Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary
Psalms 124:1

Clarke's Commentary

PSALM CXXIV

A thanksgiving of the godly for extraordinary deliverances, 1-4.

The great danger they were in, 7.

Their confidence in God, 8.

NOTES ON PSALM CXXIV

In our present Hebrew copies this Psalm is attributed to David, לדוד ledavid; but this inscription is wanting in three of Kennicott's and De Rossi's MSS., as also in the Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate, AEthiopic, and Arabic; and in most of the ancient fathers, Greek and Latin, who found no other inscription in their copies of the text than A Psalm of degrees. It was composed long after David's days; and appears to be either a thanksgiving for their deliverance from the Babylonish captivity, or for a remarkable deliverance from some potent and insidious enemy after their return to Judea. Or, what appears to be more likely, it is a thanksgiving of the Jews for their escape from the general massacre intended by Haman, prime minister of Ahasuerus, king of Persia. See the whole Book of Esther.

Verse Psalms 124:1. If it had not been the Lord — If God had not, in a very especial manner, supported and defended us, we had all been swallowed up alive, and destroyed by a sudden destruction, so that not one would have been left. This might refer to the plot against the whole nation of the Jews by Haman, in the days of Mordecai and Esther; when by his treacherous schemes the Jews, wheresoever dispersed in the provinces of Babylon, were all to have been put to death in one day. This may here be represented under the figure of an earthquake, when a chasm is formed, and a whole city and its inhabitants are in a moment swallowed up alive.

Bridgeway Bible Commentary

Psalms 120-124 To Jerusalem for worship

Each of the fifteen Psalms 120:0 to 134 is entitled ‘A Song of Ascents’ (RSV; NIV). These psalms were apparently sung by worshippers from the country areas as they made the journey up to Jerusalem for the various annual festivals.

Whether or not the psalms were written for this purpose, they have been arranged in a sequence that reflects the feelings of the travellers. They provide expressions of worship for the travellers as they set out from distant regions, travel through the country, come to Jerusalem, and finally join in the temple ceremonies.
The collection opens with a cry from one who lives in a distant region and is bitterly persecuted by his neighbours (120:1-2). Their insults pierce him like sharp arrows and burn him like red-hot coals. He prays that God’s punishment of them will be just as painful (3-4). He is tired of being victimized. He feels as if he lives in a far-off land where he is surrounded by attackers from hostile tribes. He will set out for Jerusalem and seek some peace and refreshment of spirit in God’s house (5-7).
As he journeys through the hill country, the man knows that God who made the hills cares for him (121:1-2). Even when he sleeps by the roadside at night, God, who never sleeps, watches over him (3-4). God protects him from dangers by day and by night (5-6). Surely, God will take him to Jerusalem and bring him safely home again (7-8).
In the excitement of anticipation, the traveller pictures his dream as fulfilled. He recalls a psalm of David and pictures himself at last standing in Jerusalem as David once did (122:1-2). He sees it as a beautiful, well-built city, where the tribes of Israel are united in their worship of God, and where God rules his people through the throne of David (3-5). He prays that God will always preserve the city and prosper its people (6-8). He himself will do all he can for the city’s good (9).
Ungodly people mock the poor traveller, and others who have now joined him, for putting up with such hardships just to attend a religious festival in Jerusalem. The worshippers ask God to give them some relief by silencing those who mock them (123:1-4).
The persecuted travellers once more recall the experience of David and sing one of his psalms that reflects their own experience. As David was persecuted, so are they. Only through God’s grace and power have they been kept from much worse treatment (124:1-3). Their enemies are as violent and destructive as a raging flood (4-5), as cruel as wild animals (6) and as cunning as bird-trappers (7), but the travellers have the great Creator on their side (8).

Coffman's Commentaries on the Bible

“If it had not been Jehovah who was on our side, Let Israel now say, If it had not been Jehovah on our side, When men rose up against us; Then they had swallowed us up alive, When their wrath was kindled against us: Then the waters had overwhelmed us, The stream had gone over our soul; Then the proud waters had gone over our soul.”

“If it had not been Jehovah… on our side” This expression regarding God’s being “on our side” evidently inspired Martin Luther’s great hymn in the second verse, “Were not the right man on our side, the man of God’s own choosing; Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus it is he”!Great Songs of the Church, Hymn No. 326.

“When men rose up against us” This line tells us what the danger was. It was a hostile army, not an earthquake, a monster, or a flood. Evil, hostile men were the problem.

“Then they had swallowed us up alive” Men do not swallow their enemies alive, so here we have the metaphor of some terrible monster swallowing its victims.

“The waters… the stream… the proud waters had gone over our soul” The problem is the same, namely, an approaching army of ruthless enemies; but the metaphor describing it is in these lines a destructive, overwhelming flood. This was an often used figure for a conquering army. Isaiah compared the ravaging armies of the Assyrians to the Euphrates river at flood stage (Isaiah 8:5-8).

These verses not only describe the terrible danger that threatened Israel, they also identify the sole reason for their survival from such a threat, i.e., “Jehovah” who was “on their side.” The balance of the psalm is devoted to the praise of their Deliverer.

Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

If it had not been the Lord who was on our side - Unless it was Yahweh who was with us. The idea is, that someone had been with them, and had delivered them, and that such was the nature of the interposition that it could be ascribed to no one but Yahweh. It bore unmistakeable evidence that it was his work. The deliverance was of such a kind that it could have been accomplished by him only. Such things often occur in life, when the intervention in our behalf is so remarkable that we can ascribe it to no one else but God.

Now may Israel say - May well and truly say. The danger was so great, their helplessness was so manifest, and the deliverance was so clearly the work of God, that it was proper to say that if this had not occurred, ruin would have been inevitable and entire.

Calvin's Commentary on the Bible

1.But for Jehovah, who was on our side. Some expositors think that this Psalm describes the very sad and calamitous condition of the Church when the, residue of the people were carried away into Babylon. This opinion is, however, without any good foundation for the complaints made, apply with equal propriety to the persecutions which the Church suffered under the tyranny of Antiochus Epiphanes. It is another objection to this interpretation, that the Psalm bears in its inscription the name of David, and historically recounts the deliverance which the people had obtained from extreme danger by the power of God. To get quit of this difficulty they observe, that what had not yet come to pass is described prophetically; but this is a forced conjecture, for the Prophets usually speak of things to come in a different manner. It is more probable that David here sets forth a known history, and exhorts the faithful to reflect upon the divine succor which they had already actually experienced. I dare not, however, limit what is here spoken to David’s time. It is indeed true that the heathen nations often waged war against the people of God, armed with such power as to come rushing upon them with the impetuosity of a deluge; but as David does not specify any particular instance, he is not, I conceive, to be understood as celebrating only some one deliverance, but in general all the instances in which God had succoured his Church. The heathen at many different times, as is well known, rose up against the Church, with such mighty hosts, that she was brought almost to the verge of destruction. David then represents as in a mirror the uncertain and changeable condition of the Church, just such as it had been from the beginning, to teach the faithful that its stability had not been owing to its own intrinsic strength, but that it had been preserved by the wonderful grace of God; and to habituate them to call upon God in the midst of dangers.

Smith's Bible Commentary

Psalms 124:1-8 :

If it had not been the LORD who was on our side ( Psalms 124:1 ),

And, of course, I think we could all write our own psalm from this point on. If God hadn't been with me, let me tell you, you know. "If it had not been that the LORD was on our side,"

now may Israel say; If it had not been that the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us: then they would have swallowed us up quickly, when their wrath was kindled against us: then the waters had overwhelmed us, and the stream had gone over our soul: and the proud waters would have gone over our soul ( Psalms 124:1-5 ).

Oh, if it hadn't been for God's help. If it hadn't been for God's strength. If it hadn't been for God's sustaining power, how many times we would have gone under. We'd have never made it this far if it had not been.

Paul the apostle said, "Who hath delivered us from so great a death, who doth now deliver us, and I am confident He shall yet deliver us" ( 1 Corinthians 1:10 ). You see, the past help of God is a prophecy of the future. The fact that God has helped me, the fact that God is helping me is my assurance that He's going to help me. And if it had not been that God was helping me, I wouldn't be here now.

And so he breaks forth into the blessing.

Blessed be the LORD, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth. Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, we are escaped. Our help is in the name of Yahweh, who made heaven and eaRuth ( Psalms 124:6-8 ).

And again, the idea, God has made the heaven and the earth. The name of Yahweh, the name of our God, Yahweh, the maker of heaven and earth. And our help is in the name of the Lord. There's tremendous power in the name of Jesus.

Peter was walking into the temple, the hour of prayer. And there was a man who was lame and begging. And you go to Israel today and you find out that severely handicapped people: blind, lame, and all, the lepers; they still are around the gates begging. A lot of beggars. And here was a man born lame, begging. And Peter said, "Hey fellow, look over here." And he turned, held out his hand expecting to receive something. Peter said, "I don't have any silver and gold, but I'll be glad to share what I do have. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk" ( Acts 3:6 ). Power in the name of Jesus. And the man stood, he walked, he leaped. He ran through the temple, walking, leaping, praising God, because of the power of the name of Jesus.

There is a proverb that says, "The name of Yahweh is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe" ( Proverbs 18:10 ). How many times I have retreated into the safety of the name of Jesus. When threatened, when in danger, just the breathing out, "Oh Jesus." In the name of Jesus. Jesus said, "Henceforth you've asked nothing in My name. Ask, that you might receive, that your joy might be full" ( John 16:24 ). "You shall ask anything in My name, I will do it, that the Father might be glorified in the Son" ( John 14:13 ). The power of the name of Jesus, maker of heaven and earth.

Jesus, of course, you know, is Yahweh Shua or Yashua. It is that name of God compounded with the Hebrew word salvation. And thus you get, Jehovah or Yahweh is salvation. "

Dr. Constable's Expository Notes

1. The Lord’s protection of His people 124:1-5

David reminded the people that God had been on their side in the battles that might have resulted in Israel’s extinction. If He had not been, they would have perished. He used several graphic images to picture the total annihilation of the chosen people. Israel’s enemies had attacked her viciously many times during her history.

