Psalm 125:3

Verse 3. The lot of the righteous. There is a fourfold lot belonging to the faithful.

Here, then, consider how the lottery of Canaan may shadow out to us that blessed land of promise whereof tile other was a type. --Thomas Adams.

Verse 3. Lest the righteous out fort their hands unto iniquity. Lest overcome by impatience, or drawn aside by the world's allurements or affrightments, they should yield and comply with the desires of the wicked, or seek to help themselves out of trouble by sinister practices. God (saith Chrysostom) acts like a lutanist, who will not let the strings of his lute be too slack, lest it mar the music, nor suffer them to be too hard stretched or screwed up, lest they break. --John Trapp, 1601-1669.

Verse 3. Lest the righteous put forth their hands, etc. The trial is to prove faith, not to endanger it by too sharp a pressure: lest, overcome by this, even the faithful put forth a hand (as in Genesis 3:22 ), to forbidden pleasure; or (as in Exodus 22:8 ), to contamination: through force of custom gradually persuading to sinful compliance, or through despair of good, as the Psalmist (see Psalms 37:1-40 and Psalms 73:1-28 ) describes some in his day who witnessed the prosperity of wicked men. --The Speaker's Commentary, 1871-1881.

HINTS FOR PASTORS AND LAYPERSONS

Verse 3. Observe,

b) But no more than sufficiently tried. --John Field, of Sevenoaks.

Verse 3-4.