Psalms of the Ascents: The Lord is on Our Side

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Psalm 124:8

Our help is in the name of the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

(CSB)

The biblical account of David versus Goliath demonstrates that the biggest and strongest does not always prevail in a fight (1 Samuel 17).  The intimidating and imposing figure of Goliath has instilled fear in the armies of Israel (1 Samuel 17:8-11).  However, young David understood that with God on his side, lions, bears, and even giants like Goliath could not destroy God’s people (1 Samuel 17:34-40).  David then went beyond saying God would defeat Goliath and proceeded to bring down the giant with a simple stone.  This was no simple stone or slingshot however, but a stone backed by the power of God.  Gideon provides another example of God defying the odds, giving His people victory.  The account of Gideon also provides an example of God’s mercy and grace as well. 

Due to Israel’s disobedience, God allows Midian to oppress them (Judges 6:1-10).  This oppression is serious because it involves Midian destroying the produce of the land leaving the people of Israel nothing to eat (Judges 6:4).  However, the people of Israel cry out to God and God extends his grace and mercy to them with a promise of deliverance from their Midianite oppressors (Judges 6:7-10).

Deliverance from Midian for Israel will come in the form of God calling a deliverer, Gideon (Judges 6:11-12).  Unlike David, however, Gideon is full of fear questioning why God has allowed the oppression to occur (Judges 6:13).  Instead of answering Gideon’s question the, answer to which was the sins of Israel, God instructs Gideon to go and that He is sending him (Judges 6:14). 

Initially Gideon selected a large number of troops to attack Midian, but God tells Gideon he has too many men (Judges 7:1-2).  God then proceeds to stack the odds of victory against Israel by trimming down the troops to 300 men.  God’s reason for this trimming down is to prevent Israel from believing their own might and strength achieved victory and instead know that their victory was from God (Judges 6:2).  The result of this dependence on God is a miraculous victory not unlike God’s victory at Jericho (Judges 7:15-23; Joshua 6).

The modern 70-year history of Israel is also a demonstration of God’s mercy and grace along with His defying the odds in protecting His people.  Since the formation of the nation of Israel in 1947, the nation has been under attack from the surrounding nations who outnumber them.  However, Israel continues to thrive as a nation showing God is still with them.  (1)  It also demonstrates the mercy and grace of God as the nation continues to live in its national rejection of Jesus, the Messiah. 

In the next psalm of the ascents, we see the psalmist offering praise for God being on the side of Israel.  The picture here is a throng of people making their pilgrimage to Jerusalem.  They are going to be part of the annual feast and thus to be in the presence of God.  This psalm not only offers praise for the privilege of journeying to be with God, but also thanks for His continual protection.  The psalmist,

1)      Makes a declaration of faith acknowledging God’s protection against their enemies (Psalm 124:1-5) – God’s people need not fear those that attack us either physically, emotionally, or mentally for our faith but must remember that nothing can defeat us (Isaiah 54:17; Romans 8:31).

2)      Praises for God’s protection (Psalm 124:6-7) – In a time of struggle when the odds seem stacked against us, it is beneficial to reflect on past times when God has rescued us.  It we cannot think of any time of past rescue, read accounts of God rescuing His people in the Bible like the above-mentioned example of David and Goliath and Gideon. 

3)      Declares the Lord is His helper (Psalm 124:8) – How great it is to know that God, the maker of heaven and earth, is our help in times of trouble. 

Jesus reminds us in John 16:33 that in this world we will have trouble but in the second half of the verse reminds us that He has overcome the world.  The overcoming power of Christ with us is what stacks the odds in the favor of the people of God.  However, if you are reading this and have never made Jesus your savior, that overcoming power is lacking in your life due to sin separating you from a relationship with God.  I therefore invite you to pray with me now so sin no longer separates you from the overcoming power of God in your life,

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, was buried, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

Remember, when the odds seem stacked against us, we have the overcoming power of God within us. 

1. Rubenstein, Colin. Israel defies the odds to flourish. www.smh.com.au. [Online] The Sydney Morning Herald, May 15, 2018. [Cited: July 15, 2018.] https://www.smh.com.au/world/middle-east/israel-defies-the-odds-to-flourish-20180514-p4zf6v.html.