BSB
Psalms 124
1A song of ascents. Of David. If the LORD had not been on our side—let Israel now declare—
2if the LORD had not been on our side when men attacked us,
3when their anger flared against us, then they would have swallowed us alive,
4then the floods would have engulfed us, then the torrent would have overwhelmed us,
5then the raging waters would have swept us away.
6Blessed be the LORD, who has not given us as prey to their teeth.
7We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowler; the net is torn, and we have slipped away.
8Our help is in the name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
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Birds: (Snaring) Designs of the Wicked Psalm 124:7
We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowler; the net is torn, and we have slipped away.
Creation: Leads to Confidence Psalm 124:8
Our help is in the name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
Faith: Exemplified Psalm 124:8
Our help is in the name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
Flying Psalm 124:7
We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowler; the net is torn, and we have slipped away.
God: Creator Psalm 124:8
Our help is in the name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
God: Preserver Psalm 124:1–8
A song of ascents. Of David. If the LORD had not been on our side—let Israel now declare— / if the LORD had not been on our side when men attacked us, / when their anger flared against us, then they would have swallowed us alive,
Persecution of the Righteous: Deliverance From Psalm 124:1
A song of ascents. Of David. If the LORD had not been on our side—let Israel now declare—
Praise is Due to God on Account of Deliverance Psalm 124:6
Blessed be the LORD, who has not given us as prey to their teeth.
Praise: Psalms of, for God's Goodness to Israel Psalm 124:1
A song of ascents. Of David. If the LORD had not been on our side—let Israel now declare—
Psalms: Thanksgiving Psalm 124:1
A song of ascents. Of David. If the LORD had not been on our side—let Israel now declare—
Water of Persecutors Psalm 124:4, 5
then the floods would have engulfed us, then the torrent would have overwhelmed us, / then the raging waters would have swept us away.
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary
Historical, contextual, and verse-level study notes for deeper biblical exploration.
Psalms 124:1-8 The writer, for the Church, praises God for past, and
expresses trust for future, deliverance from foes.
Psalms 124:1-2 Verses 1-2
on our side--for us (Ps 56:9). now--or, "oh! let Israel"
Psalms 124:2 Verse 2
rose ... against, &c.--(Ps 3:1; 56:11).
Psalms 124:3 Verse 3
Then--that is, the time of our danger. quick--literally, "living" (Nu 16:32, 33), description of ferocity.
Psalms 124:4-5 Verses 4-5
(Compare Ps 18:4, 16).
Psalms 124:5 Verse 5
The epithet proud added to waters denotes insolent enemies.
Psalms 124:6-7 Verses 6-7
The figure is changed to that of a rapacious wild beast (Ps 3:7), and then of a fowler (Ps 91:3), and complete escape is denoted by breaking the net.
Psalms 124:8 Verse 8
(Compare Ps 121:2). name--in the usual sense (Ps 5:11; 20:1). He thus places over against the great danger the omnipotent God, and drowns, as it were in an anthem, the wickedness of the whole world and of hell, just as a great fire consumes a little drop of water [Luther]. PSALM 125
Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
Pastoral and devotional reflections focused on spiritual formation and application.
Psalms 124:1-5 Verses 1-5
God suffers the enemies of his people sometimes to prevail very far against them, that his power may be seen the more in their deliverance. Happy the people whose God is Jehovah, a God all-sufficient. Besides applying this to any particular deliverance wrought in our days and the ancient times, we should have in our thoughts the great work of redemption by Jesus Christ, by which believers were rescued from Satan.
Psalms 124:6-8 Verses 6-8
God is the Author of all our deliverances, and he must have the glory. The enemies lay snares for God's people, to bring them into sin and trouble, and to hold them there. Sometimes they seem to prevail; but in the Lord let us put our trust, and we shall not be put to confusion. The believer will ascribe all the honour of his salvation, to the power, mercy, and truth of God, and look back with wonder and thanksgiving on the way in which the Lord has led him. Let us rejoice that our help for the time to come is in him who made heaven and earth.