Psalms 125:3

Lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity.

Hands put forth to iniquity

The shepherd would keep his sheep from straggling. His distress is that all in Israel are not true Israelites. Two sorts of people, described by the poet, have ever been in the Church. The second class, instead of being at the trouble to “withstand in the evil day,” will “put forth their hands unto iniquity.” Rather than feel, they will follow the rod of the wicked. They will “turn aside unto their crooked ways,” sooner than risk temporal and material interests. If they do not give themselves fully to the Egyptians or Philistines, Babylonians or Samaritans, they go far in compliance to gain their favour, and sometimes so far as to share in their plunder. Slipping from the King’s highway into the tortuous by-paths of selfishness and compromise, they are without excuse. No sufferings in God’s service are reasons for unfaithfulness and apostasy. His grace makes us able to drink whatever cup His providence administers. He adapts our trials to our strength, and proportions our strength to our trials (1 Corinthians 10:13). The way of escape is never crookedly parleying with false friends, but always direct obedience to the will of God. At the worst, it is death; and then the worst is best. Whatever may happen from the rod of the wicked, it is of the greatest moment to shun the wickedness of their rod. The treacherous and pliable exchange the lot of the righteous for the portion of evil-doers. (E. J. Robinson.)