Bible Commentaries
Psalms 124

Verses 1-8

Psalms 124

Honor to God

Scripture v. 1-8:

Verses 1, 2 repeat the concession that if the Lord had not been on "our side," the side of His people Israel in the past, they would have been abandoned to captivity of idolatrous heathenism long ago. For by His mercies, then and now, men have life and its blessings, Acts 17:28; James 1:17. Yet, with God, the godly should not fear those who rise up against them, Psalms 56:9; Psalms 56:11. For "He that is in thee is greater than he that is in the world," Philippians 1:6; 1 John 4:4.

Verse 3 adds, "Then they would have swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us;" Had the Lord not "been on our side," they would have swallowed us "alive," as in Psalms 55:15; Proverbs 1:12. But it is they, who like Kt6rah and his band of wafflers, who shall be swallowed up in Divine judgment for their wickedness, Numbers 16:32; Psalms 56:2; Psalms 57:3. See also Proverbs 1:12; Jeremiah 51:34; Jonah 1:17.

Verses 4, 5 add that, "then," had they had their way, "the waters (of destruction) had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul. Then the proud waters had gone over (inundated, destroyed) our soul," referring to the haughty, impudent enemies, Psalms 18:16; Psalms 144:7; Psalms 18:4; Psalms 69:2; Psalms 89:9; See, also Daniel 9:26; Revelation 12:15; Revelation 17:15.

Verses 6-9 praise the blessed Lord for not giving them as a prey to voracious, wild beasts who sought their flesh and blood; and be­cause their soul had escaped their entrapment efforts, like a bird that had escaped from the fowler’s snare. He set me free, John 8:32; Psalms 91:3; Proverbs 6:5. He extols, "our help is in the name (honor) of the Lord, who made heaven and earth," a safe place to be, Psalms 25:15; Psalms 12:2; Psalms 33:22.