Psalm 124

[ayin jade]

This is one of the fifteen psalms, Psalms 120–134, to each of which is prefixed the title “A Song of Degrees.” Four of these psalms are ascribed to David, one of them to Solomon, and the rest are by unknown authors.

There has been a great diversity of opinion as to the meaning of the title, and the reason why it was prefixed to these psalms. In other bible studies on this series of psalms, I examined the diverse views scholars applied to the meaning of Song of Degrees or Song of Ascent. I will briefly post on it below.

Song of Degrees or Song of Ascent - Also called Song of Steps. A title given to 15 psalms (Psalms 120-134). There are several interpretations of what it refers to. One such view suggests they were sung as one went up a set of stairs in the temple, unlikely, as at least four were written before there was a temple with steps. Tourists today often read the 15 psalms as they climb the Southern Steps of the Second Temple. Rabbinic tradition does not associate these stairs with the Songs of Degrees. Another unlikely view is that it refers to the step-like progressive rhythm of their thoughts. Other scholars suppose that the title is a musical term, and that the reference is to something special in the rhythm, which in the East would be called “steps” or “ascents.” Some early church fathers suggested they are traveling songs of the returning exiles, although many of them indicate they are meant for the temple. The prevailing view is that the hymns were sung by pilgrim bands on their way to the three great festivals of the Jewish year. The journey to Jerusalem was called a “going up,” regardless of which direction they came from.

Exodus 34:24  For I will cast out the nations before thee, and enlarge thy borders: neither shall any man desire thy land, when thou shalt go up to appear before the LORD thy God thrice in the year. 

1 Kings 12:27  If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah. 

Psalm 122:1  A Song of degrees of David. I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD. 

Many scholars refer to this collection of psalms as Pilgrim Psalms. All of the songs of degrees fit these annual pilgrimages. In reality, it is impossible to say for sure which is the correct meaning behind the phrase “Song of Degrees.”

This psalm, one of the “Songs of Degrees,” is, like Psa_122, ascribed to David. In our present Hebrew copies this Psalm is attributed to David. This attribution is wanting in three versions of the ancient texts and also in the Septuagint. There is nothing in this psalm to contradict the view that it was composed by him, but it is now impossible to ascertain on what occasion it was written.

The idea in the psalm is, that deliverance from trouble and danger is to be ascribed wholly to God; that the people of God are often in such circumstances that there is no human help for them, and that the praise of theft deliverance is due to God alone.

Verses 1-4 are a thanksgiving of the godly for extraordinary deliverances. Verse 7 mentions the great danger they were in. Verse 8 speaks of their confidence in God.

The Psalms 122 and 123 lead up to the joy expressed in this psalm, praising the Lord for deliverance from the sorrows expressed in the previous 2 psalms.

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Psa 124:1  A Song of degrees of David. If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say; 

If it had not been the Lord who was on our side - The idea is, that someone had been with them, and had delivered them, and that such was the nature of the interposition that it could be ascribed to no one but the Lord. It bore unmistakable evidence that it was His work. The deliverance was of such a kind that it could have been accomplished by Him only. Such things often occur in life, when the intervention in our behalf is so remarkable that we can ascribe it to no one else but God.

Now may Israel say - May well and truly say. The danger was so great, their helplessness was so manifest, and the deliverance was so clearly the work of God, that it was proper to say that if this had not occurred, ruin would have been inevitable and entire.

Now may Israel say - Israel is to give thanks to God for past help and express confidence in His continuing help. Twice in the first two verses of this psalm, Israel is entreated to recognize that their help was in God alone.

Psa 124:2  If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us: 

If it had not been the Lord who was on our side - This he repeats both for the confirmation of it, and to excite the attention of the Israelites to it; as well as to observe that it was not once only, but again and again, many times the Lord appeared to be on their side.

When men rose up against us - When we were assailed by our enemies. On what occasion this occurred, it is now impossible to determine.

Psa 124:3  Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us: 

Then they had swallowed us up quick - The word quick here means alive; and the idea is derived from persons swallowed up in an earthquake, or by the opening of the earth, as in the case of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. Num_16:32-33. The meaning here is, that they would have been destroyed as if they were swallowed up by the opening of the earth; that is, there would have been complete destruction.

Then they had swallowed us up quick - Or "alive"; as the earth swallowed up Korah and his company; or as the fish swallowed up Jonah; or rather as ravenous beasts swallow their prey; to which the allusion is. The people of God are comparable to sheep and lambs, and such like innocent creatures: and the wicked to lions, tigers, wolves, bears, and such like beasts of prey that devour living creatures;

When their wrath was kindled against us - Wrath is often represented in the Scriptures as burning or heated - as that which consumes all before it.

when their wrath was kindled against us - which is cruel and outrageous; there is no standing against it, nor before it; it is like a fierce flame of fire that burns furiously, and there is no stopping it; none but God can restrain it.