Dr. Constable's Expository Notes

Psalms 124

David voiced praise to God for not allowing the pagan nations that surrounded Israel to defeat and assimilate God’s people.

Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

If [it had not been] the Lord who was on our side,.... Or, "was for us" h. The Syriac version is, "that rose up for us"; against their enemies, that rose up against them, as in Psalms 123:2: or, "was with us", as Kimchi and Ben Melech; to help and assist, support and supply, strengthen and defend: or, "was among us", as the Arabic version; as their King, Protector, and Saviour. This implies that he was on their side; was for them, with them, and among them, and took their part against their enemies; see Psalms 118:6; which if he had not done, their case would have been miserable and deplorable; or if any other had took their part, and not he, let them be who they would, angels or men. If God is on the side of us, it matters not who is against us; but if he is not on our side, or against us, it signifies nothing who is for us; see Romans 8:31. It suggests that the case of Israel now was so very forlorn and distressed, that none but the Lord himself could help them. Jehovah is on the side of his people in a spiritual sense, or otherwise it would be bad for them: God the Father is on their side; his love and relation to them engage him to be so; hence all those good things that are provided for them, and bestowed on them; nor will he suffer any to do them hurt, they being as dear to him as the apple of his eye; hence he grants them his gracious presence, supports them under all their trials and exercises, supplies all their wants, and keeps them by his power, and preserves them from all their enemies; so that they have nothing to fear from any quarter: Christ is on their side; he is the surety for them, the Saviour of them; has took their part against all their spiritual enemies, sin, Satan, the world, and death; has engaged with them, and conquered them; he is the Captain of their salvation, their King at the head of them, that protects and defends them here, and is their friend in the court of heaven; their Advocate and interceding High Priest there, who pleads their cause against Satan, and obtains every blessing for them: the Spirit of Jehovah is on their side, to carry on his own work in them; to assist them in their prayers and supplications; to secure them from Satan's temptations; to set up a standard for them, when the enemy comes in like a flood upon them; and to comfort them under all their castings down; and to work them up for, and bring them safe to, heaven: but were not this the case, what would become of them?

now may Israel say; this was a public case the psalmist here records, in which all Israel were concerned; and whom he calls upon to take notice of it, and directs them what to say on this occasion.

h לנו "pro nobis", Vatablus.

Henry's Complete Commentary on the Bible

A song of degrees of David.

      1 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.

      The people of God, being here called upon to praise God for their deliverance, are to take notice,

      I. Of the malice of men, by which they were reduced to the very brink of ruin. Let Israel say that there was but a step between them and death: the more desperate the disease appears to have been the more does the skill of the Physician appear in the cure. Observe, 1. Whence the threatening danger came: Men rose up against us, creatures of our own kind, and yet bent upon our ruin. Homo homini lupus--Man is a wolf to man. No marvel that the red dragon, the roaring lion, should seek to swallow us up; but that men should thirst after the blood of men, Absalom after the blood of his own father, that a woman should be drunk with the blood of saints, is what, with St. John, we may wonder at with great admiration. From men we may expect humanity, yet there are those whose tender mercies are cruel. But what was the matter with these men? Why their wrath was kindled against us (Psalms 124:3; Psalms 124:3); something or other they were angry at, and then no less would serve than the destruction of those they had conceived a displeasure against. Wrath is cruel and anger is outrageous. Their wrath was kindled as fire ready to consume us. They were proud; and the wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor. They were daring in their attempt; they rose up against us, rose in rebellion, with a resolution to swallow us up alive. 2. How far it went, and how fatal it would have been if it had gone a little further: "We should have been devoured as a lamb by a lion, not only slain, but swallowed up, so that there would have been no relics of us remaining, swallowed up with so much haste, ere we were aware, that we should have gone down alive to the pit. We should have been deluged as the low grounds by a land-flood or the sands by a high spring-tide." This similitude he dwells upon, with the ascents which bespeak this a song of degrees, or risings, like the rest. The waters had overwhelmed us. What of us? Why the stream had gone over our souls, our lives, our comforts, all that is dear to us. What waters? Why the proud waters. God suffers the enemies of his people sometimes to prevail very far against them, that his own power may appear the more illustrious in their deliverance.

      II. Of the goodness of God, by which they were rescued from the very brink of ruin: "The Lord was on our side; and, if he had not been so, we should have been undone." 1. "God was on our side; he took our part, espoused our cause, and appeared for us. He was our helper, and a very present help, a help on our side, nigh at hand. He was with us, not only for us, but among us, and commander-in-chief of our forces." 2. That God was Jehovah; there the emphasis lies. "If it had not been Jehovah himself, a God of infinite power and perfection, that had undertaken our deliverance, our enemies would have overpowered us." Happy the people, therefore, whose God is Jehovah, a God all-sufficient. Let Israel say this, to his honour, and resolve never to forsake him.