Jamieson, Fausset and Brown on Psalms 124

PSALM 124

Psa 124:1-8. The writer, for the Church, praises God for past, and expresses trust for future, deliverance from foes.

1-2. on our side--for us (Psa 56:9).

now--or, "oh! let Israel"

3. Then--that is, the time of our danger.

quick--literally, "living" (Nu 16:32, 33), description of ferocity.

4-5. (Compare Psa 18:4, 16).

6-7. The figure is changed to that of a rapacious wild beast (Psa 3:7), and then of a fowler (Psa 91:3), and complete escape is denoted by breaking the net.

8. (Compare Psa 121:2).

name--in the usual sense (Psa 5:11; 20:1). He thus places over against the great danger the omnipotent God, and drowns, as it were in an anthem, the wickedness of the whole world and of hell, just as a great fire consumes a little drop of water [Luther].