Psalm 124

Our Help Is in the Name of the Lord

A Song of Ascents. Of David.

124   If it had not been the LORD who was on our side—
    let Israel now say—
  if it had not been the LORD who was on our side
    when people rose up against us,
  then they would have swallowed us up alive,
    when their anger was kindled against us;
  then the flood would have swept us away,
    the torrent would have gone over us;
  then over us would have gone
    the raging waters.
  Blessed be the LORD,
    who has not given us
    as prey to their teeth!
  We have escaped like a bird
    from the snare of the fowlers;
  the snare is broken,
    and we have escaped!
  Our help is in the name of the LORD,
    who made heaven and earth.

(ESV)

Psalm 124 Commentary

by Brad Boyles

The storms that God allows only further serves to reveal His power and glory within. When we are faced with opposition, we clench tightly to the anchor that we know and trust. In those moments, we realize how much He has already been working. We are able to reflect back and see what would have happened had He not been on our side.

Praise the LORD, who has not let us be ripped apart by their teeth.  7  We have escaped like a bird from the hunter’s net; the net is torn, and we have escaped.  8  Our help is in the name of Yahweh, the Maker of heaven and earth.

Psalms 124:6-8 HCSB

Those who oppose God are hell-bent on destruction and turmoil. The fruit of their lives is clearly seen. As the psalmist has written many other times, his enemies respond by spewing hatred from their lips and refusing to repent. He describes them as ravenous beasts and raging waters. The writers of the NT give us practical guidelines for identifying such enemies of God within the church.

But you have had the Holy Spirit poured out on you by Christ, and so all of you know the truth. 21 I write you, then, not because you do not know the truth; instead, it is because you do know it, and you also know that no lie ever comes from the truth.

1 John 2:20-21 GNB

Those filled with the Spirit will not only be cautioned against the work of the enemy, but they will also cling more tightly to the truth of who God is during the storm. This draws a clear line between those who know Christ and those who do not. The storm serves to bring discernment and truth to all those who cling to Christ!