God Our Defender

God Our Defender

Psalm 124:1-8

This is the fifth song in a series of songs called “Songs of Ascents” or “Songs of Degrees”. The previous psalm was about looking to God in hope of deliverance in the future. This psalm looks to the deliverances God has provided in the past and expresses joyous praise for those times of deliverance and also reveals confidence in God’s ability to help in times of trouble. David is identified as the author.

I. The Lord is on our side. (1-5)

A. Our enemies would have overcome us.

B. We would have been swallowed alive.

C. We would have drowned in a flood.

D. We would have been swept away by a torrent

II. The Lord is our helper. (6-7)

A. We have been rescued from the jaws of death. (6)

B. We escaped from the snare that traps. (7)

III. The Lord is capable of helping. (8)

A. The name of the LORD represents His character and power.

B. God created heaven and earth so nothing is more powerful than He.

We don’t know the historical setting for this psalm. It could have been at any of a number of troubled times recorded in the Bible or even not recorded. It could apply to any one of us here. How?

Take the conditional proposition offered in this psalm and fill in the blank:

If God had not been on my side, then ______________________ and then ______

______________ and then _________________________.

Remember how many things God has already brought you through.

Praise Him for those past experiences, good and bad.

Trust Him to do it again, and again, and again.

Thank Him by living up to all that the “name” implies.