Psalm 124 Part 1 

Written by David as he led Israel to give thanks; used by Hezekiah in his tribute to victory and then assembled by Ezra after the Babylonian captivity as a psalm of Ascent. Sung by pilgrims for centuries as they ascended to the heights of Jerusalem for festivals, it is a psalm of mercy remembered. The form of this psalm is haunting and reiterates expressions of intense feeling and passionate sincerity. These songs of ascent are well worn! 

Twice in vs1-2, David called Israel to recognize that their help was in God alone. It wasn’t just that Yahweh was present, but that He actively worked on behalf of His people (on our side). In Hebrew, the phrase ‘had been on our side’ is the past tense of ‘Immanuel’ (‘God is with us’). Thus, the community confesses that God has always been with them in their past history. 

It is the delusion of satan to seek to diminish and obscure the grace of God. For the Lord Jesus Psalm 124 Part 1  
Written by David as he led Israel to give thanks; used by Hezekiah in his tribute to victory and then assembled by Ezra after the Babylonian captivity as a psalm of Ascent. Sung by pilgrims for centuries as they ascended to the heights of Jerusalem for festivals, it is a psalm of mercy remembered. The form of this psalm is haunting and reiterates expressions of intense feeling and passionate sincerity. These songs of ascent are well worn! 

Twice in vs1-2, David called Israel to recognize that their help was in God alone. It wasn’t just that Yahweh was present, but that He actively worked on behalf of His people (on our side). In Hebrew, the phrase ‘had been on our side’ is the past tense of ‘Immanuel’ (‘God is with us’). Thus, the community confesses that God has always been with them in their past history. It is the delusion of satan to seek to diminish and obscure the grace of God. For the Lord Jesus in His incarnation and death has taken His place on our side forevermore. He is always on our side, so long as we keep on His paths and walk in His ways.  

The first 5 verses of this psalm remind of the time when David had just been proclaimed King and the Philistines amassed an attacking army to take advantage of the situation. Their army spread across the Valley of Rephaim. Newly crowned, David had not had time to assemble an army, so he was greatly outnumbered. If the Lord had not been on his side, he and the struggling nation would have been ‘swallowed alive.’ In prayer, David got his directions from God. Using a small guerrilla group, he devastated the Philistines in a surprise attack. (See 2Sam5:17-25). Notice v20 where David attributes the victory to God; “He burst through my enemies like a raging flood.” The threat was serious and David had no confidence in himself to survive it. However, peril turned to praise in v6 because both David, Hezekiah, and indeed Ezra, knew the God they worshipped. To me, v7 becomes a picture of Jesus (and our) resurrection.  In His incarnation and death has taken His place on our side forevermore. He is always on our side, so long as we keep on His paths and walk in His ways. 

The first 5 verses of this psalm remind of the time when David had just been proclaimed King and the Philistines amassed an attacking army to take advantage of the situation. Their army spread across the Valley of Rephiam. Newly crowned, David had not had time to assemble an army, so he was greatly outnumbered. If the Lord had not been on his side, he and the struggling nation would have been ‘swallowed alive.’ In prayer, David got his directions from God. Using a small guerrilla group, he devastated the Philistines in a surprise attack. (See 2Sam5:17-25). Notice v20 where David attributes the victory to God; “He burst through my enemies like a raging flood.” The threat was serious and David had no confidence in himself to survive it. However, peril turned to praise in v6 because both David, Hezekiah, and indeed Ezra, new the God they worshipped. To me, v7 becomes a picture of Jesus (and our) resurrection.