Psalms 124-126

August 14, 2025, Stephen Burt

Scripture:

Our Help Is in the Name of the LORD

Psalm 124

A song of ascents. Of David.

1 If the LORD had not been on our side—

let Israel now declare—

2 if the LORD had not been on our side

when men attacked us,

3 when their anger flared against us,

then they would have swallowed us alive,

4 then the floods would have engulfed us,

then the torrent would have overwhelmed us,

5 then the raging waters

would have swept us away.

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 fowler;

the net is torn, and we have slipped away.

8 Our help is in the name of the LORD,

the Maker of heaven and earth.

The LORD Surrounds His People

Psalm 125

A song of ascents.

1 Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion.

It cannot be moved; it abides forever.

2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem,

so the LORD surrounds His people,

both now and forevermore.

3 For the scepter of the wicked will not rest

upon the land allotted to the righteous,

so that the righteous will not put forth

their hands to injustice.

4 Do good, O LORD, to those who are good,

and to the upright in heart.

5 But those who turn to crooked ways

the LORD will banish with the evildoers.

Peace be upon Israel.

Zion’s Captives Restored

Psalm 126

A song of ascents.

1 When the LORD restored the captives of Zion,

we were like dreamers.

2 Then our mouths were filled with laughter,

our tongues with shouts of joy.

Then it was said among the nations,

“The LORD has done great things for them.”

3 The LORD has done great things for us;

we are filled with joy.

4 We Restore our captives, O LORD,

like streams in the Negev.

5 Those who sow in tears

will reap with shouts of joy.

6 He who goes out weeping,

bearing a trail of seed,

will surely return with shouts of joy,

carrying sheaves of grain

Takeaways:

Our study continues with three additional psalms of the “Pilgrim Songs” that

would have been sung by those who journeyed to the temple for the annual

feasts.

Psalm 124 was written by David. He possibly wrote this psalm after his defeat of

the Philistines as told in 2 Samuel 5: 17-25. It celebrates that, when God is on our

side, we can survive even overwhelming odds that would normally utterly destroy

us. Have you ever felt trapped in a situation for which you can find no escape? If

we trust God and turn our trials over to Him, the creator of the universe, He is

powerful enough and He loves us enough to intercede on our behalf and free us

from the snare of our problem.

Psalm 125 was possibly written by Hezekiah. In this psalm the writer compares

the people that fully trust in the Lord to solid mountains that are steadfast and

unwavering. As we have all witnessed in the last several years many people and

even all too many church leaders have abandoned the most important

foundational beliefs of the church for social and political fads. These leaders have

undermined the core beliefs of the church, such as the lordship of Jesus Christ

and the authority of the scripture, and have replaced them with what is

fashionable in the world. We must be unmoving like Mount Zion and trust God’s

word. God will protect His people from these unrighteous teachers and those who

would lead Gods people astray if we hold on to what the Bible teaches and

continually pray.

Psalm 126 is an anonymous psalm that was possibly written to celebrate the Jews

return from captivity as described in Ezra 1. This psalm is a celebration of God’s

release of His people from sadness and servitude and giving them a life full of joy

and celebration. It celebrates not only God’s love for His people but His amazing

power to change lives. We all have found, or will find, ourselves to be in servitude

to situations, difficulties or mental depressions from which we cannot see any

escape. These times can seem to be hopeless. However, if we can remember to

put our faith in God, pray for a release from our dire situation and turn over

everything to Him, we can come out the other end with peace, joy and happiness.

Prayer:

Like the psalm writers we pray for release from the prisons of life that rob us of

the joy and peace that can only come from putting our faith and lives into Your

loving hands. Please give us a faith that will release us to do Your will and bring

Your message of love and help to those that we meet.

We pray these things in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.

Amen.