The Bible — World English Bible
Psalm 124
In brief
Psalm 124 is a song of ascents of David, a song pilgrims sang as they went up to Jerusalem. It rests on a hypothesis: if the Lord had not been on their side, when people rose up against Israel, the people would have been swallowed up, overwhelmed like by floods. The psalmist then blesses God who did not give his people over to their teeth, compares the deliverance to a bird escaped from the snare, and concludes that the people's help is in the name of the Lord, maker of heaven and earth.
The chapter in 3 parts
1If it had not been Yahweh who was on our side, let Israel now say,
2if it had not been Yahweh who was on our side, when men rose up against us;
3then they would have swallowed us up alive, when their wrath was kindled against us;
4then the waters would have overwhelmed us, the stream would have gone over our soul;
5then the proud waters would have gone over our soul.
6Blessed be Yahweh, who has not given us as a prey to their teeth.
7Our soul has escaped like a bird out of the fowler’s snare. The snare is broken, and we have escaped.
8Our help is in Yahweh’s name, who made heaven and earth.
Key verses
If it had not been Yahweh who was on our side, let Israel now say, if it had not been Yahweh who was on our side, when men rose up against us;
The psalm begins with a supposition that lets us measure the danger: without the Lord, everything would have been lost. It invites all Israel to say so aloud.
then the waters would have overwhelmed us, the stream would have gone over our soul; then the proud waters would have gone over our soul.
Waters, torrents and floods picture a danger stronger than the people. The psalmist describes how overwhelmed one feels, in order to make the help of God felt more.
Blessed be Yahweh, who has not given us as a prey to their teeth.
The answer to danger is praise. The psalmist blesses God because he did not let enemies devour his people.
Our soul has escaped like a bird out of the fowler’s snare. The snare is broken, and we have escaped.
The image of the bird escaped from the snare shows that deliverance comes from elsewhere: the snare is broken, the bird did not free itself alone.
Our help is in Yahweh’s name, who made heaven and earth.
The verse sums up the psalm: our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. The one who created all things is not overwhelmed by what overwhelms us.
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What the sermons say
Frequently asked questions about Psalm 124
What does Psalm 124 mean?
It is a song of gratitude after a deliverance. The psalmist imagines what would have happened if the Lord had not been on his people's side: they would have been swallowed up. Since that did not happen, he blesses God and affirms that his help is in the name of the Lord, maker of heaven and earth.
Who wrote Psalm 124 and why is it a song of ascents?
The title attributes it to David. It is one of the fifteen songs of ascents, from Psalm 120 to Psalm 134, which pilgrims probably sang as they went up to Jerusalem for the great feasts. The text does not specify which deliverance the psalmist has in mind.
How can I pray with Psalm 124?
Think of a situation where you could have been overwhelmed and from which God kept you. Read verses 1 to 5 acknowledging that you did not get through it alone, then say verse 6 as a prayer of thanks. Finish with verse 8 by handing over to God what overwhelms you today.
Articles quoting Psalm 124
World English Bible translation — public domain.