Bible Commentaries

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

Ver. 1. If it had not been the Lord, &c.] God may far better say than our Henry VIII, Cui adhaereo, praeest, He whose part I take is sure to prevail. But Christ hath ever been the Church’s champion, and hence she is insuperable. The Chaptain of the Lord’s hosts is Captain of our salvation, Joshua 5:14, Hebrews 2:10.

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

Ver. 2. When men rose] Monsters rather; but such as think themselves the only men alive, and us the only slaves and zanies.

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

Ver. 3. Then had they swallowed us up quick] As the great fish do the little ones, as hungry lions, or wolves, ravin up their prey. Ptolemy Lathurus, king of Egypt, slew thirty thousand Jews, and compelled the living to feed upon the dead. Adrian the emperor made a decree, that he who had not slain a Jew should himself be slain (Gualth Praef. in Marc. R. Obad. Gaon in Psalms 124:1-8).

When their wrath was kindled against us] Heb. in the flagrancies or inflammations of their anger.

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

Ver. 4. Then the waters had overwhelmed us] As once the Red Sea did the Egyptians, or as the general deluge did the old world.

The stream had gone over our soul] Neither could we have withstood it by any art or industry.

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

Ver. 5. Then the proud waters, &c.] The same again, to note the greatness both of the danger and of the deliverance. And it may teach us not lightly to pass over God’s great blessings, but to make the most of them.

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

Ver. 6. Blessed be the Lord, &c.] Deo gratias, thanks be to God was much in Austin’s mouth, and should be so in ours, but especially upon some signal deliverance. How was God blessed at Berachah? 2 Chronicles 20:26

As a prey to their teeth] Who meant to have made but a breakfast of us, and had already devoured us in their hopes, but God defeated them.

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

Ver. 7. Our soul is escaped, &c.] Man’s extremity is God’s opportunity. See Genesis 22:14, Ezekiel 37:11, 2 Kings 19:3-4.

The snare is broken, &c.] God hath with as much ease delivered us as a bird net is broken.

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

Ver. 8. Our help is in the name of the Lord, &c.] Experience should breed confidence, Romans 5:4-5, 2 Corinthians 1:10, Psalms 48:14, Genesis 22:10-11, &c.; write up experiences therefore, oft rub them over, and then conclude as here, and as Philippians 1:6, 2 Timothy 4:17-18.

Who hath made heaven and earth] God’s power is the prop of our faith, and pricks on to prayer; commit we ourselves to him as to a faithful Creator, 1 Peter 4:19, of infinite might and mercy; and say, as those good souls, as Aben Ezra, Hitherto God hath helped us; he hath, and therefore he will, &c.