Becoming Confident in God’s Help Songs of Ascent: Practices of the Lifelong Journey Series [5] Psalm 124

Help by The Beatles Help, I need somebody, Help, not just anybody, Help, you know I need someone, help. When I was younger, so much younger than today, I never needed anybody’s help in any way. But now these days are gone, I’m not so self assured, Now I find I’ve changed my mind and opened up the doors. Help me if you can, I’m feeling down And I do appreciate you being round. Help me, get my feet back on the ground, Won’t you please, please help me?

Help by The Beatles And now my life has changed in oh so many ways, My independence seems to vanish in the haze. But every now and then I feel so insecure, I know that I just need you like I’ve never done before. Help me if you can, I’m feeling down And I do appreciate you being round. Help me, get my feet back on the ground, Won’t you please, please help me?

Psalm 124 [ESV] A Song of Ascents. Of David. 1 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 people rose up against us, 3 then they would have swallowed us up alive, when their anger was kindled against us; 4 then the flood would have swept us away, the torrent would have gone over us; 5 then over us would have gone the raging waters.

Psalm 124 [ESV] A Song of Ascents. Of David. 6 Blessed be the LORD, who has not given us as prey to their teeth! 7 We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped! 8 8 Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.

WHEN OUR WORLD FALLS APART Like the Beatles’ song, Psalm 124 is a song about “help” as well—but what’s the difference?  The admission of a desperate need is same.  The openness to receive/seek help is same.  But, the stark difference is CONFIDENCE in the psalmist’s attitude.  What was the psalmist’s [David’s] secret?

KEYS TO BECOMING CONFIDENT IN GOD’S HELP 1)We must REMEMBER how God has been on our side in the past. 1 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 people rose up against us, (vs.1-2)

KEYS TO BECOMING CONFIDENT IN GOD’S HELP 1)We must REMEMBER how God has been on our side in the past.  The repetition of the phrase, “If it had not been the LORD who was on our side” is for intentional emphasis.  Why? Our fallen heart has SPIRITUAL AMNESIA—we forget what God has done for us—even the miracles. This is detrimental to our faith/confidence in God.  Therefore, remembering God’s past help requires intentional practice (e.g., repetition of our confession, building an altar, seasonal rhythms/holy-days, journaling, personal traditions).  If left alone, our soul becomes forgetful, complacent, and ungrateful.

1 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! 2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits Psalm 103:1-2

KEYS TO BECOMING CONFIDENT IN GOD’S HELP 2)We must ACKNOWLEDGE God’s past help for our present condition. 3 then they would have swallowed us up alive, when their anger was kindled against us; 4 then the flood would have swept us away, the torrent would have gone over us; 5 then over us would have gone the raging waters. 6 Blessed be the LORD, who has not given us as prey to their teeth! (vs.3-6)

KEYS TO BECOMING CONFIDENT IN GOD’S HELP 2)We must ACKNOWLEDGE God’s past help for our present condition.  Our journey to God involve “dangers”—in essence, our life is a pilgrimage through battle fields—not tourism through amusement parks.  The psalmist, David’s concern for dangers is from people—his enemies. For us, it is from the Devil and his demons, the world, and the flesh.  The dangers are factual: “swallowing dragons” (v.3) & raging waters (v.5) are the imageries of real dangers.  To trust in God in the hazardous roads means to apply God’s past work into our current situation—remembering, praising God’s work.

16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." Daniel 3:16-18

KEYS TO BECOMING CONFIDENT IN GOD’S HELP 3)We must PUT our confidence in God as our ultimate hope and joy. 7 We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped! 8 Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth. (vs.7-8)

KEYS TO BECOMING CONFIDENT IN GOD’S HELP 3)We must PUT our confidence in God as our ultimate hope and joy.  Our freedom in Christ is “already but not yet” fully ours— therefore, we need to be continually vigilant against the Satan’s snares (temptations, false teachings, pride, etc.)  Our remembrances and acknowledgements of God’s help bring us an undeniable reality of God’s presence in our lives.  Therefore, we no longer have a merely wishful hope for help but confidence in God’s help even when our world falls apart.  How do you know God is on your side? The answer is NOT in our circumstances but in God’s trustworthiness because of his sovereign grace for us in Christ Jesus.

If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Romans 8:31-32

What Defines Our Lives We speak our words of praise in a world that is hellish; we sing our songs of victory in a world where things get messy; we live our joy among people who neither understand nor encourage us. But the content of our lives is God, not man. We are not scavenging in the dark alleys of the world, poking in its garbage cans for a bare subsistence. We are traveling in the light, toward God who is rich in mercy and strong to save. It is Christ, not culture, that defines our lives. It is the help we experience, not the hazards we risk, that shape our days. - Eugene Peterson

Praying the Songs of Ascent #5 -- Psalm 124 [MSG] A Pilgrim Song of David 1-5 If God hadn't been for us —all together now, Israel, sing out!— If God hadn't been for us when everyone went against us, We would have been swallowed alive by their violent anger, Swept away by the flood of rage, drowned in the torrent; We would have lost our lives in the wild, raging water.

Praying the Songs of Ascent #5 -- Psalm 124 [MSG] A Pilgrim Song of David 6 Oh, blessed be God! He didn't go off and leave us. He didn't abandon us defenseless, helpless as a rabbit in a pack of snarling dogs. 7 We've flown free from their fangs, free of their traps, free as a bird. Their grip is broken; we're free as a bird in flight. 8 God's strong name is our help, the same God who made heaven and earth.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS FOR OUR EVERYDAY LIFE 1.Be intentional about REMEMBERING WHAT GOD HAS DONE for you.  Never underestimate the subtlety of spiritual amnesia.  Build spiritual rhythms for remembering God’s help (e.g., journaling, counting the blessings/sharing).  Share your “current” testimony with people around you. 2.Put YOUR CONFIDENCE IN GOD not in people or circumstances.  Be single-minded in your trust.  Be thankful for God’s help for you.  Be persistent in your surrender to God.