9/4/2023 0 Comments Psalm 124 sung responsively![]() Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us. We set every other claimant on one side, and rejoice because the Lord was on our side. There is no doubt as to our deliverer, we cannot ascribe our salvation to any second cause, for it would not have been equal to the emergency nothing less than omnipotence and omniscience could have wrought our rescue. ![]() When all men combined, and the whole race of men seemed set upon stamping out the house of Israel, what must have happened if the covenant Lord had not interposed? When they stirred themselves, and combined to make an assault upon our quietude and safety, what should we have done in their rising if the Lord had not also risen? No one who could or would help was near, but the bare arm of the Lord sufficed to preserve his own against all the leagued hosts of adversaries. If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when men rose up against us. Are not all the materials of a song spread before us? Let us sing unto the Lord. Imagine what would have happened if the Lord had left us, and then see what has happened because he has been faithful to us. Let us with holy confidence exult in this joyful fact: We are far too slow in declaring our gratitude, hence the exclamation which should be rendered, "O let Israel say." We murmur without being stirred up to it, but our thanksgiving needs a spur, and it is well when some warm hearted friend bids us say what we feel. The Lord was on our side, and is still our defender, and will be so from henceforth, even for ever. Here are two "ifs, "and yet there is no "if" in the matter. If Jehovah were not our protector where should we be Nothing but his power and wisdom could have guarded us from the cunning and malice of our adversaries therefore, let all his people say so, and openly give him the honour of his preserving goodness. The many words in italics in our authorized version will show the reader that the translators did their best to patch up the passage, which, perhaps, had better have been left in its broken grandeur, and it would then have run thus:"Had it not been Jehovah! He was for us, oh let Israel say! Had it not been Jehovah! He who was for us when men rose against us." The glorious Lord became our ally he took our part, and entered into treaty with us. By such a commencement attention was aroused as well as feeling expressed: and this is ever the way of poetic fireto break forth in uncontrollable flame. The opening sentence is abrupt, and remains a fragment. If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, now may Israel say. From all confidence in man may we be rescued by a holy reliance upon our God. May our experience lead us to the same conclusion as the saints of David's time. ![]() This short Psalm contains an acknowledgement of favour received by way of special deliverance (1-5), then a grateful act of worship in blessing Jehovah (6, 7), and, lastly, a declaration of confidence in the Lord for all future time of trial. ![]() Whether it be his composition or no, it breathes the same spirit as that which animates the unchallenged songs of the royal composer.ĭIVISION. Assuredly the manner of the song is very like to David's, and we are unable to see why he should be excluded from the authorship. It may be so but in their superlative wisdom they have ventured upon so many other questionable statements that we are not bound to receive this dictum. They declare that there are certain ornaments of language in this little ode which were unknown in the Davidic period. Of course the superfine critics have pounced upon this title as inaccurate, but we are at liberty to believe as much or as little of their assertions as we may please. ![]()
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