Psalms 124
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Psalms 124
If It Had Not Been the LORD Who Was on Our Side
1If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say;
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
PSALM 124
Psa 124:1-8. The writer, for the Church, praises God for past, and expresses trust for future, deliverance from foes.
1-2. on our side--for us (Psa 56:9).
now--or, "oh! let Israel"
PSALM 124
Psa 124:1-8. The writer, for the Church, praises God for past, and expresses trust for future, deliverance from foes.
1-2. on our side--for us (Psa 56:9).
now--or, "oh! let Israel"
The Pulpit Commentary
If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, now may Israel say; rather, now let Israel say (Kay, Cheyne, Revised Version).
If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, now may Israel say; rather, now let Israel say (Kay, Cheyne, Revised Version).
2If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us:
The Pulpit Commentary
If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when men rose up against us. The "rising" intended may have been that of Saul and his aiders and abettors, or that of the Ammonites and Syrians (2Sa_10:6-8), or that of Absalom and his partisans (2Sa_15:2-13).
If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when men rose up against us. The "rising" intended may have been that of Saul and his aiders and abettors, or that of the Ammonites and Syrians (2Sa_10:6-8), or that of Absalom and his partisans (2Sa_15:2-13).
3Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us:
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
3. Then--that is, the time of our danger.
quick--literally, "living" (Nu 16:32, 33), description of ferocity.
3. Then--that is, the time of our danger.
quick--literally, "living" (Nu 16:32, 33), description of ferocity.
The Pulpit Commentary
Then they had swallowed us up quick; or, "alive." A common expression for sudden and complete destruction (comp. Psa_56:2; Psa_57:3; Pro_1:12; Lam_2:2, Lam_2:5, Lam_2:8, etc.). When their wrath was kindled against us; or, "blazed out against us." The comparison of anger to fire is an almost universal commonplace.
Then they had swallowed us up quick; or, "alive." A common expression for sudden and complete destruction (comp. Psa_56:2; Psa_57:3; Pro_1:12; Lam_2:2, Lam_2:5, Lam_2:8, etc.). When their wrath was kindled against us; or, "blazed out against us." The comparison of anger to fire is an almost universal commonplace.
4Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul:
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
4-5. (Compare Psa 18:4, 16).
4-5. (Compare Psa 18:4, 16).
The Pulpit Commentary
Then the waters had overwhelmed us. A sudden and startling change of metaphor. In the quick transition of Oriental thought, the fire becomes a flood—an irresistible torrent-stream, carrying all before it (comp. Psa_18:4; Psa_144:7). The stream had gone over our soul; i.e. "had mounted up over our heads, and stifled our breath of life."
Then the waters had overwhelmed us. A sudden and startling change of metaphor. In the quick transition of Oriental thought, the fire becomes a flood—an irresistible torrent-stream, carrying all before it (comp. Psa_18:4; Psa_144:7). The stream had gone over our soul; i.e. "had mounted up over our heads, and stifled our breath of life."
5Then the proud waters had gone over our soul.
The Pulpit Commentary
Then the proud waters had gone over our soul. "Proud" of effecting our destruction.
Then the proud waters had gone over our soul. "Proud" of effecting our destruction.
6Blessed be the LORD, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
6-7. The figure is changed to that of a rapacious wild beast (Psa 3:7), and then of a fowler (Psa 91:3), and complete escape is denoted by breaking the net.
6-7. The figure is changed to that of a rapacious wild beast (Psa 3:7), and then of a fowler (Psa 91:3), and complete escape is denoted by breaking the net.
The Pulpit Commentary
Blessed be the Lord, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth. We are not devoured—we are not "swallowed up"—thanks to the interposition of the merciful and gracious Lord, to whom therefore praise and blessing are due.
Blessed be the Lord, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth. We are not devoured—we are not "swallowed up"—thanks to the interposition of the merciful and gracious Lord, to whom therefore praise and blessing are due.
7Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped.
The Pulpit Commentary
Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers (comp. Psa_91:3; Psa_140:5; Psa_141:10). Another metaphor. We have been like birds taken in the "snare," or net, of a fowler. But now we are escaped—not, however, of our own strength or of our own cleverness. The snare is broken for us by God's providence, and so we are escaped.
Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers (comp. Psa_91:3; Psa_140:5; Psa_141:10). Another metaphor. We have been like birds taken in the "snare," or net, of a fowler. But now we are escaped—not, however, of our own strength or of our own cleverness. The snare is broken for us by God's providence, and so we are escaped.
8Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
8. (Compare Psa 121:2).
name--in the usual sense (Psa 5:11; 20:1). He thus places over against the great danger the omnipotent God, and drowns, as it were in an anthem, the wickedness of the whole world and of hell, just as a great fire consumes a little drop of water [Luther].
8. (Compare Psa 121:2).
name--in the usual sense (Psa 5:11; 20:1). He thus places over against the great danger the omnipotent God, and drowns, as it were in an anthem, the wickedness of the whole world and of hell, just as a great fire consumes a little drop of water [Luther].
The Pulpit Commentary
Our help is in the Name of the Lord. "Our help is," and has always been, "in the Name"—i.e. in the manifested might—"of the Lord." It is he that has been "on our side," that has "helped" us, saved us, and delivered us. Who made heaven and earth (comp. Psa_121:2; Psa_134:3).
Our help is in the Name of the Lord. "Our help is," and has always been, "in the Name"—i.e. in the manifested might—"of the Lord." It is he that has been "on our side," that has "helped" us, saved us, and delivered us. Who made heaven and earth (comp. Psa_121:2; Psa_134:3).
THE HOLY BIBLE
Psalms
Chapter 124
Translated out of the original tongues, and with the former translations diligently compared and revised.
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