Instruction
Scripture: Psalm 124
Psalm 124 is one of the Psalms of Ascents sung by worshipers
going to the temple in Jerusalem. This one was written by David, before the
temple was built. Its focus is on God’s salvation and a recognition of our
inability to save ourselves from the troubles of this world. The psalm’s
functions is to prepare the one who reads it for worshiping the God who saves
and for rejoicing in the certainty of that salvation.
Teaching
There is nothing in this psalm that suggests a particular
event that inspired David to write these words. They are a general confessions
of what David experienced throughout his life: that God delivers his people.
This is from a mighty warrior who many could have considered more than capable
of fighting off his enemies, but David did not see it that way. Instead he
acknowledges a total reliance on God for his safety and victory over his
enemies.
It is helpful to us to see that salvation is at the heart of
why the Israelites worshiped God in this passage. The salvation Jesus won for
us by his death and resurrection is at the heart of our worship, too.
Life
In these words we are moved to ask, “What great enemy would
swallow us up or sweep us away?” As God’s people, there are always earthly
terrors that we face, and there is no promise for us here that we won’t be swept
away in this life. Not only that, but we see the church in decline and a world
aggressively asserting that the time of faith is over. However, we can take
heart because our help is in the name of the Lord. He will not allow his word
to go silent, and our hope for eternal life is secure in him.
More personally, each of us faces temptations, struggles of
faith, and guilt for our sin. We do well to take all these things up in prayer
crying out, “Our help is in the name of the Lord! He is the one who made heaven
and earth, and his power is sufficient to rescue us!” When we put ourselves at
his mercy and rely on him, we will find him faithful. We are confessing that
our salvation is a gift from him; not something we have in hand already. If you
have any doubt about the surety of that salvation though, look to the cross and
see what he was willing to do to rescue us.
Prayer
The theme of this
prayer is Instruction.
O Lord, teach us to see the dangers of this world rightly.
Help us to perceive the enemies that surround us who would harm us physically,
emotionally, and spiritually. Help us to understand that the threat of being
swallowed up or swept away is real, but make us certain that it is nothing more
than a threat. Grant us your Spirit that we might know that you have indeed
been on our side and that you will not leave us, but you will see us through
the flood and rescue us. Give us wisdom to recognize our greatest foes in the
devil, the world, and our own sinful natures and help us see that you have rescued
us from those foes by Jesus’ death and resurrection. Teach us to pray with
confidence, “Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth,”
so that we may know that nothing in this world can overcome us because we are
protected by you. Teach us to worship you from a heart that recognizes our own
weakness but marvels at your salvation so that we may worship you with joy and
humility. Amen.
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