10/01/2018
Today's Message - Psalm 124
If...Then...But God!!!
The Big Idea: God is my help!
Key verse: Verse 8
"Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth."
Introduction:
This is a Psalm of ascent, meaning that it was a Psalm of upward adoration from those who knew and loved God.
It begins with a repetitious reflection on a great "If" statement:
"If it had not been the Lord who was on our side" - verse 1 (ESV)
And…
"if it had not been the Lord who was on our side" - verse 2 (ESV)
Light overview:
The movement of this Psalm, suggests that even in the face of our enemies, haters, and critics, God is able to keep us safe from harm. When life comes in like a flood, God is faithful to keep us from being "swept away". In the same way that God was there for Israel in the days of David (the Kings), the Prophets, and the Priests, so too is God at work in our lives today. Despite many popular ideas and philosophies, God is involved in our affairs.
Encouragement:
Don't allow the worse part of your "If" statements get you discouraged. Remember that there is a "but God" moment" in each circumstance. The "but God" moment should remind you of God's presence and covering for you life. It is in the "but God" moments that we realize that even though enemies may pursue us, and even though the anger of others could have swallowed us up, and even though the flood of despair could have easily wiped us out, somehow, some way, we arrive at verse 6 where we live again to shout blessings out to God for saving us yet again.
6 Blessed be the Lord, who has not given us as prey to their teeth! 7 We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped! (ESV)
So don't rest or settle for life at it's worst. Trust that God is there to free you, to free all who know and love God and are in desperate need of God's presence. If you stop reading the Psalm at verse 5, you never fully make it to your praise report. If you stop reading the Psalm at verse 5, you miss out on the celebration of God's greatness in your life. If you stop reading the Psalm at verse 5, your worst story blocks out your best story.
Closings:
Finally, this Psalm is but a glimpse at an even greater victory that comes through Jesus Christ who endured his enemies at their absolute worse, even until death on a cross.
We live on the other side of Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection and as such, we have even more evidence for the greater hope that we have. Stay the course dear pilgrims of God. For God is fully capable of keeping you safe from harm. To God be the Glory. Amen.
Peace and Blessing,
Pastor Mel
