Psalm 124
What if the Lord had not been on our side? Let all Israel repeat: What if the Lord had not been on our side when people attacked us? They would have swallowed us alive in their burning anger. The waters would have engulfed us; a torrent would have overwhelmed us. Yes, the raging waters of their fury would have overwhelmed our very lives. Praise the Lord, who did not let their teeth tear us apart! We escaped like a bird from a hunter’s trap. The trap is broken, and we are free! Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
In this Psalm of ascent, David recounts God’s faithfulness towards Israel. He helps the people remember where they would be if it were not for God. Israel was a tiny nation in reality and they were (and are) surrounded by myriad enemies. Any one of those nations was capable (by human standards) of completely destroying God’s chosen people, and yet, the Lord stood with them and protected them. David says it could have been like being “swallowed alive” or “engulfed in a flood,” but God was always there and He always made a way for escape from certain destruction.
Their help was from the Lord. That is the meaning of this psalm in its context. Yet, I can’t help but go one step further and then make an application to us today. In the same way that Israel’s help was from the Lord, that is from where our help also comes. If the Lord is not on your side, you too could be swallowed up by enemies on every side and a thousand hidden dangers. How many times has He protected you from unknown destruction? How many times has He guarded your heart against unseen temptation? How many times has he helped you escape from different situations “like a bird from a hunter’s trap?” In Him, you have all you need—the one who made heaven and earth is the source of your help and He will always be “enough.”
