1. Psalm 124: When God Is On Your Side
Wisdom From God
Psalm 124: When God Is On Your Side

2. Psalm 124 Today we study Psalm 124, fourth of the Psalms of Ascents.
It is the first of four in the series attributed to David.
It further progresses in the theme of ascension from pleading to God for help, to praising God for the help He’s given.
Offers a kind of thanksgiving to God by proclaiming His graciousness.

3. Who’s Got Your Back In Troubled Times?
National Geographic photographer in dangerous places.
American Sniper – Chris Kyle: “Watch my six!”
Who has our back as we navigate the troubled waters of this world we live in?
We all know the answer. Do we celebrate that fact enough?

4. Palm 124
Stanza 1: verses 1-5
“Had it not been the Lord who was on our side,” let Israel now say, “Had it not been the Lord who was on our side when men rose up against us, then they would have swallowed us alive, when their anger was kindled against us; Then the waters would have engulfed us, the stream would have swept over our soul; then the raging waters would have swept over our soul.”

5. Relief When God Is With Us
What events were in David’s mind? Don’t know, but, what about….
2 Samuel 5:17-25
David newly installed as king after Saul’s death.
Philistines upset because they considered Israel defeated.
They challenge Israel and David turns to God for help.

6. 2 Samuel 5:17-25
“David inquired of the Lord, saying, “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.’” vs. 19
“…You shall not go directly up; circle around behind….It shall be when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then you shall act promptly….” v

7. Romans 8:31
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?
Exodus 14:13-14 – “But Moses said to the people, ‘Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever. The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent.”

8. Contemplative Thought
What if God had NOT been for us?
Two images of the disastrous outcome if God was not for us.
Carnivore imagery
Destructive water imagery

9. Carnivore Imagery
Verse 3: “Then they would have swallowed us alive, when their anger was kindled against us….”
What swallows alive?
A great, horrendous beast with a giant maw.

10. Destructive Water Imagery
Verse 4-5 – “Then the waters would have engulfed us; the stream would have swept over our soul; then the raging waters would have swept over our soul.”
We have a saying: “Barely keeping my head above water.”

11. Psalm 35:25
“Do not let them say in their heart, ‘Aha, our desire!’ Do not let them say, ‘We have swallowed him up!”
May the Lord never allow us to be swallowed up alive by the enemies that are around us.

12. More Water Imagery
Isaiah 8:5-8 – “Again the Lord spoke to me further, saying, ‘Inasmuch as these people have rejected the gently flowing waters of Shiloah and rejoice in Rezin and the son of Remaliah; ‘Now therefore, behold, the Lord is about to bring on them the strong and abundant waters of the Euphrates, even the king of Assyria and all his glory; and it will rise up over all its channels and go over all its banks. Then it will sweep on into Judah, it will overflow and pass through, it will reach even to the neck; and the spread of its wings will fill the breadth of your land, O Immanuel.’”

13. Jeremiah 51:34,36
“Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has devoured me and crushed me, he has set me down like an empty vessel; He has swallowed me like a monster, he has filled his stomach with my delicacies; he has washed me away….Therefore thus says the Lord, ‘Behold, I am going to plead your case and exact full vengeance for you; and I will dry up her sea and make her fountain dry.”
The God who drowns can also cause drought. We need to be on God’s side.

14. When we are delivered by the Lord
Psalm 124:6-8 – “Blessed be the Lord, who has not given us to be torn by their teeth. Our soul has escaped as a bird out of the snare of the trapper; the snare is broken and we have escaped. Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”

15. Bless The Lord For His Deliverance
We are not torn by their teeth
We have escaped from their snares – Because God has broken their snare.
How has God delivered you? Does He still break snares?

16. Psalm 40:1-2, 17
“I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me and heard my cry. He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, and He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm….Since I am afflicted and needy, let the Lord be mindful of me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God.”

17. Psalm 20:1-2
“May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob set you securely on high! May He send you help from the sanctuary and support you from Zion!”

18. God Is Our Help
Psalm 33:20-21 – “Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. For our heart rejoices in Him, because we trust in His holy name.”
We trust in His holy name!

19. Our Help Is The Creator Of The Universe
Jeremiah 32:17 – “Ah Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You…!”
Nothing is too difficult for God!