If not for the Lord

Many times I have heard a believer say “If it were not for the Lord”. Often it is an older believer. It seems that the longer the saint lives the more they recognize their need for God. This Psalm reminds us what life would be like if we did not have the Lord. It is attributed to David. While the superscriptions are not inspired, we have no real reason to believe the Psalm was not written by him. In his early days David faced enemies such as the Philistines who sought to destroy him and the nation. The Psalm is written in such a way that Israel could relate to it at any point in history. The Christian can relate to it as well.

1. God has been actively involved in our lives (1-2).

I want us to notice an insight into worship in the Old Covenant. Notice verse 1. We have a worship leader saying, “If it had not been the Lord who was on our side”.

Then he says, “Let Israel now say”.

There were very few copies of God’s Word in those days. As well most people were illiterate. Worship was done differently. We have our hymnbook and our screens. How did the people of God worship back then? They followed the worship leader.

He would say something, and the people would repeat it. We see the same thing in Psalm 129:1.

He would say some words then tell them to repeat them. This is how songs were sung and how they were learned.

The word if is important. The Lord was on their side but they thought in a hypothetical way. What if God had not been on their side.

Do you ever slow down enough to think about how your life would be without God?

“on our side” means they are in covenant with God. God is not on our side unless we are in covenant with Him. He is not on everyone’s side. If we are saved the Lord is on our side.

Romans 8:31 says If God be for us who can be against us?

But what if we were not saved? You might wonder why we would even think about this? I’ll tell you why. If you start thinking about what it would be like to not be saved, you will praise God you are saved.

“Rose up against us” Think of all the nations that have tried to destroy Israel. Their existence is a marvel. They have survived war after war.

One of the great names of Jesus is Immanuel. That means God is with us. God came to the earth in the form of a human. He came to save us.

Think if Christ had not come.

What if we had an Old Testament but not a New Testament. What if all we had were verses like:

The soul that sinneth it shall surely die.

But Christ has come. We recognize that He has been involved not only in saving us but in protecting us as well. Spend time meditating on all God has been to you. Think back over your life of the goodness of God. Think of what your life would have been like without God. Then praise Him that He has been there for you.

2. Without God we would have nothing (3-6).

He uses two analogies to describe what life would have been like if God had not been on their side:

The analogy of being eaten by a wild animal.

The analogy of being destroyed by water.

Let’s start with the analogy of the animal. Notice this section is bracketed by the reference to the animal.

Verses 3 and 6 are the animal analogy.

Verses 4-5 are the water analogy.

He says in verse 4 they would have been swallowed up alive.

Being eaten alive is a cruel thing. Notice the enemies are angry. They are animalistic in their attitude and their behavior. Nature shows are not for the tender of heart. Most predators do not wait until their prey is dead before they begin consuming it. I will admit that the older I get the more difficult killing an animal becomes.

When hunting I want to be sure my shot is ethical and leads to a quick death.

When cleaning a fish, I want the animal to be expired.

Compassion for living things is a human trait that reflects the image of God. Israel’s enemies were often more like animals than people.

Look at verse 6. He praises the Lord that they have been delivered from the teeth of their enemies. Torture was common among Israel’s enemies. We remember how the Philistines gouged out the eyes of Samson. In the New Testament we see the cruelty of the Romans as they killed people by nailing them to a cross.

Our great enemy is Satan. He is described as being like a roaring lion seeking to devour us. Satan asked for Peter, but the Lord would not allow Satan to devour Peter (Luke 22:31).

Satan may tempt us.

Satan may test us.

Satan may afflict us.

Satan will never devour us.

Now let’s look at the water analogy.

The flood would have swept us away.

The torrent would have gone over us.

Over us would have gone the raging water.

In that area of the world floods were a very dangerous thing. Because of the landscape flash floods could do a lot of damage. That damage could come from overflowing rivers or dry creek and riverbeds filling up. The damage would include crops, livestock, homes and even human life.

Jesus gave a parable that illustrated this. At the end of the

Sermon on the Mount. He said those who build on a rock do

not have to worry about the floods. But those who build on

sand will lose everything when the floods come (Matthew

7:21-27).

Without Christ everything we are, have accomplished, and acquired will be swept away.

What does it prophet a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul?

How awful it would be to lose ourselves and everything. Through Christ we are kept. We are not swept away.

Through Christ we are not submerged.

Think of Pharaoh’s army at the Red Sea.

Think of the people in Noah’s day.

These people were submerged. They died. They were judged.

In our baptism we have a picture of God’s salvation. We are submerged symbolizing death. We are raised symbolizing resurrection. Thank God we do not stay beneath the waters!

Our enemies would have us swallowed up!

Our enemies would have us swept away and submerged!

God will not allow it. God preserves us.

Everything we have is because of God.

What do you have friend? I know you have your life and your salvation but what about other things?

What about that house you live in?

What about that car you drive?

What about that money in the bank?

What about those children and grandchildren?

If Satan had his way all that would be swept away and you with it. Thank God we have what we have.

3. We should praise God for His help (7-8).

A picture is given of a bird caught in a snare in verse 7. Someone comes along and breaks the snare and the bird escapes. The Psalmist says that is how we are.

Have you ever seen an animal in a situation like this?

A turtle turned on its back

A bird caught in a net

A deer hung up on a fence

The animal is helpless. You, because you are smarter and have thumbs can release the animal.

When it comes to sin we are as foolish and helpless as a bird. Satan traps us easily. We have no way to free ourselves. God has had mercy on us. In the Person of Christ He has come to set us free through the cross.

Even after we are saved we find ourselves in his trap. The Lord delivers us each time. God has destroyed the trap. He has conquered the work of Satan. He gives us His Holy Spirit and His Word. Without the wisdom of the Word and the power of the Spirit we would stay entangled in the traps of Satan.

“Our help is in the name of the Lord”

The great Creator God helps us.

Do we praise God for delivering us from Satan?

Do we praise Him each day for the help He gives us in overcoming the world, the flesh, and the devil?

Without God we are a pitiful people. If the Lord were not on our side we would be in trouble. He deserves our praise.