God over us, is not temporal, but eternal, according to that which he ſaid before in the firſt verſe of this Pſalm. They ſhall remain for ever. Let us learn therefore out of this Pſalm, that our Conſtancy and perſeverance conſiſteth in this, that we are defended by the Power and Providence of the Lord on every ſide.