Martin Luther on Psalms 124:5

Verſe 5. Then had the ſwelling waters gone over our ſoul. He ſetteth out yet more lively and as it were before their eyes, the great danger from the which God had delivered them. And this vehement kind of ſpeech which he uſeth here, had as great force to make the faithful to feel from what terrible deſtruction they were delivered by the mighty hand of God, as if their danger had been preſent before their eyes, and ſo to become more thankful to God for the ſame.Note who are moſt thankfull. For he is thankful to God indeed for his deliverance and ſafety, which doth acknowledge that before his deliverance he ſaw nothing elſe but utter deſtruction. Thus David ſetteth out the afflictions. and calamities of the Church and of the godly, whom the world doth not only hate, but cruelly Perſecute. Whereby we may ſee that it hath not only a greedy deſire, but alſo power to hurt, murder and deſtroy. Satan likewiſe goeth about like a raging Lyon, ſeeking whom he may devour. Beſides theſe, there are great and horrible ſins ſticking in our fleſh. That we fall not therefore every moment into deſperation, or otherwiſe periſh, it is becauſe he is greater which is in us, then he which is in the world, or the whole world beſides, as David ſaith: If God had not been with us, our enemies had ſwallowed us up alive. Now he addeth a notable ſimilitude, wherewith he amplifieth the danger of the godly, and power of the wicked.