 

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Psa 124:4  Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul: 

Then the waters had overwhelmed us - People, comparable to waters for their multitude, Strength, force, and impetuosity; which bear down all before them, and against which there is no standing; which, like the waters of the flood, overflow and destroy all they pass over. These are the floods of ungodly men, which are very destructive and terrible; Rev 17:15  And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. Psa 18:4  The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid. Together with all those reproaches, afflictions, and persecutions, which come along with them; which the presence of God only can bear up his people under, and carry them through. Psa 18:16  He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters. 

Then the waters had overwhelmed us - The metaphor of water as a destructive force is common in the Old Testament

Psa 42:7  Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.

Psa 69:1-2  To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, A Psalm of David. Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul. I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. 

Psa 69:15  Let not the waterflood overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me. 

Lam 3:54  Waters flowed over mine head; then I said, I am cut off. 

the stream had gone over our soul - and so deprived them of life; the whole force of the enemy; which, like a stream, flows in with great strength and rapidity, when a breach is made and spreads itself. It refers to the enemies of God's people in general, which threaten their ruin, even their very souls and lives: it may be applied to the stream of corruptions, the flood of temptation and flow of persecutions.

Psa 124:5  Then the proud waters had gone over our soul. 

Then the proud waters had gone over our soul - The word proud here is applied to the waters as if raging, swelling, rolling, tumultuous; as if they were self-confident, arrogant, haughty. Such raging billows, as they break and dash upon the shore, are a striking embIem of human passions, whether in an individual, or in a gathering of men - as an army, or a mob. Compare to Psa 65:7  Which stilleth the noise of the seas, the noise of their waves, and the tumult of the people.  This is a poetical embellishment, adding intensity to the expression.

Then the proud waters had gone over our soul. The wicked, who, through their pride, persecute the poor saints: these proud tyrants and persecutors would prevail over them, to their ruin and destruction; who, for their number, force, and strength, and especially for their pride, haughtiness, and insolence, are like to the strong, boisterous, and swelling waves of the sea.

Psa 124:6  Blessed be the LORD, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth. 

Blessed be the Lord - They have reason to praise the Lord because they have been delivered from these calamities. Thanksgiving for deliverance from all their enemies, their proud persecutors; and from all afflictions and troubles by them; which they could never have been delivered from, had not the Lord appeared for them; and therefore it is but just that He should have all the glory of it, and be blessed and praised on account thereof;

Blessed be the Lord - 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 honor 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.

Who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth - The figure is here changed, though the same idea is retained. The image is now that of destruction by wild beasts - a form of destruction not less fearful than that which comes from overflowing waters. Such changes of imagery constantly occur in the Book of Psalms. The mind is full of a subject; numerous illustrations occur in the rapidity of thought; and the mind seizes upon one and then upon another as best suited to express the emotions of the soul. The next verse furnishes another instance of this sudden transition.

 

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Psa 124:7  Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped. 

Our soul is escaped - They have escaped; their lives have been preserved. The bird is entangled, but the net breaks, and the bird escapes.

Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare - This is a fine image; and at once shows the weakness of the Jews, and the cunning of their adversaries. There was no apparent prospect of their escape: but the Lord was on their side.

Today, satan, and wicked men under his influence, are like fowlers who lay snares for the people of God, to draw them into sin, into immorality and error, in order to bring them to ruin and destruction; hence we read of the snare of the devil and of wicked men, 1Ti 3:7  Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. 

2Ti 2:26  And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. and who form plans and lay schemes to oppress and destroy; but through the wisdom given them to discern these devices and stratagems, and through the power of divine grace, accompanying them, they escape what was intended for their hurt.

The snare is broken - It was not strong enough to retain the struggling bird, and the captive broke away. So they seemed to be caught. The enemy appeared to have them entirely in his power, but escape came as it does to the bird when it finds the net suddenly break, and itself again at large. Measures concerted by wicked men are broken, their schemes are confounded, their devices are disappointed, so that they cannot perform their enterprise; and by this means the saints escape the evils designed against them, the afflictions of the world, and the temptations of satan.

Psa 124:8  Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth. 

Our help is in the name of the Lord - This is the conclusion the psalmist reaches: that help is in the Lord only, and not in any creature; and that it is right to put trust and confidence in the Lord for it, and only to expect it from Him. Pro 18:10  The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. 

Who made heaven and earth - The great Creator; the true God. Deliverance can be ascribed to Him alone.Often in life, when delivered from danger, we may feel this; we always may feel this, and should feel this, when we think of the redemption of our souls. That is a work which we of ourselves could never have performed; which could not have been done for us by our fellow-men; which all creation combined could not have worked out; which could have been effected by no one but by Him who “made heaven and earth;” by Him who created all things. Col 1:12  Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 

Col 1:13  Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 

Col 1:14  In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

Col 1:15  Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 

Col 1:16  For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 

Col 1:17  And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 

who made heaven and earth - and therefore must be able to help His people, and to do more for them than they are able to ask or think: for what is it He cannot do that made the heavens and the earth, and all that is in them? Psa 121:1  A Song of degrees. I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. 

Psa 121:2  My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.