Psalm 125:3 Spared from Sin
“For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity.”(v.3)
At first glance, this verse appears to promise that the wicked will never be allowed authority over God’s people, but we know from other Scripture passages that many of God’s faithful children have been allowed to be under the authority of the wicked. (Think Daniel, Esther, and the New Testament believers under horrible emperors such as Nero.)
So what is this verse really saying? In order to understand, we need to take the whole verse into account. It says that the rod of the wicked will not rest upon the lot of the righteous lest the righteous do wickedly.
This takes us back to the theme of God’s protection again. He will not allow the wicked to rule over the righteous to the extent that the righteous are compelled to sin. This goes with James 1:13-15, which tells us,
“Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then, when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”
And 1 Peter also accompanies his teaching on the purpose of trials with the admonition,
“If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part He is evil spoken of, but on your part He is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.” (4:14-15)
Clearly, coercion to sin is nowhere in God’s plan for trials. So even if we who trust in the Lord find ourselves under the thumb of a wicked authority, we nevertheless have no excuse to respond with sinful attitudes or actions.
The same God we trust for salvation is the same God who allowed this specific trial for the purpose of giving us an opportunity to respond in faith, trusting Him to give us power to obey.
1 Peter 4:19 gives a good summary of a proper response to trials:
“Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to Him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.”
God is able to spare us from a situation in which we must sin, and He will. As 1 Corinthians 10:13 teaches, God always gives us a way of escape, that we will not be tempted above our ability to handle with His grace and power. There will always be the choice to say no to sin and yes to God.
“The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgement to be punished.” 2 Peter 2:9