FRAMEWORKS:
Psalm 124: God our deliverer, worthy of our praise
A
song of ascents. Of David.
[Preliminary
Comments: In this fifth short psalm of ascents, the
psalmist thinks back to times when the enemy had come against
them [going on a stage from v.4 of the previous psalm] they would
have been swept away if it hadn't been for the Lord being there
for them. It is thus a psalm that acclaims the Lord as their deliverer
and who is thus worthy of their praise.]
v.1-5
Recognition of the Lord's saving grace on their behalf
v.1
If
the Lord had not been on our side –
let Israel say –
v.2 if
the Lord had not been on our side
when people attacked us,
v.3 they
would have swallowed us alive
when their anger flared against us;
v.4 the
flood would have engulfed us,
the torrent would have swept over us,
v.5 the
raging waters
would have swept us away.
v.6,7
Praise is due to the Lord who had delivered them
v.6
Praise
be to the Lord,
who has not let us be torn by their teeth.
v.7 We
have escaped like a bird
from the fowler's snare;
the snare has been broken,
and we have escaped.
v.8
Let's acknowledge our helper is the Lord Almighty
v.8
Our
help is in the name of the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
[Additional
Comments: In simple terms the psalm acknowledges the
strife and opposition from others that they had experienced as
a nation and recognises that if God hadn't stood up for them,
they would no longer exist, having been utterly swept away. The
Lord who is Creator is thus also their deliverer and is worthy
of their praise which they should bring to Him as they approach
Him.]
Continue
to Psa 125