Psalm Devotional
The Great Escape
Written by Kit Swartz. This devotional was first published in the July 2015 issue of The Reformed Presbyterian Witness.
Psalm 124 is the fifth in the Songs of Ascents (Ps. 120-134). The overall theme of the series is ascending to the temple mount in Jerusalem for the annual feasts (Exod. 23:14-17). Therefore, the Songs of Ascents are well suited to our praise as we ascend by the Spirit into the very presence of God in public worship (Heb. 12:22-24). Public worship is the means of distinct blessing for the believer (Heb. 10:25). The reference to David in the inscription offers no elaboration to the contents of the psalm except to emphasize that the Lord delivered Israel through David often and wonderfully as a picture of our salvation in Christ (Rom. 1:3).
Introduction
Psalms 123 and 124 may constitute a pair. Psalm 123:1 is distinct from the rest of that psalm and Psalm 124:8 is likewise set apart, such that these two verses seem to function as bookends. The flow of thought through the two psalms supports the coupling: confession (123:1-2), petition (123:4-5), answer (124:1-7) and praise (124:8). In these paired psalms, we are strongly encouraged to pray with confidence and to return thanks with awe.
Salvation (vv. 1-2, 6-8)
The people of God have enjoyed a great deliverance, and the psalmist calls them to join him in praising God for it (vv. 1, 6; see Ps. 129:1). The futility of the adversary’s cause is immediately indicated by declaring that the ultimate object of assault is the Lord Himself (v. 2; see Ps. 2). Because any attack on a subject is an attack on the king, our covenant Lord comes to our rescue when we are attacked. His covenant love proves His willingness to help us (Lord; vv. 1-2, 6, 8) and His creative power proves His ability to help (v. 8; Ps. 121:2; Ps. 134:3).
From Great Trouble (124:1-7)
The psalmist spends most of his time giving us rich pictures of the deep distress that the Lord saved us from. This teaches us to consider how much trouble we were in when the Lord helped us (Rom. 5:8; Eph. 2:1). Only then will we adequately appreciate what God has done for us in Christ.
Our adversaries rise up against us like a tidal wave to wipe us out (v. 2). But God rises up against them and wipes them out (Exod. 15:7-8). However great your trouble is to destroy you, God is infinitely greater to save you! Our enemies plan to destroy us without even needing to chew (v. 3). But though death swallows all things, the Lord swallows death (1 Cor. 15:54). Men rage against us like a forest fire driven by a strong wind, but God blows them out like a mere birthday candle (v. 3; Deut. 32:22). Adversity overwhelms us like a flood, but God draws us out to safety (v. 4; Ps. 18:16). Trouble threatens to sweep us away like a flash flood, but the Lord sweeps away the trouble (vv. 4-5; Ps. 73:19). The devil longs to tear us apart (v. 6; 1 Pet. 5:8) but there is a greater lion in the jungle that has already crushed him (v. 6; Rev. 5:5). Our adversary has ensnared us in devious traps, but the Lord crushes his devices and causes us to escape (v. 7; John 8:36).
The Great Escape!
We have many troubles of various kinds, and the Lord will deliver us from them all (Ps. 34:4, 17, 19). But all our troubles are rooted in the devices of Satan that ensnare us and threaten to destroy us in all the ways pictured in this Psalm. These devices are temptation, sin, and death. The Lord has indeed crushed these and set us free. How did the Lord do this? He crushed temptation with His obedience (Heb. 4:15), He crushed sin with His death (Rom. 6:7, 10), and He crushed death with His resurrection (1 Cor. 15:54). Therefore we, in Christ, are set free to resist temptation (1 Cor. 10:13), to put our sin to death (Col. 3:5, 9), and to put on Christ’s righteousness and life (Col. 3:10, 12). If the Son sets you free, you will be truly free (v. 7; John 8:36)!
Blessed Be the Lord
The Lord is indeed on our side to help us (vv. 1-2, 8)! The Lord is with us; who can succeed against us (1, 2; 56:4, 11; Rom. 8:31-39)? Therefore we will, now in part and ultimately in full, be delivered from all our enemies on every side into the peaceful presence of God. Blessed be the Lord!
