Psalms 124
A thanksgiving psalm for deliverance from overwhelming enemies.
Psalm 124 opens with a repeated conditional, "If it had not been the LORD who was on our side," as Israel reflects on how close they came to being swallowed up or overwhelmed by rising waters. The chapter's rescue theme echoes Romans 8:31's question of who can stand against a people God defends.
A song of degrees, or Psalme of David. If the Lord had not bene on our side, (may Israel now say)
If the Lord had not bene on our side, when men rose vp against vs,
They had then swallowed vs vp quicke, when their wrath was kindled against vs.
Then the waters had drowned vs, and the streame had gone ouer our soule:
Then had the swelling waters gone ouer our soule.
Praysed be the Lord, which hath not giuen vs as a praye vnto their teeth.
Our soule is escaped, euen as a bird out of the snare of the foulers: the snare is broken, and we are deliuered.
Our helpe is in the Name of the Lord, which hath made heauen and earth.