It's not the trouble we've seen, it's how we came through.
(Ps 124)

(all major Scriptures are from NASB, unless otherwise noted, Shorter quotations verses are either NASB, or paraphrased by myself.)

Ps 124 Help

7a Our soul has escaped as a bird out of the snare

Background - There has been a fair amount of debate as to whether this is actually a Davidic psalm for two main reasons: (1) A large number of the manuscripts do not carry his name in the attributions, nor is there support amongst the writings of the early church for his name being put here. (2) While the general flow, and the choice of imagery accord well with David's style, the linguistics show signs of Aramaic influences that would not have come until later, and the style displays embellishments common to the later psalms.

Suggestions as to the occasion range from the Babylonian captivity to the intended persecution of Haman, to the era of persecution under Antiochus Epiphanes. Any number of possible circumstances could be chosen as the setting for this psalm, and any number of occasions have arisen since for which its message remains appropriate. Trials and afflictions have tried God's people throughout the ages, and have generally shown themselves a cause for the strengthening of the Church. Whatever particular circumstance it is, note well that all the glory is given to God, and none to the author himself, nor to Israel as a people, as the victors might be expected to do.

Out of afflictions, blessings.

1 "Had it not been the LORD who was on our side,"
Let Israel now say,
2 "Had it not been the LORD who was on our side,
When men rose up against us;
3 Then they would have swallowed us alive,
When their anger was kindled against us;
4 Then the waters would have engulfed us,
The stream would have swept over our soul;
5 Then the raging waters would have swept over our soul. "

Streams/Waters

 
Streams
The wadi, that rushes full in the rains, but is barren in the dry season. Generally found in rocky hills, where rains could easily lead to sudden floods. Representative of things that have 'extreme onrushing power' (Vine's)
Waters
speak of danger, violence, the transitory (passing), and refreshment. Here, the accent is clearly on the danger and the violence. Again, there is the image of bursting force.
  
Ps 18:4b
The torrents of ungodliness terrified me.
  
2Sa 22:17
he sent, and drew me out of many waters.
  
2Sa 5:20
The LORD has broken through my enemies like flood waters.
  Ps 69:1-4 
  
1
Save me, O God,
For the waters have threatened my life.
  
2
I have sunk in deep mire, and there is no foothold;
I have come into deep waters, and a flood overflows me.
  
3
I am weary with my crying; my throat is parched;
My eyes fail while I wait for my God.
  
4
Those who hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head;
Those who would destroy me are powerful, being wrongfully my enemies,
What I did not steal, I then have to restore.
  
  • Consider the floods common to a place like Texas, where there's little to speak of for topsoil, no place for rain to be absorbed when it falls, and so it rushes in torrents down channels that have been dry for years.
  • I've known folks that could not leave their house on rainy days because of small streams that would rise to the point of blocking their driveways.
  • Consider the roads after church last month, where deep puddles had formed after a brief rain, even though it had been dry and very hot for days.
  • Now picture this running down mountain sides, channeled up in valleys, and being added to as it comes down. This is the unstoppable force that's being depicted.
  • Consider the river valleys of Vermont, where dams have been built to slow the spring run-off. In Townsend, we looked at a dam, where the most recent high-water mark was at 98 foot, when the base of the dam was already 40 foot above 'normal' for the river!
  • From the movie "Abraham", consider the waters that rushed upon him when he first heard God's call.
  
Both terms speak of great force, unopposable circumstances. However, both terms also carry the idea of being transitory and passing.
  
Job 11:16
You would forget your trouble, as waters that have passed.
  Eze 47:3-19The river coming from the new temple to the east ran too deep to ford, going into the desert toward the sea, bringing life everywhere it goes.
 

The Testimony of Israel

  
  • Consider the Flood in this context. Had it not been the LORD, there'd be none here to consider His help!
  • Consider the Exodus in this context. Again, the great torrent was faced in the guise of Pharaoh's armies. Again, the hand of the LORD intervened, making away through the waters.
  • Consider the record of Assyrian attacks on Israel. An army unstoppable, and yet, at Jerusalem - even after long siege, they were turned back not by Israel's might, but by God's.
  
