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If the Lord Had Not Been on Our Side (Psalm 124)
Show Summary
Psalm 124 calls God’s people to look back with gratitude and confess a sobering truth: if the Lord had not been on our side, we would not still be standing. In this episode, Dave Jenkins walks through Psalm 124, showing how remembering God’s past deliverance guards us from pride, fuels worship, and strengthens obedience. Ultimately, this psalm points us to Jesus Christ—the One who broke the snare, delivered us from sin and death, and remains our only hope.Audio Player
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Key Scripture
Psalm 124Episode Notes
- Psalm 124 teaches God’s people to remember deliverance and confess God’s faithfulness.
- Remembering grace guards us against pride and spiritual amnesia.
- Faith does not deny danger—it tells the truth and then looks to God.
- God’s people stand because God intervenes.
- Psalm 124 ultimately points to Christ, our Deliverer, who broke the snare and secured our rescue.
Episode Outline
1. A Sobering Confession: “If Not the Lord” (vv. 1–2)
The psalmist calls God’s people to speak the truth together: survival was not inevitable. If the Lord had not been on our side, we would not be here.2. The Danger Was Real (vv. 3–5)
Scripture does not soften the threat—swallowed alive, swept away, overwhelmed by raging waters. Faith does not minimize reality; faith tells the truth and then looks to God.3. The Turning Point: “Blessed Be the Lord” (vv. 6–7)
Praise erupts because the Lord intervened. The snare was broken. Deliverance came from outside of us. This is grace.4. The Confession That Sustains (v. 8)
Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. The God who delivers is sovereign, powerful, faithful, and worthy of worship.Key Themes
- God alone is the source of our deliverance.
- Remembering grace guards us against pride.
- Faith includes honest reflection without living in guilt or shame.
- God’s people survive because God intervenes.
- Gratitude fuels worship and obedience.
Application
- Bless the Lord consciously. Remember what He has done, what He is doing, and how He will safely lead you home.
- Resist spiritual pride. Don’t credit your strength for what only grace can explain.
- Share testimony with others. Let others hear what the Lord has done and use remembrance to encourage faith.
- Begin this year with confidence in the Lord. He has already proven faithful—trust Him again today.
How Psalm 124 Points to Christ
If the Lord had not been on our side, we would still be dead in our trespasses and sins. But Jesus Christ entered our danger, bore the wrath of God in our place, broke the snare, and secured our rescue. Because of Christ, we can say with confidence: “Our help is in the name of the Lord.”Call to Action
If this episode encouraged you, please consider sharing it, leaving a review, and subscribing so others can find this biblical teaching.Subscribe to the Servants of Grace podcast wherever podcasts are available, at our YouTube, or view the rest of our Psalm series here at Servants of Grace.
Dave Jenkins is happily married to his wife, Sarah. He is a writer, editor, and speaker living in beautiful Southern Oregon. Dave is a lover of Christ, His people, the Church, and sound theology. He serves as the Executive Director of Servants of Grace Ministries, the Executive Editor of Theology for Life Magazine, the Host and Producer of Equipping You in Grace Podcast, and is a contributor to and producer of Contending for the Word. He is the author of The Word Explored: The Problem of Biblical Illiteracy and What To Do About It (House to House, 2021), The Word Matters: Defending Biblical Authority Against the Spirit of the Age (G3 Press, 2022), and Contentment: The Journey of a Lifetime (Theology for Life, 2024). You can find him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, or read his newsletter. Dave loves to spend time with his wife, going to movies, eating at a nice restaurant, or going out for a round of golf with a good friend. He is also a voracious reader, in particular of Reformed theology, and the Puritans. You will often find him when he’s not busy with ministry reading a pile of the latest books from a wide variety of Christian publishers. Dave received his M.A.R. and M.Div through Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.
