Psalms 125:5

As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways,.... The ways of sin, immorality, or error; which are crooked ways, not agreeing with the word of God, the rule of faith and practice.

As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the LORD shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity: but peace shall be upon Israel.

But those hypocrites, who either through fear of the rod, mentioned , or for other considerations, shall turn aside from the ways of God, which for a time they professed and seemed to own, unto sinful courses, whom he opposeth to the upright, , the Lord shall lead them forth, to wit, unto punishment, as malefactors are commonly led to the place of execution. With the workers of iniquity; with the most obstinate and profligate sinners, of whose plagues they shall certainly partake, as they did of their sins. Upon Israel; upon the true Israel of God.

Psalms 125:5 As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the LORD shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity: [but] peace [shall be] upon Israel.Ver. 5. As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways] In lubricitates vel tortuositates, such as pretend piety to their worldly and wicked designs and dealings; dissemblers, warpers, versuti et vafri, who would defraud God of heaven if they could tell how. The Lord shall lead them forth] Quantumvis reluctantes, as cattle led to the slaughter; or malefactors to execution. Transfugas arboribus suspendunt, they hang up fugitives, saith Tacitus concerning the Germans; there is martial law for such, Hebrews 10:38-39, as there is for scoundrels among us. With the workers of iniquity] They shall to hell with the rest of the wicked crew, notwithstanding their professions and pretences of piety, whereunto they are perfect strangers; hypocrites are the freeholders of hell, and other evil persons are, as it were, tenants to them; shall have their part with them, Matthew 24:51. But peace shall be upon Israel] Peace shall be upon them and mercy, Galatians 6:16. "The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies, neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth; for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid," Zephaniah 3:13.

(5) Turn aside unto their crooked ways.—Or, bend their crooked ways, i.e., pursue evil courses. But peace.—Better, as an innovation on the customary form, peace be in Israel. (See Note on Psalms 122:6, and comp. Psalms 128:6.)

Verse 5. As for such as turn aside] Who are not faithful; who give way to sin; who backslide, and walk in a crooked way, widely different from the straight way of the upright, ישרים yesharim, the straight in heart; they shall be led forth to punishment with the common workers of iniquity. Thus thy Church will be purified, and thy peace rest upon thy true Israel. Let him that readeth understand. ANALYSIS OF THE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIFTH PSALM It is the purpose of the psalmist to comfort the people of God, - I. By an assurance of their perpetuity, both from God's presence and protection, Psalms 125:1-2. II. That though he may permit them to be harassed by the wicked, yet he will not leave them under their rod. Psalms 125:3. III. He prays for the good; and, IV. Sets down the portion of the wicked, Psalms 125:4-5. I. A general promise of the perpetuity of the Church; that is, of them "that trust in God." 1. "They that trust in the Lord:" "The congregation of God's faithful people, who have the pure word of God preached, and the sacraments duly administered," Acts xix. ?? 2. "Shall be as Mount Zion," secure and immovable; immovable, because a mountain, - a holy mountain, - and particularly dear to God. 3. "Which abideth for ever:" So surely as Mount Zion shall never be removed, so surely shall the Church of God be preserved. Is it not strange that wicked and idolatrous powers have not joined together, dug down this mount, and carried it into the sea, that they might nullify a promise in which the people of God exult! Till ye can carry Mount Zion into the Mediterranean Sea, the Church of Christ shall grow and prevail. Hear this, ye murderous Mohammedans! 4. "As the mountains are round about Jerusalem," - to fortify it. 5. "So the Lord is round about his people" - to preserve them. 6."From henceforth, even for ever:" Through both time and eternity. II. 1. But the Church is often persecuted and harassed. Granted; for the "rod," the power and scourge, "of the wicked, may come into the heritage of the righteous." 2. But then may it not finally prevail? No: for though it come, it shall not rest. 3. And why? Because it might finally destroy the Church, pervert the good, and cause them to join issue with the ungodly. Therefore, "they shall not be tempted above that they are able." III. Therefore the psalmist prays, - 1. "Do good to the good:" Give them patience, and keep them faithful. 2. And "to the upright in heart:" Let not the weak and the sincere be overcome by their enemies: IV. He sets down the lot of the ungodly: - 1. "They turn aside." 2. They get into crooked paths; they get into the spirit of the world, and are warped into its crooked and winding ways. 3. They shall be condemned, and then led forth to punishment.

5. But as for such as turn aside &c.] Renegades who forsake the straight course of duty to their God and country for tortuous courses of intrigue with enemies: the disloyal party in Jerusalem, some of whom, like Shemaiah, took bribes from Sanballat and Tobiah to entrap Nehemiah, while others kept up a treasonable correspondence with them. See Nehemiah 6:12-13; Nehemiah 6:17. shall lead them away] To share the judgement of those whose hostility to Israel they have chosen to abet. Cp. Matthew 25:41. but peace shall be upon Israel] Better as a separate sentence, a concluding prayer or benediction: Peace be upon Israel (R.V.). Cp. Psalms 122:6-8; Psalms 128:6; Numbers 6:26; and Galatians 6:16, “Peace be … upon the Israel of God.” The preceding words “as many as shall walk by this rule” suggest that St Paul may have had this passage in mind. “In these words the Psalmist gathers up all his hopes and prayers and wishes, as it were stretching out his hands over Israel in priestly benediction. Peace is the end of tyranny, hostility, division, disquiet, alarm: peace is freedom and harmony and security and blessedness” (Delitzsch).

As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways - The wicked. Those who leave the right or straight path, and wander in forbidden ways.

5. Such as turn aside—Incline to crooked ways. See introduction to the psalm, Haggai 1, and Zechariah 1:1-6.