Psalm 124:1-8 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 124:1-5

The people of God, being here called upon to praise God for their deliverance, are to take notice, I. Of the malice of men, by which they were reduced to the very brink of ruin. Let Israel say that there was but a step between them and death: the more desperate the disease appears to have been the more does the skill of the Physician appear in the cure. Observe, 1. Whence the threatening danger came: Men rose up against us, creatures of our own kind, and yet bent upon our ruin. Homo homini... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 124:6-8

Here the psalmist further magnifies the great deliverance God had lately wrought for them. I. That their hearts might be the more enlarged in thankfulness to him (Ps. 124:6): Blessed be the Lord. God is the author of all our deliverances, and therefore he must have the glory of them. We rob him of his due if we do not return thanks to him. And we are the more obliged to praise him because we had such a narrow escape. We were delivered, 1. Like a lamb out of the very jaws of a beast of prey:... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 124:1

If it had not been the Lord who was on our side ,.... Or, "was for us" F8 לנו "pro nobis", Vatablus. . The Syriac version is, "that rose up for us"; against their enemies, that rose up against them, as in Psalm 123:2 , or, "was with us", as Kimchi and Ben Melech; to help and assist, support and supply, strengthen and defend: or, "was among us", as the Arabic version; as their King, Protector, and Saviour. This implies that he was on their side; was for them, with them, and among... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 124:2

If it had not been the Lord who was on our side ,.... This he repeats both for the confirmation of it, and to excite the attention of the Israelites to it; as well as to observe that it was not once only, but again and again, many times the Lord appeared to be on their side. The Targum renders it, "the Word of the Lord;' the essential Word, the Son of God; and so in Psalm 123:1 , in the king's Bible; when men rose up against us ; wicked men; though no hard epithet is given in the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 124:3

Then they had swallowed us up quick ,.... Or "alive"; as the earth swallowed up Korah and his company; or as the fish swallowed up Jonah; or rather as ravenous beasts swallow their prey; to which the allusion is. The people of God are comparable to sheep and lambs, and such like innocent creatures: and the wicked to lions, tigers, wolves, bears, and such like beasts of prey that devour living creatures; when their wrath was kindled against us ; which is cruel and outrageous; there is no... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 124:4

Then the waters had overwhelmed us ,.... People, comparable to waters for their multitude, Strength, force, and impetuosity; which bear down all before them, and against which there is no standing; which, like the waters of the flood, overflow and destroy all they pass over. These are the floods of ungodly men, which are very destructive and terrible; see Revelation 17:15 ; together with all those reproaches, afflictions, and persecutions, which come along with them; which the presence of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 124:5

Then the proud waters had gone over our soul. The wicked, who, through their pride, persecute the poor saints: these proud tyrants and persecutors would prevail over them, to their ruin and destruction; who, for their number, force, and strength, and especially for their pride and haughtiness, are like to the strong, boisterous, and swelling waves of the sea, were they not stopped and bounded by him who has said, Thus far shall ye go, and no farther, Job 38:11 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 124:6

Blessed be the Lord ,.... Here begins the church's thanksgiving for deliverance from all their enemies, their proud persecutors; and from all afflictions and troubles by them; which they could never have been delivered from, had not the Lord appeared for them; and therefore it is but just that he should have all the glory of it, and be blessed and praised on account thereof; who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth ; the teeth of wicked men are like spears and arrows, like... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 124:7

Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers ,.... The people of God are like little birds, being harmless and innocent, singing forth the praises of God for his goodness to them; as also because weak and unable to resist their foes; and worthless in themselves, like sparrows, as the word F9 כצפור ως σπουθιον , Sept. "sicut passer", V. L. here used signifies; and are fearful and timorous, and flee at the least apprehension of danger, Psalm 102:7 . Satan, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 124:8

Our help is in the name of the Lord ,.... This is the conclusion the church draws from the scene of Providence in her favour; this is the instruction she learns from hence, that her help is in the Lord only, and not in any creature; and that it is right to put her trust and confidence in the Lord for it, and only to expect it from him whose name is in himself; and is a strong tower to flee unto for safety, Proverbs 18:10 . The Targum is, "in the name of the Word of the Lord;' in the... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 124:1-5

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 124:6-8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 124:1

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 124:2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 124:3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 124:4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 124:5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 124:6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 124:7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 124:8

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