Our Mighty Deliverer - Psalm 124, 2 Samuel 5:17-25

 

  

Today’s reading: Psalm 124, 2 Samuel 5:17-25

This psalm is titled “A Song of Ascents of David”. In Psalm 122:4 we find that the pilgrims gathered in Jerusalem to give thanks. In today’s Psalm we see David leading Israel to give thanks to God for the help for His deliverance from the past and to express their confidence in His continuing help for His people:

 “If it had not been the Lord who was on our side,”

Let Israel now say, 2 “If it had not been the Lord who was on our side

When men rose up against us,” (124:1-2)

The Psalmist repeats the expression “If it had not been the Lord who was on our side…”, which had a special significance, as C.H. Spurgeon explains:

 “This repetition is not in vain. For whilst we are in danger, our fear is without measure; but when it is once past, we imagine it to have been less than it was indeed. And this is the delusion of Satan, to diminish and obscure the grace of God.” (Luther, cited in Spurgeon)

Also the phrase ‘had been on our side’ (hayah lanu) is the past tense of Immanuel (‘God is with us’). Isn’t that amazing? He is and always will be with His people!

These first verses express the deliverance from the attack of men, most likely during the time of war and if it wasn’t for the Lord, the Psalmist expressed that:

“Then they would have [quickly] swallowed us alive, when their wrath was kindled against us; 4 Then the waters would have engulfed us, the torrent would have swept over our soul; 5 Then the raging waters would have swept over our soul.” (124:3-5 AMP)

Although most of us have not had the experience of physically been fighting in a war, I can remember a couple of times I was fighting in a terrible spiritual war! (Ephesians 6:12)  I felt hopeless…. that there was no escape from my own mistakes; from the consequences of my sin and shame! I can picture myself like a little bird at the mercy of Satan who had me captive (as in a cage) and only until I cried for deliverance with a humble and repentant heart, the Lord heard and saved me! If it wasn’t for the Lord’s Saving Grace and forgiveness, I don’t know what would have been of my life!!

⁶ Blessed be the Lord, Who has not given us as prey to be torn by their teeth.⁷ We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers; The trap is broken and we have escaped.” (124:6-7)

-How about you: do you feel you are in the middle of a raging war and that your enemy has taken ground and is about to “swallow” you alive?

Let me encourage you to cry out to the Lord from the bottom of your heart, for as David mentions in these last verses:

⁸ Our help is in the name of the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.” (124:8)

He also made you for a special purpose! AND He loves you!

“By this the love of God was displayed in us, in that God has sent His [One and] only begotten Son [the One who is truly unique, the only One of His kind] into the world so that we might live through Him. ¹⁰ In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation [that is, the atoning sacrifice, and the satisfying offering] for our sins [fulfilling God’s requirement for justice against sin and placating His wrath]” (1 John 4:10-11 AMP)

Remember Jesus said He would never leave us, nor forsake us! He is Immanuel, God with us! Jesus gave His precious life to deliver us from our enemy, for once and for all!

“By this we know [and have come to understand the depth and essence of His precious] love: that He [willingly] laid down His life for us [because He loved us]. And we ought to lay down our lives for the believers. (1 John 3:16 AMP)

Thank you Heavenly Father for Your amazing love for us! If it wasn’t for you Lord, if it wasn’t for you!! Thank you for rescuing our lives from perishing in the hands of our enemy! Forgive me for the times I feel there is no way of escaping the troubles I may be facing, forgetting that only in You I find the answer and the victory to my problems! Your Word teaches us that “You are love, and the one who abides in love abides in You, and You abide continually in us…” and that “¹⁷ In this [union and fellowship with Him], love is completed and perfected with us (1 John 4:16b-17). May I continually seek you and abide in you! May I always display Your love to others, as You have loved us! In Jesus‘ Name we pray! Amen!

Mari