Psalm 124
Psalm 124 reflects on God's protection and deliverance of Israel from their enemies. It is a song of gratitude, recognizing that if God had not been on their side, they would have been destroyed. The psalmist expresses relief that they have escaped destruction, comparing their situation to a bird escaping a trap. This psalm emphasizes God's intervention and the power of His protection over His people.
Psalm 124:1-2 (NKJV)
1 “If it had not been the Lord who was on our side,”
Let Israel now say—
2 “If it had not been the Lord who was on our side,
When men rose up against us,"
The psalmist invites Israel to reflect on God's deliverance, stating that if the Lord had not been with them, they would have faced destruction. The repeated phrase emphasizes the seriousness of the situation. Israel acknowledges that human efforts would not have saved them from the attacks of their enemies; only God's intervention made a difference.
Psalm 124:3 (NKJV)
3 Then they would have swallowed us alive,
When their wrath was kindled against us;
The enemy’s anger is described as intense, likening their aggression to a force that could have consumed Israel entirely. Without God's protection, Israel would have been overwhelmed by the violence and hostility of their enemies, symbolized here by being swallowed alive.
Psalm 124:4-5 (NKJV)
4 Then the waters would have overwhelmed us,
The stream would have gone over our soul;
5 Then the swollen waters
Would have gone over our soul.”
The psalmist compares their deliverance to being saved from a flood. The "waters" represent overwhelming danger, symbolizing the unstoppable power of the enemy. The imagery of rising waters suggests the danger was not just physical but also emotional and spiritual, threatening to engulf their very soul. God's intervention spared them from complete devastation.
Psalm 124:6 (NKJV)
6 Blessed be the Lord,
Who has not given us as prey to their teeth.
Here, the psalmist praises God for protecting Israel from becoming prey to their enemies. The imagery of being devoured emphasizes the vulnerability of Israel without God's protection. Instead of being torn apart, they were spared by the Lord's grace and power.
Psalm 124:7 (NKJV)
7 Our soul has escaped as a bird from the snare of the fowlers;
The snare is broken, and we have escaped.
Israel's deliverance is likened to a bird escaping a trap. The "snare" represents the schemes of the enemy, but through God's intervention, the trap was broken, and they were set free. This highlights the idea that God's help was their only means of escape from an inescapable situation.
Psalm 124:8 (NKJV)
8 Our help is in the name of the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.
The psalm concludes by affirming that their help comes from the Creator of all things. God's power as the Maker of heaven and earth guarantees His ability to protect and deliver. The reference to His creation serves as a reminder of His sovereignty and the limitless power He has to aid His people in any circumstance.