Psalm 124:1-7

Our Help Is in the Name of the Lord

1 ¹If it had not been the Lord who was on our side— ²let Israel now say—

2 if it had not been the Lord who was on our side when people rose up against us,

3 then they would have ³swallowed us up alive, when their anger was kindled against us;

4 then ⁴the flood would have ⁵swept us away, the torrent would have gone ⁶over us;

5 then over us would have gone the raging waters.

6 Blessed be the Lord, who has not given us as prey to their teeth!

7 We have escaped like a bird from ⁷the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped!

Psalm 124:1-7 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 124

\\<>\\. Some think this psalm was written by David, after the conquest of the Philistines and Ammonites, and other nations that rose up against him and Israel, like the proud waves of the sea, and spread themselves like a flood; and whose destruction was like the breach of many waters, 2Sa 5:18,20, 10:19. Others, after his deliverance from the persecution of Saul, or from the conspiracy of Absalom. Theodoret is of opinion that David wrote this by a prophetic spirit, concerning the enemies of the Jews, upon their return to their own land, from the Babylonish captivity; who envied them, and rose up against them, but the Lord delivered them. And others apply it to the times of Antiochus, when the Jewish church and state were threatened with ruin; but the Lord appeared for them, in raising up the Maccabees. Kimchi interprets it of the Jews in captivity; and drama of the deliverance of the children of Israel at the Red sea. It may be applied to any time of distress the church and people of God have been in, and he has wrought salvation for them.

Cross References

• 1. 124:1 Ps. 94:17
• 2. 124:1 Ps. 129:1
• 3. 124:3 See Ps. 56:1
• 4. 124:4 See Ps. 32:6; Job 22:11
• 5. 124:4 Ps. 69:2; Isa. 8:8
• 6. 124:4 Ps. 69:1
• 7. 124:7 See Ps. 91:3