The Lord is For Us!

Psalm 124:title–Psalm 125 NASB95

A Song of Ascents, of David. 1 “Had it not been the Lord who was on our side,” Let Israel now say, 2 “Had it not been the Lord who was on our side When men rose up against us, 3 Then they would have swallowed us alive, When their anger was kindled against us; 4 Then the waters would have engulfed us, The stream would have swept over our soul; 5 Then the raging waters would have swept over our soul.” 6 Blessed be the Lord, Who has not given us to be torn by their teeth. 7 Our soul has escaped as a bird out of the snare of the trapper; The snare is broken and we have escaped. 8 Our help is in the name of the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. A Song of Ascents. 1 Those who trust in the Lord Are as Mount Zion, which cannot be moved but abides forever. 2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem, So the Lord surrounds His people From this time forth and forever. 3 For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest upon the land of the righteous, So that the righteous will not put forth their hands to do wrong. 4 Do good, O Lord, to those who are good And to those who are upright in their hearts. 5 But as for those who turn aside to their crooked ways, The Lord will lead them away with the doers of iniquity. Peace be upon Israel.

This Psalm is intended to move the minds of God’s people toward a deep admiration and adoration of GOD, as they migrate toward the house of worship. I will encourage each of us as well to be mindful of GOD and his divine benefits, as you receive the spirit emotion and praise in this passage to thank GOD for rescuing us from the enemy. The Psalmist gives us two pictures of a crisis with enemies of God’s people, and there are three responses to the Lord that I want us to take away and fasten to our hearts.

Had it not been for the Lord (Acknowledgement)

Who is for us

A collective acknowledgement

Crisis: Not if, but when the enemy rose - Enemy described as rising waters - The enemy will swell up on us

We would have drown

Application: Felt like you were about to drown from the hatred and inflamed attacks from evil people. When we look back, we should now acknowledge “Had it not been for the Lord!!!”

Blessed be the Lord (Praise)

Crisis: Picture of a predator hunting

A bird caught, but miraculously escapes - GOD is control

Application: At times we haven’t recognized the enemy luring us into a trap. Set up decoys that attract us, deceive us thinking it’s holy and right, yet paralyzing our functionality.

Example: Sleep, having a dream, your mind and eyes are 80% awake, but you can’t move. Then all of a sudden, GOD blesses you to escape that paralysis! Demonstrating his divine control!

What should be our response? “Blessed be the Lord!!!”

Our help is in the name of the Lord (Trust)

Whatever assistance in our live, for our lives, depends on GOD

His name

More than what we call him

It’s his track record - Demonstrates his faithfulness

Clarification (In case one doesn’t know which Lord): The supreme ruler who created everything

Application: Whatever, whenever the enemy has come against our lives, GOD has demonstrated his power. Because of it, we have survived!

What should be our response? “Our help is in the name of the Lord!!!”