Psalm 124

PSALM 124 [1]

Our help is in the name of Yahweh

1 “Had it not been Yahweh who was on our side,”	Let Israel now say, [2] (cf. Psalm 129:1)
2 “Had it not been Yahweh who was on our side	When men rose up against us,
3 Then they would have swallowed us alive,	When their anger was kindled against us;

4 Then the waters would have engulfed us,

The stream would have swept over our soul;

5 Then the raging waters would have swept over our soul.”

6 Blessed be Yahweh,	Who has not given us to be torn by their teeth.
7 Our soul has escaped as a bird out of the snare of the trapper;	The snare is broken and we have escaped.
8 Our help is in the name of Yahweh, [3]	Who made heaven and earth. [4]

[1] Psalms 120-134 all have the heading “A Song of Ascents (ma`alah).”

Israel’s life was one of pilgrimage/ascent whether it was from Egypt (cf. Deut.26:5-9); going up/ascending to (ma`alah/`alah) Jerusalem to appear before the Most High (’elyown); or return from exile,

Three times a year all your males are to appear before the Lord Yahweh, the God of Israel. For I will drive out nations before you and enlarge your borders, and no man shall covet your land when you go up (`alah) three times a year to appear before the Yahweh your God. (Exodus 34:23-24; see also Ezra 7:9)

For on the first of the first month he began to go up from (ma`alah) Babylon; and on the first of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, because the good hand of his God was upon him. (Ezra 7:9)

These Psalms would have also brought to mind the going up of the nations to/against Jerusalem (Psalm 47:2,5,9; 87; 124:2-5; Isaiah 7:1,5-6; 14:11-23; 36:1,10).

This collection of Psalms commemorating Israel’s past journeys serves for current use of pilgrims commencing or concluding their travels.

[2] “Repetition may serve a liturgical purpose. The opening words of a psalm are sounded, followed by a call for the congregation to join in; and the initial words are stated again:

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

let Israel now say—

If it had not been the Lord who was on our side (124:1–2; cf. 129:1–2)” (James Limburg, “Psalms, Book of” in The Anchor Bible Dictionary; 5:530).

[3] “Our help is in the name of the Lord, but our fears are in the name of man” (John Flavel).

[4] See also Psalm 121:2; 134:3

Psalm 124:8 was the Call to Worship used by John Calvin in Strassburg and Geneva.