If It Had Not Been

PSALMS 124
Rev. Ronald Bell Sr.
Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020

Psalm 124 (NKJV) “If it had not been the LORD who was on our side,” Let Israel now say— 2 “If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, When men rose up against us, 3 Then they would have swallowed us alive, When their wrath was kindled against us; 4 Then the waters would have overwhelmed us, The stream would have gone over our soul; 5 Then the swollen waters Would have gone over our soul.”
6 Blessed be the LORD, Who has not given us as prey to their teeth. 7 Our soul has escaped as a bird from the snare of the fowlers; The snare is broken, and we have escaped. 8 Our help is in the name of the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.

I. Recognize God is always present. (vv1-5)

1“If it had not been the LORD who was on our side,” Let Israel now say— 2 “If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, When men rose up against us, 3 Then they would have swallowed us alive, When their wrath was kindled against us; 4 Then the waters would have overwhelmed us, The stream would have gone over our soul; 5 Then the swollen waters Would have gone over our soul.”

Stream –

Deuteronomy 31:6 (NLT) 6 So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the LORD your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”

Psalm 139:7-10 (ESV) 7Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? 8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! 9 If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 10 even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.

Romans 8:31-39 (NLT)
31 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?

II. Recognize God ‘s power in your life (V6-7)

6 Blessed be the LORD, Who has not given us as prey to their teeth. 7 Our soul has escaped as a bird from the snare of the fowlers; The snare is broken, and we have escaped.

A. His power will protect you (v6)

Nehemiah 4:20 (NLT) 20 When you hear the blast of the trumpet, rush to
wherever it is sounding. Then our God will fight for us!”

B. His power will deliver you (v7)

2 Corinthians 1:10 (ESV) 10 He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.

III. Respond to God with Praise for what He has done (vv. 6&8) 6 Blessed be the LORD, Who has not given us as prey to their teeth. 7 Our soul has escaped as a bird from the snare of the fowlers; The snare is broken, and we have escaped. 8 Our help is in the name of the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.

Luke 19:37-40 (NASB) 37 As soon as He was approaching, near the descent
of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles which they had seen, 38 shouting: “BLESSED IS THE KING WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.”40 But Jesus answered, “I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!”

Psalm 103:1-2 (NASB)

1Bless the LORD, O my soul, And all that is within me, bless His holy name. 2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits;

Psalm 34 (NKJV)
1 I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2 My soul shall make its boast in the LORD; The humble shall hear of it and be glad. 3 Oh, magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together. 4 I sought the LORD, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears…8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

Romans 8:31-39 (NLT) 31 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? …
35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? …37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. 38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER –STUDY

1. How do you think a Christian family might differ from a family that does not believe in the Lord?
2. What motivated the psalmists to depend on the Lord for help?
3. What attitude do these psalms tell us to have toward ourselves?
4. What attitude should God’s people have toward the Lord?
5. What did David realize about his own abilities in comparison to the Lord’s power? (124:1-8)
6. What should motivate us to depend on the Lord for help in times of need?
7. In light of these psalms, what attitude should we have toward church?
8. How do you think you could improve your attitude toward worshiping God?
9. In what specific ways do you need to depend more on the Lord and less on yourself?
10. In what specific area of your life could you depend more on the Lord and less on confidence in your own abilities?