- Read Psalm 124 from the ESV.
- Read my Psalm 124 poem from A New Song.
When we see the light at the end of the tunnel, or in this case the throne at the top of the steps, it is natural to look back over our shoulder for a moment to see from whence we have come. If the Israelites had looked over their shoulder as they exited the exile it would have become obvious that they had not been alone. While they might not have had a cute poem describing the lack of footprints in the sand next to theirs, they would have known had it not been for the LORD they would have never made it through the destruction of Jerusalem and the many years of exile on their own.
But we must not think their trials easy. These extremely difficult times saw many hundreds of thousands, possibly millions, dying in war and combat with the majority of Israel’s remaining citizens taken to foreign lands to either be forced to intermarry with other races or placed in positions of servitude. Many sermons have been given about how we should all strive to be a Daniel in our circumstances, but I’m not sure if many of us could actually walk through his footsteps and see the same result. I mean, I like lions, I really do, but I’m pretty sure my faith would not have gotten me through my time in their den. And if I were taken from my home to live and die in a foreign land without ever seeing my home, friends, and family again, well, that is beyond my imagination. But that is only one person’s experience. Mothers had their children taken from them and smashed against rocks in front of their eyes; fathers saw their wives cut open and the fetuses tore out; many boys and girls who were taken into slavery (of all kinds) for the remainder of their life; it is safe to say that these were not easy times for anyone.
When I consider all that happened to the Israelites during this time it is amazing that they weren’t wiped from the face of the earth. But as much as the kings of Assyria, Babylon, and Egypt tried to decimate the Israelites, they didn’t count on the fact that Israel had someone on their side protecting them. And even though it might have seemed to everyone as though Israel was losing the battle, they would eventually win the war.
I remember playing kickball in elementary school and realizing that it didn’t really matter who was on the other team as long as you had Matthew on your side. Everyone knew that the team with Matthew was going to win. Sure, everyone else might be able to kick the ball into the outfield, but Matthew could kick it over the fence every time. The team that had Matthew had an assured victory (it also often meant we got to watch the ball bounce through the intersection many feet below, but that is another story!) But as we got older the disparity between Matthew and everyone else became less and less, to the point where his presence on your team no longer guaranteed victory.
But, imagine if we had Clark Kent (a.k.a. Superman for those who don’t know already!) on our team. No matter how strong the opponents were, our victory would be a foregone conclusion. I’m pretty sure even if he played professional football in a 1 v 11 format, he would always win. No one could tackle him and he is way too quick and strong to allow any pass to be completed or any runner to advance the ball. This would be an infinitely unfair advantage in any circumstance (I know, unless we were playing a team from Krypton…just go with it, ok?)
In Psalm 124, a Song of Ascent, we find the Psalmist looking back at the nation’s troubles and recognizing that if it weren’t for God’s presence and his covenant they, as a nation, would have been completely destroyed. Sure, their story isn’t the same as a football team with
Those who have God on their side will always win. It is certainly true they might go through difficult times, that is nearly guaranteed. In the New Testament, we see Christ telling his disciples that they would suffer many things on his account, but as long as they remained constant in their faith in Jesus, they would ultimately become victors.
And the same can be said of us in our time. God expanded his reach to the Gentiles seeking for those who would be his emissaries on earth, and many have responded properly, assuring themselves of salvation and resurrection to life eternal. But many of us have also gone through times when we went our own way, rejecting God and his ways. But God is faithful, is he not? God chastens those he loves. He sometimes scourges us with whips and scorpions so as to change our hearts and return us to his way. And once we are on the redeemed side of our rebellion, it is good to look back and see how God’s hand has chastened, guided, and protected us. As Thomas Merton wrote in The Seven Storey Mountain, “the saints, when they remember their sins, do not remember the sins but the mercy of God, and therefore even past evil is turned into a present cause of joy and serves to glorify God.”
