LIKE A BIRD OUT OF THE SNARE
Key verse: 8
NIV
Psalm 124
A song of ascents. Of David.
1 If the Lord had not been on our side—
let Israel say(A)—
2 if the Lord had not been on our side
when people attacked us,
3 they would have swallowed us alive
when their anger flared against us;
4 the flood(B) would have engulfed us,
the torrent(C) would have swept over us,
5 the raging waters
would have swept us away.
Cross references
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
Our Help Is in the Name of the Lord
A Song of (A)Ascents. Of David.124 (B)If it had not been the Lord who was on our side—
(C)let Israel now say—
2 if it had not been the Lord who was on our side
when people rose up against us,
3 then they would have (D)swallowed us up alive,
when their anger was kindled against us;
4 then (E)the flood would have (F)swept us away,
the torrent would have gone (G)over us;
5 then over us would have gone
the raging waters.
6 Blessed be the Lord,
who has not given us
as prey to their teeth!
7 We have escaped like a bird
from (H)the snare of the fowlers;
the snare is broken,
and we have escaped!
8 (I)Our help is in the name of the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
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124 (B)If it had not been the Lord who was on our side—
(C)let Israel now say—
2 if it had not been the Lord who was on our side
when people rose up against us,
3 then they would have (D)swallowed us up alive,
when their anger was kindled against us;
4 then (E)the flood would have (F)swept us away,
the torrent would have gone (G)over us;
5 then over us would have gone
the raging waters.
6 Blessed be the Lord,
who has not given us
as prey to their teeth!
7 We have escaped like a bird
from (H)the snare of the fowlers;
the snare is broken,
and we have escaped!
8 (I)Our help is in the name of the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. If the Lord had not been on our side (1-5)
We live in a world in rebellion against God, and God's people are not exempt from suffering. But when God's people call on him for mercy, he always answers. He is on the side of his people who put their trust in him. We should neither look for nor expect any mercy from the world or from worldly people, but we may be sure that the Lord is on our side (See Ge 26:3).
2. The snare has been broken (6-8)
God broke the snare and delivered his people from their oppressors (Jdg 6:7). By the hand of Cyrus the Persian, he delivered them from Babylonian captivity (2Ch 36:22, 23). Satan is always busy laying traps for God's people; he seeks to ensnare us with fear and doubt, and hold us as his slaves. But our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He is the God who raised Jesus from the dead.
Prayer: Lord, you have delivered us from the power of sin, and from death. Praise the Lord our Maker.
One Word: The snare has been broken
