Psa 124:3 | KingComments | STEP | In this psalm, the repetitions stand out. Repetition is a tool to underscore the message. Twice it says “had it not been the LORD who was on our side” ( ). After “had it not been” twice in , “then” follows three times in . Three times the enemies are represented as waters that would have engulfed them ( ). They also speak twice “over our soul”. There are two mentions of “escaping” and two mentions of a “snare” ( ). The structure of the psalm also underscores the message: A The presence of the LORD ( ). ---B Kept from dangers ( ). ------C Praise of the LORD ( ). ---B Kept from dangers ( ). A The presence of the LORD ( ). This shows that the central message is: Praise the LORD, for He keeps in the midst of all dangers. The chosen Israelites outside the land have been ridiculed and mocked (Psalm 123) and severely persecuted ( ), but nevertheless kept. They have been able to leave their enemies behind without fear and are now on their way to Jerusalem. The secret of being kept is the presence and nearness, “on our side”, of the LORD, the Keeper of Israel from Psalm 121 ( ). The psalmist says in both and “had it not been the LORD who was on our side”. This doubly underscores the importance of the opening line. The LORD in this psalm is “the God with us”, the promised Immanuel, the precious title of the Lord Jesus from Isaiah 7 for the people of Israel ( ; ). We can well understand in this light that Moses said to the LORD: “If Your presence does not go [with us], do not lead us up from here” ( ). This is the fifth “Song of Ascents” ( ). It is the second Song of Ascents which mentions that it is “of David” ( ). David describes a situation that was extremely threatening to the existence of God’s people. In fact, Israel would no longer exist if the LORD had not been with His people, on their side. This observation can be applied to all situations in which the people have been and were in danger of being wiped out. Prophetically, it is about the dangers and spiritual exercises of the ten tribes who found themselves outside Jerusalem, in the midst of bigoted and hostile nations. In addition, we can also think of the part of the two tribes that fled from Jerusalem from the oncoming king of the North followed by the armies of the Assyrians, supported by great power in the far north, Gog, or Great Russia ( ). Their cry for help to the LORD and their confidence that the LORD Himself was their Keeper during their return to the promised land was not shamed. In this psalm we hear their testimony ( ) and their praise to the LORD ( ). They will, having survived all the assaults on their existence, acknowledge that their survival is due solely to His presence with them. In the Old Testament, He has been present in most of their history. Sometimes He has been present in a hidden way, as the book of Esther shows. And even after the destruction of Jerusalem in the year 70 until now, He has always been, behind the scenes, the Protector of His people, so that they have not been annihilated. Their whole history is a history of deliverances that the LORD has worked. They should recite that, bring it to the LORD’s attention as a thanksgiving for what He has been and done for them. In , David says it again: “Had it not been the LORD who was on our side.” By doing so, he emphasizes the importance of the LORD’s presence with His people. Without Him, they would have been helplessly lost and perished. His presence protected them from enemies and in dangers, from “men” who had risen up against them to wipe them out. The word “men” at the same time indicates the vast difference from God. The Hebrew word used here is adam , which recalls the earth from which they were made. They are merely “dust of the earth” ( ), while God is the Creator of heaven and earth ( ). What can dust do against its Maker? Israel has been attacked from all sides by ‘men’ countless times in its history. That the people still exist is not due to their cleverness, allies or fighting strength, but only to God. The intentions of the enemies were quite impressive. If they had been given the chance, “they would have swallowed us alive” ( ; cf. ). The enemy is described as a great beast that wanted to devour them, a beast with fearsome teeth ( ), that came to them like waters ( ; ), with snares of the trapper ( ), against which they were not able to stand ( ). The wrath of the enemies had been kindled against them. Their enemies were God-haters who wanted to vent their rage on His people. They wanted to swallow the life that God had given His people. That proved impossible, for the Living One was with His people. Nor is it just a single nation that was so full of anger against them. The whole world was against them. They had joined forces and wanted to flood God’s people like “waters” ( ). “Waters” symbolize nations ( ; ) and destructive forces. We see these waters in the approaching king of the North followed by the armies of the Assyrians, supported by Russia, the superpower in the far north ( ). Israel therefore speaks of “waters” that “would have engulfed” them. These waters have swept over their soul, that is, over their person, their soul and their body. This speaks of the fact that there was not only outward distress, but there was also distress in the soul, inward distress. In , the people add another expression of the tremendous enmity. They speak of “the raging waters” that “would have swept over” their “soul” which would have caused that they would have perished. The enmity against Israel is described here as the flood of water in a wadi ( ). A wadi is a river valley in dry areas that is dry for most of the year. During wet periods, such a river valley can suddenly turn into a devastating flood of water due to sudden torrential rains ( ).

‏ Psalms 124:3

Introduction

In this psalm, the repetitions stand out. Repetition is a tool to underscore the message. Twice it says “had it not been the LORD who was on our side” (Psa 124:1-2). After “had it not been” twice in Psa 124:1-2, “then” follows three times in Psa 124:3-5. Three times the enemies are represented as waters that would have engulfed them (Psa 124:4-5). They also speak twice “over our soul”. There are two mentions of “escaping” and two mentions of a “snare” (Psa 124:7).

