Charles H. Spurgeon on Psalms 124:1

The LORD who was on our side. Who is he? Why on our side? How does he prove it? What are we bound to do?

Verses 1-3. Regard the text,

1. From the life of Jacob or Israel.

2. From the history of the nation.

3. From the annals of the church.

4. From our personal biography.

Verses 1-5.

1. What might have been.

2. Why it has not been.

Verses 1-5.

1. What the people of God would have been if the Lord had not been on their side.

(a) What if left to their enemies? Ps 124:2,3. Israel left to Pharaoh and his host in the time of Moses: left to the Caananites in the time of Joshua: to the Midianites in the time of Gideon: Judah to the Assyrians in the time of Hezekiah: "Then they had swallowed us up," etc.

(b) What if left to themselves? "The stream had gone over our soul": Ps 124:4, 5.

2. What the people of God are with the Lord on their side.

(a) All the designs of their enemies against them are frustrated.

(b) Their inward sorrow is turned into joy.

(c) Both their inward and then outward troubles work together for their good. —G. R.

Verse 2, 3.

1. To swallow us alive —the desire of our wrathful enemies.

2. To save us alive —the work of our faithful God.