If the Lord Had Not Been on Our Side: A Devotional on Psalm 124

Psalm 124

PSALMDAILY DEVOTIONALS

10/15/20263 min read

As the fifth song in the Songs of Ascents (Psalms 120–134), Psalm 124 is a communal song of deliverance. Attributed to David, it looks back on moments when God's people faced overwhelming danger and reflects on one undeniable reality: their survival was entirely due to the presence and protection of God.

In Psalm 123, the travelers looked up to heaven with quiet endurance under the sting of contempt. In Psalm 124, the danger escalates to fierce, rushing floods and wild beasts. It is a devotional for anyone who has walked through a season that should have swept them away, offering a framework for joyful, wholehearted gratitude to the One who breaks the snare.

The Scripture

1 If the Lord had not been on our side—

let Israel say—

2 if the Lord had not been on our side

when people attacked us,

3 they would have swallowed us alive

when their anger flared against us;

4 the flood would have engulfed us,

the torrent would have swept over us,

5 the raging waters

would have swept us away.

6 Praise be to the Lord,

who has not allowed us to be torn by their teeth.

7 We have escaped like a bird

from the fowler’s snare;

the snare has been broken,

and we have escaped.

8 Our help is in the name of the Lord,

the Maker of heaven and earth.

— Psalm 124 (NIV)

Looking Back at the "If Not"

The psalm begins with a dramatic, repeated hypothetical:

"If the Lord had not been on our side—let Israel say—if the Lord had not been on our side when people attacked us..." (v. 1–2)

David calls the entire community to pause and consider where they would be without divine intervention. He uses three vivid metaphors to describe the fierce opposition they faced:

A Wild Monster (v. 3): Danger that threatens to "swallow us alive."
A Raging Torrent (v. 4–5): Flash floods that sweep away everything in their path.
A Trapper's Trap (v. 7): A hidden snare designed to catch and destroy a helpless bird.

We all have seasons in our history where human strength, wisdom, or resources were completely insufficient. Looking back at those moments forces an honest confession: if God had not stepped in, sustained our spirit, or held back the waters, we would have been engulfed. Acknowledging our past vulnerability is the doorway to genuine praise.

The Snare Is Broken

In verse 6 and 7, the tone shifts from dramatic danger to triumphant release:

"Praise be to the Lord, who has not allowed us to be torn by their teeth. We have escaped like a bird from the fowler's snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped."

Notice the imagery of the small bird caught in a heavy wire or rope trap (fowler's snare). A trapped bird cannot break its own snare; its struggles only tighten the trap. Salvation requires an outside deliverer to step in and break the frame.

This imagery points directly to the ultimate deliverance found in Jesus Christ. When we were trapped by sin, fear, and death—snares we had no power to break on our own—Christ stepped into human history, broke the power of the trap through His death and resurrection, and set us free. Because the snare is broken, we don't just endure; we escape into life.

Our Help Is in His Name

The psalm concludes in verse 8 with a declaration that echoes Psalm 121:

"Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth."

Notice that David doesn't place trust in his own military strategy, human allies, or good fortune. Our ongoing security rests in the name of the Lord—His character, authority, and covenant faithfulness.

The God who made heaven and earth is not a distant spectator. He is actively on the side of His people. Facing future uncertainties becomes far less terrifying when you remember that the Creator who shattered your past snares is the very One holding your hands today.

Reflection & Application

Remembering Your "If Not": Think back to a past trial, illness, or crisis that felt like a raging flood. Spend a moment declaring: "If the Lord had not been on my side, I would have been swept away. Thank You, Lord, for holding me."
Celebrating Broken Snares: Is there an old habit, fear, or spiritual burden that God has delivered you from? Praise Him today for breaking the snare and setting your spirit free.
Anchoring for Tomorrow: When future anxieties arise, pray verse 8 out loud: "Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth." Let His name be your fortress today.

Prayer

God, if You had not been on my side, the raging waters would have swept me away! Thank You for being my Deliverer when challenges were too great for my own strength. Thank You for breaking the snares of sin and fear that once held me bound. I anchor my heart today in Your holy name—the Maker of heaven and earth—and I walk forward in the freedom You have purchased for me. In Jesus' name, Amen.

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