Scripture Reading(s)
Psalm 124
124:1 If it had not been the LORD who was on our side — let Israel now say —
124:2 if it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when our enemies attacked us,
124:3 then they would have swallowed us up alive, when their anger was kindled against us;
124:4 then the flood would have swept us away, the torrent would have gone over us;
124:5 then over us would have gone the raging waters.
124:6 Blessed be the LORD, who has not given us as prey to their teeth.
124:7 We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped.
124:8 Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
Reflections
This is a song of praise reflecting what God has done in saving the nation of Israel. Their history is filled with captivity and slavery. Without God’s hand constantly leading and guiding them, they would have been swallowed up whole just as the Egyptian army was when they went after them.
From reading the history of the nation of Israel, one can see how God’s loving and gracious hand never stopped working. We need to always think and dwell on the times in which God has rescued and saved us from our own version of captivity. What that looks like is different for every person but the outcome and the result of God’s hand working is alway the same. He longs to bring us into a place in which we can experience an on going relationship with Him and one that is based on His never ending faithfulness, steadfast love and Grace.
I love how this Psalm perfectly encompasses exactly how God works to bring about the best in our lives. Our response is just as crucial and valuable. Whenever we are able to witness God rescuing us from a hard situation, our immediate response should be to recognize that we could not have done it without Him and He deserves all the recognition, praise and glory.
Verse 8 says “Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” That means we cannot find rest and peace in anything other then Jesus Christ. He is the creator of this world and we are part of that creation. Therefore, we can rely on the one who created us to see us through hard times and to respond in praise and worship.
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