The structure of the psalm also underscores the message:

A The presence of the LORD (Psa 124:1-2).

---B Kept from dangers (Psa 124:2b-5).

------C Praise of the LORD (Psa 124:6a).

---B Kept from dangers (Psa 124:6b-7).

A The presence of the LORD (Psa 124:8).

This shows that the central message is: Praise the LORD, for He keeps in the midst of all dangers.

The chosen Israelites outside the land have been ridiculed and mocked (Psalm 123) and severely persecuted (Psa 124:1-5), but nevertheless kept. They have been able to leave their enemies behind without fear and are now on their way to Jerusalem.

The secret of being kept is the presence and nearness, “on our side”, of the LORD, the Keeper of Israel from Psalm 121 (Psa 121:3-8). The psalmist says in both Psa 124:1 and Psa 124:2 “had it not been the LORD who was on our side”. This doubly underscores the importance of the opening line. The LORD in this psalm is “the God with us”, the promised Immanuel, the precious title of the Lord Jesus from Isaiah 7 for the people of Israel (Isa 7:14; Mt 1:23). We can well understand in this light that Moses said to the LORD: “If Your presence does not go [with us], do not lead us up from here” (Exo 33:15).

The LORD Is With His People

This is the fifth “Song of Ascents” (Psa 124:1). It is the second Song of Ascents which mentions that it is “of David” (Psa 122:1). David describes a situation that was extremely threatening to the existence of God’s people. In fact, Israel would no longer exist if the LORD had not been with His people, on their side. This observation can be applied to all situations in which the people have been and were in danger of being wiped out.

Prophetically, it is about the dangers and spiritual exercises of the ten tribes who found themselves outside Jerusalem, in the midst of bigoted and hostile nations. In addition, we can also think of the part of the two tribes that fled from Jerusalem from the oncoming king of the North followed by the armies of the Assyrians, supported by great power in the far north, Gog, or Great Russia (Dan 8:24).

Their cry for help to the LORD and their confidence that the LORD Himself was their Keeper during their return to the promised land was not shamed. In this psalm we hear their testimony (Psa 124:1-5) and their praise to the LORD (Psa 124:6-8). They will, having survived all the assaults on their existence, acknowledge that their survival is due solely to His presence with them.

In the Old Testament, He has been present in most of their history. Sometimes He has been present in a hidden way, as the book of Esther shows. And even after the destruction of Jerusalem in the year 70 until now, He has always been, behind the scenes, the Protector of His people, so that they have not been annihilated. Their whole history is a history of deliverances that the LORD has worked. They should recite that, bring it to the LORD’s attention as a thanksgiving for what He has been and done for them.

In Psa 124:2, David says it again: “Had it not been the LORD who was on our side.” By doing so, he emphasizes the importance of the LORD’s presence with His people. Without Him, they would have been helplessly lost and perished. His presence protected them from enemies and in dangers, from “men” who had risen up against them to wipe them out.

The word “men” at the same time indicates the vast difference from God. The Hebrew word used here is adam, which recalls the earth from which they were made. They are merely “dust of the earth” (Gen 2:7), while God is the Creator of heaven and earth (Psa 124:8). What can dust do against its Maker? Israel has been attacked from all sides by ‘men’ countless times in its history. That the people still exist is not due to their cleverness, allies or fighting strength, but only to God.

The intentions of the enemies were quite impressive. If they had been given the chance, “they would have swallowed us alive” (Psa 124:3; cf. Pro 1:12). The enemy is described as a great beast that wanted to devour them, a beast with fearsome teeth (Psa 124:6), that came to them like waters (Psa 124:4; Rev 12:15-16), with snares of the trapper (Psa 124:7), against which they were not able to stand (Psa 124:5).

The wrath of the enemies had been kindled against them. Their enemies were God-haters who wanted to vent their rage on His people. They wanted to swallow the life that God had given His people. That proved impossible, for the Living One was with His people.

Nor is it just a single nation that was so full of anger against them. The whole world was against them. They had joined forces and wanted to flood God’s people like “waters” (Psa 124:4). “Waters” symbolize nations (Isa 8:7 ; Isa 17:12; Dan 9:26b ; 27b) and destructive forces. We see these waters in the approaching king of the North followed by the armies of the Assyrians, supported by Russia, the superpower in the far north (Dan 8:24). Israel therefore speaks of “waters” that “would have engulfed” them. These waters have swept over their soul, that is, over their person, their soul and their body. This speaks of the fact that there was not only outward distress, but there was also distress in the soul, inward distress.

In Psa 124:5, the people add another expression of the tremendous enmity. They speak of “the raging waters” that “would have swept over” their “soul” which would have caused that they would have perished. The enmity against Israel is described here as the flood of water in a wadi (Psa 124:4-5). A wadi is a river valley in dry areas that is dry for most of the year. During wet periods, such a river valley can suddenly turn into a devastating flood of water due to sudden torrential rains (Psa 42:7).