Note that in all these cases, God did not cause trials to be avoided. He brought His people through, not around.
 

What's your testimony?

  Every one of us has seen God's deliverance in our lives. These stand as a testimony to Him, and as an encouragement to us, just as His word is declared to be an encouragement to us. What events has He brought you through in the face of impossibilities? Are there occasions in your life where God has taken what seemed a terrible trial, and made of it an incredible blessing?

The Snare is Broken!

6 Blessed be the LORD,
Who has not given us to be torn by their teeth.
7 Our soul has escaped as a bird out of the snare of the trapper;
The snare is broken and we have escaped.

The Snare and the Trapper

  
Snare
A noose hidden in 'a favorable location', scattered with good and attractive things, so as to bribe the unwary into stepping into danger.
Trapper / Fowler
Often used nets as well. Sometimes, they would raise captive birds to use as decoys.
  Ps 91:3It is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper.

The Lord Whom We Serve

8 Our help is in the name of the LORD,
Who made heaven and earth.
 

Degrees

  Ps 120:1Repentence: I cried to the LORD, and He answered me!

  Ps 121:2Providence: My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth!
  Ps 122:4Worship: The tribes go up to Jerusalem to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
  Ps 123:1

Servanthood: I lift my eyes up to THOU who art enthroned in the heavens!

  Ps 124:8Our help: Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth!
 

Examples from Scripture

 Pastor spoke last month of not looking at all that remains to be done in a life, but to focus on what God has accomplished. This is a key to strong faith. This is why the Israelites were forever setting up altars or monuments to commemorate the great things God had done. This is why God has given us His Word.
  Ro 4:23-24These things were written for our sake, to whom righteousness will be reckoned to those who believe in Him who raised Christ from the dead.
  Ro 15:4Whatever was written was written for our instruction and encouragement to hope.
  1Co 9:5-13Many among Israel did not please God, as they grew weak in faith in the desert, craving after their former life in Egypt. This happened as an example for us, so that we would not likewise run after evil things, nor fall into idolatry, nor slide into immorality as they did, causing thousands to die in a day. From their example, learn not to test and try the LORD, for they were destroyed by serpents for their importunity. In all of these things, we have instruction as to how we who live at the end of the ages ought to live. If you think yourself secure, consider these examples and take them to heart for fear of falling. Your temptations are no greater than any other man's, and you know God is faithful, not allowing you to be tempted beyond your ability. He always provides the way of escape, allowing you to endure, and pass through the temptation.
 

Examples from New England

 A personal lesson, given to me amidst a particularly snowy winter on the Cape: With a long, wide driveway, and what seemed like the seventh straight day wherein I had awoken to a foot of snow in need of removal, my cheerful endurance was pretty much at an end. In resignation, I once more hoisted the shovel, and went to my task with all the relish of a prisoner approaching the rock pile. It seemed I'd shoveled for hours on end, and yet the end of the driveway seemed no closer to me. The task seemed to be approaching the impossible, as I considered the many yards of drive that remained, and considered that the heavier ridge left by the snowplow stood as my reward at the end of the drive. I was greatly discouraged, ready to just chuck it, and stay home until the snow saw fit to melt. But God prompted me to turn around and look back. Suddenly, instead of seeing all that work that remained to be done, I was able to see what I had been granted strength to accomplish already. Instead of seeing the great lengths of drive ahead, I could see the width and depth of what had been cleared away, and the drive that seemed to have been ¾ full, was recognized to have been in actuality ¾ empty. This backward look provided a new strength, a renewed energy and confidence. And forward I went shoveling away, and singing forth praises to the God of my strength.

He is the Creator of all things, and He did not create and run, but remains involved in the government of the world He created. And yet, "no sooner does any terror present itself to us than we are convicted of unbelief in hardly setting any value upon the help He has to bestow." (Calvin)

Father, help us to remember that You not only created this world we live in, but You are actively involved in every aspect of our every day. Help us, oh God, to trust You as Abraham trusted You, to obey You as David obeyed You, to believe You fully and without question, that what You promise, You are certain and able to do. Forgive our unbelief, our faltering trust, and renew confidence within us, that You might be glorified. Amen.

  

©2001 - Jeffrey A. Wilcox