Psalm 124:2-5 ESV

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 124:1-8

Divine deliverance. The spirit which breathes in this psalm is one of keen thankfulness. Nothing calls out so deep and strong a sense of indebtedness to God (or to man) as a consciousness that we owe to him an escape from a great calamity. We bless the Lord with the most fervent gratitude as we realize that he has healed our disease and redeemed our life from destruction ( Psalms 103:1-4 ). We ought to be mindful of all his benefits, and accept them as they come , one after... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 124:1-8

But for the Lord. The psalm is a contemplation of the distress that must have come upon God's people but for the Lord's timely help. I. IT IS THE LANGUAGE OF ISRAEL 'S GRATITUDE . We cannot tell what were the exact circumstances which are referred to; but many times in Israel's history had there been the threatening of overwhelming calamity. In the old times, in Egypt, in the wilderness, in Judah and Jerusalem, as during the invasion of Sennacherib, when they were carried... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 124:1-8

The believer's safeguard. "If Jehovah had not been on our side," etc. The last psalm was the sigh of an exile in Babylon waiting upon God for deliverance. This psalm is the joyful acknowledgment that the deliverance has been accomplished. The next (125.) describes the safety of the exiles restored to their native land, and girt round by the protection of Jehovah. I. GOD IS ON OUR SIDE WHEN HE SEEMS MOST AGAINST US . As he was on the side of the Israelites both... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 124:2

If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when men rose up against us . The "rising" intended may have been that of Saul and his aiders and abettors, or that of the Ammonites and Syrians ( 2 Samuel 10:6-8 ), or that of Absalom and his partisans ( 2 Samuel 15:2-13 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 124:2-4

Jehovah's effective resistance. Perowne thinks that the figures of these verses remind of the earlier deliverance from Egypt. "The Egyptians did ' rise up' against them. Pharaoh and his chariots and his horsemen followed hard after them, and did seem as if about to swallow them up, when they were entangled in the wilderness. The waves of the Red Sea overwhelming their enemies might have suggested naturally the figure by which the might of those enemies was itself compared to swelling... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 124:3

Then they had swallowed us up quick ; or, "alive." A common expression for sudden and complete destruction (comp. Psalms 56:2 ; Psalms 57:3 ; Proverbs 1:12 ; Lamentations 2:2 , Lamentations 2:5 , Lamentations 2:8 , etc.). When their wrath was kindled against us ; or, "blazed out against us." The comparison of anger to fire is an almost universal commonplace. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 124:4

Then the waters had overwhelmed us . A sudden and startling change of metaphor. In the quick transition of Oriental thought, the fire becomes a flood—an irresistible torrent-stream , carrying all before it (comp. Psalms 18:4 ; Psalms 144:7 ). The stream had gone over our soul ; i . e . "had mounted up over our heads, and stifled our breath of life." read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 124:5

Then the proud waters had gone over our soul . "Proud" of effecting our destruction. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 124:2

If it had not been the Lord who was on our side - Repeating the idea, since the mind was full of it, and carrying the thought forward. This is one of the instances of an ascent of thought in these psalms, from which it has been supposed that the title “Songs of Degrees” was given to this collection. See, however, Introduction to Psalms 120:1-7.When men rose up against us - When we were assailed by our enemies. On what occasion this occurred, it is now impossible to determine. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 124:3

Then they had swallowed us up quick - There was no other help, and ruin - utter ruin - would have soon come upon us. The word quick here means alive; and the idea is derived from persons swallowed up in an earthquake, or by the opening of the earth, as in the case of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. Numbers 16:32-33. Compare Psalms 106:17. The meaning here is, that they would have been destroyed as if they were swallowed up by the opening of the earth; that is, there would have been complete... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 124:1-8

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 124:1-8

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 124:1-8

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 124:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 124:2-4

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 124:3

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 124:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 124:5

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 124:2

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 124:3

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