1. If not for the Lord… Psa 124 A Song of Ascents. Of David.
Written by the great king David
Sung by Hebrew pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem (up Mount Zion)

2. 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.
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, & we have escaped!
8 Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made
heaven & earth.
If not
for the
Lord…
Psa 124
Song of
Ascents.
Of David.

3. Projection
If not for the
Lord, we will
be destroyed
Proclamation
Praise be to
the Lord who
delivered us
Proposition
Our help is
in the Lord
Metaphor 1
Raging waters
Metaphor 2
A trapped bird
Psalm 124
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.
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, & we have escaped!
8 Our help is in the name of the Lord,
who made heaven & earth.

4. If not for the Lord, we will be destroyed
Israel faced powerful enemies whose intense aggression could have resulted in
probable devastation
Projection (v.1-3)
If not for the Lord, we will be destroyed
Metaphor 1 (v.4-5)
Raging waters
Psalm 124
2 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.

5. come & spread out in the Valley of Rephaim.
c.f. 2 Samuel 5
17 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, all the Philistines went
up to search for David. But David heard of it & went down to the stronghold. 18 Now the Philistines had
come & spread out in the Valley of Rephaim.
19 And David inquired of the Lord, "Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?" And the Lord said to David, "Go up, for I will certainly give
the Philistines into your hand.” 20 And David came
to Baal-perazim, & David defeated them there.
And he said, "The Lord has burst through my enemies before me like a bursting flood." Therefore the name of that place is called Baal-perazim. 21 And the Philistines left their idols there, & David & his men carried them away.

6. & come against them opposite the balsam trees.
c.f. 2 Samuel 5
22 And the Philistines came up yet again & spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. 23 And when David inquired of the Lord, he said, "You shall not go up; go around to their rear,
& come against them opposite the balsam trees.
24 And when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then rouse yourself, for then the Lord has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.”
25 And David did as the Lord commanded him,
& struck down the Philistines from Geba to Gezer.

7. If not for the Lord, we will be destroyed
Israel faced powerful enemies whose intense aggression could have resulted in
probable devastation
Projection (v.1-3)
If not for the Lord, we will be destroyed
Metaphor 1 (v.4-5)
Raging waters
Like the potent force, dangers & effects of raging water
Psalm 124
2 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.

8. If not for the Lord, we will be destroyed
Israel faced powerful enemies whose intense aggression could have resulted in
probable devastation
Projection (v.1-3)
If not for the Lord, we will be destroyed
Metaphor 1 (v.4-5)
Raging waters
Like the potent force, dangers & effects of raging water
David (Israel’s great king) acknowledged
God’s presence, not his own power
Psalm 124
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

9. If not for the Lord, we will be destroyed
Israel faced powerful enemies whose intense aggression could have resulted in
probable devastation
Projection (v.1-3)
If not for the Lord, we will be destroyed
Metaphor 1 (v.4-5)
Raging waters
Like the potent force, dangers & effects of raging water
David (Israel’s great king) acknowledged
God’s presence, not his own power
Think back on how the
Lord has preserved us
Remembering
we are vulnerable
Remembering
He is in full control

10. David praised God that He delivered Israel from trouble
on many occasions
Proclamation (v.6)
Praise be to the Lord who delivered us
Metaphor 2 (v.7)
A trapped bird
Psalm 124
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, & we have escaped!

11. David praised God that He delivered Israel from trouble
on many occasions
Proclamation (v.6)
Praise be to the Lord who delivered us
Metaphor 2 (v.7)
A trapped bird
Like a trapped bird
who escaped because
someone broke the net
Psalm 124
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, & we have escaped!

12. David praised God that He delivered Israel from trouble
on many occasions
Proclamation (v.6)
Praise be to the Lord who delivered us
Metaphor 2 (v.7)
A trapped bird
Like a trapped bird
who escaped because
someone broke the net
Give thanks for how the Lord has delivered us
Remembering how He is the deliverer
Remembering how we are delivered

13. David reiterated that God is the source of our help
Proposition (v.8)
Our help is in the Lord
Look up to the Lord,
who made heaven & earth
Remembering His character
Psalm 124
8 Our help is in the name of the Lord,
who made heaven & earth.

14. Dear Chien Chong
Thanks for your concern and prayers.  I am okay,
at present. I will be discharged tomorrow pm.  
The docs have scheduled an operation for me at end Nov to remove the 1.5 cm mass in the pancreas - very “jia lat" operation.  
Will be out of operation after this for about 2 to 3 weeks and then proceed with post operation treatment dependent on what they find from the "parts removed" - benign or malignant (probably will be malignant). 

15. The road ahead will be a challenging one for me but hopefully my ministry will continue unchanged to the glory of God. 
I can make it for the meeting on 17 Nov. Looking forward to my sharing with you all.  Thanks.
Latest info on my medical:
I am home. Will go for medical review by NUH Cancer Centre on Friday am and proceed from there.  Please pray for me.  I am completely at peace with what God plans to me - He has always done the best for me and I see no reason for Him to change His treatment of His loved son.

16. David reiterated that God is the source of our help
Proposition (v.8)
Our help is in the Lord
Look up to the Lord,
who made heaven & earth
Remembering His character
Remembering
He is the creator
Psalm 124
8 Our help is in the name of the Lord,
who made heaven & earth.

17. Stuart Townend & Keith Getty (2001)
In Christ Alone
Stuart Townend & Keith Getty (2001)
No guilt in life, no fear in death, This is the power of Christ in me; From life's first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man, Can ever pluck me from His hand: Till He returns or calls me home, Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.

18. Psa 124 Remembering… Christ we are vulnerable In history & our lives
Projection
If not for the
Lord, we will
be destroyed
Proclamation
Praise be to
the Lord who
delivered us
Proposition
Our help is
in the Lord
Metaphor 1
Raging waters
Metaphor 2
A trapped bird
Remembering…
Christ
Psa 124
we are vulnerable In
history
& our
lives
Think back on
how the Lord has preserved us
He is in
full control
how He is the deliverer
From
sin &
judg-
ment
Give thanks for
how the Lord has delivered us
how we are delivered
His character
Look up to the Lord, who made
heaven & earth
In life
& the
world
He is the
creator