#876 Let Us Now Say

If it had not been the Lord who was on our side—

let Israel now say—

2 if it had not been the Lord who was on our side

when people rose up against us,

3 then they would have swallowed us up alive,

when their anger was kindled against us;

4 then the flood would have swept us away,

the torrent would have gone over us;

5 then over us would have gone

the raging waters.

6 Blessed be the Lord,

who has not given us

as prey to their teeth!

7 We have escaped like a bird

from the snare of the fowlers;

the snare is broken,

and we have escaped!

8 Our help is in the name of the Lord,

who made heaven and earth. Psalm 124 ESV

A Psalm of Ascents, some attribute to David.

If it had not been the Lord who was on our side - Immanuel, God with us, recognize. It is written almost like one of those songs you hear in church, where the song leader sings a phrase and then the people echo. "Is this not the truth," let Israel now say - "yes, it is."

When people rose up against us - It does not give a specific event, but Israel had many enemies and the Lord intervened much. We are bound to err often, as we brush the dust off our sleeves, to think that we have conquered on our own, even though we peed ourselves in the midst of the turmoil. Noah was a prophet, who preached 120 years while building the ark, to a people who could not hear. They were spiritually dead, yet as violent and vile as they were, God's work still went on, and the ark was finished to the saving of Noah's household. David rose to fame when he stood against the giant, Goliath, who represented the nation of the Philistines, who had ravaged Israel for years. God had intervened so many times on their behalf, yet still their pride and desire for autonomy, led them to think too much of their own works, their pedigree, themselves. 

…4 Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. 5 I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers. Such branches are gathered up, thrown into the fire, and burned.… John 15: 4-6

When their anger was kindled against us - You troubler of Israel, Ahab said to Elijah. Jezebel would have the prophet dead, as they would desire the fate of all the prophets to be. Isaiah, who wrote the most beautiful introduction to the gospels, often called the fifth gospel, he was sawn in half. John the Baptist, who brought the call to repentance, and proclaimed the coming of Christ, he was beheaded. 

“Anger is never more fiery than when the people of God are its objects. Sparks become flames, and the furnace is heated seven times hotter when God’s elect are to be thrust into the blaze.” (Spurgeon)

13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. So they brought these men before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, “Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? 15 Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?”

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, and the expression of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace heated seven times more than it was usually heated. 20 And he ordered some of the mighty men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. 21 Then these men were bound in their cloaks, their tunics, their hats, and their other garments, and they were thrown into the burning fiery furnace. 22 Because the king's order was urgent and the furnace overheated, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell bound into the burning fiery furnace. Daniel 3: 13-23

As prey to their teeth - Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, refused to worship an idol, refused to walk in a way contrary to the truth. They served the living God, and so some have thought they could have bowed the knee but not worshiped in their hearts, but that is an anemic religion, and of no good to those watching. When we shut our mouths we have also shut up our hearts. There is no compassion in withholding the truth, in acting contrary to the proclamation of the only One, Who can save. Their friend Daniel would later be asked to worship a man, and he would be sent to the lion's den for honoring the God of Israel. Men may deliver you up, but God has the final say. If you go with God, you go to God, death has no teeth for the likes of God's children, only a shadow. 

The snare is broken - Whom the Son sets free shall be free indeed.

…53 For the perishable must be clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come to pass: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” 55“Where, O Death, is your victory? Where, O Death, is your sting?”… 1 Corinthians 15: 53-55

…13 And again: “I will put My trust in Him.” And once again: “Here am I, and the children God has given Me.” 14 Therefore, since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity, so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.… Hebrews 2: 13-15

Our help is in the name of the Lord - There is no other name under heaven whereby men can be saved. Jesus Christ.