Psalms 124
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If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, now may Israel say;
2 If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when men rose up against us:
3 Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us:
4 Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul:
5 Then the proud waters had gone over our soul.
6 Blessed be the Lord, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth.
7 Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped.
8 Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Public Domain KJV text from Wordproject.org
Psalm 124:1-8
Our Help Is in the Name of the Lord
A Song of Ascents. Of David.
1If it had not been the Lord who was on our side—
let Israel now say—
2if it had not been the Lord who was on our side
when people rose up against us,
3then they would have swallowed us up alive,
when their anger was kindled against us;
4then the flood would have swept us away,
the torrent would have gone over us;
5then over us would have gone
the raging waters.
6Blessed be the Lord,
who has not given us
as prey to their teeth!
7We have escaped like a bird
from the snare of the fowlers;
the snare is broken,
and we have escaped!
8Our help is in the name of the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
ESV Bible text displayed through the American Bible Society's Global Bible Widget
Psalm 124:1-8
Psalm 124
A song of ascents. Of David.
1If the Lord had not been on our side—
let Israel say—
2if the Lord had not been on our side
when people attacked us,
3they would have swallowed us alive
when their anger flared against us;
4the flood would have engulfed us,
the torrent would have swept over us,
5the raging waters
would have swept us away.
6Praise be to the Lord,
who has not let us be torn by their teeth.
7We have escaped like a bird
from the fowler’s snare;
the snare has been broken,
and we have escaped.
8Our help is in the name of the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
NIV Bible text displayed through the American Bible Society's Global Bible Widget
Commentary
“The snare is broken, and we have escaped.” Psalms 124:7b NKJV
Traps come in many forms. Some are set by other people, and some are set by ourselves. But, no matter what kind of trap we find ourselves in - addictions, inappropriate relationships, laziness, poor habits - one thing remains the same. Our only escape is through the mercy and power of our Savior.
Ellen White writes, “In the change that takes place when the soul surrenders to Christ, there is the highest sense of freedom.…we have no power to free ourselves from Satan's control; but when we desire to be set free from sin, and in our great need cry out for a power out of and above ourselves, the powers of the soul are imbued with the divine energy of the Holy Spirit, and they obey the dictates of the will in fulfilling the will of God.” (The Desire of Ages, pg. 466)
Let us rejoice! “If it had not been the Lord who was on our side…” we would still be trapped with no hope. But, when Jesus makes us free, we, “…shall be free indeed.” (John 8:36 NKJV)
Rachel Ortiz
Glendale, California USA (as of this writing)
