“If the LORD had not been on our side — let Israel say– if the LORD had not been on our side when men attacked us, when their anger flared against us, they would have swallowed us alive; the flood would have engulfed us, the torrent would have swept over us, the raging waters would have swept us away. Praise be to the LORD, who has not let us be torn by their teeth. We have escaped like a bird out of the fowler’s snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped. Our help is in the name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” (Psalm 124:1-8 NIV)
In post-modern America, we Christians may find it difficult to identify with King David and ancient Israel. For several hundred years we have enjoyed the relative safety of free people in a free nation. Yet, when we consider the September 11, 2001 attack on our nation by an enemy whose single goal is to destroy America, then it becomes easier to connect with them. And further still, our mutual belief in God places us on the same side.
The issue becomes more personal, however, when we consider Paul’s words to believers at Ephesus, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Eph. 6:12 NIV). Whatever the form of attacks against us, whether spiritual or physical, ours is a war with the forces of evil. And like Israel, we can say, “if the Lord had not been on our side” then we would have been engulfed . . . swept away . . . destroyed.
Yet, we can praise the Lord . . . should praise his holy name, because He has stood between us and the enemy. By him, we have escaped! By him, the enemy’s tactics have failed! Nothing the enemy can do, physically or spiritually, will defeat us because “we have escaped!”
“Our help is in the name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.”
Dear Father, thank you for the escape you provide. Empower us with praise for your alliance. This I pray in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Be encouraged that Jesus Christ is your ally,