5. In Praise of God’s Watchful Care
Hymns: RHC 339 When I Fear My Heart Will Fail, 542 Saved by Grace, 284 Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
PSALM 124
Psalm 124:1 <A Song of degrees of David.> If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say; 2If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us: 3Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us: 4Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul: 5Then the proud waters had gone over our soul. 6Blessed be the LORD, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth. 7Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped. 8Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth. (Ps. 124:1-8 KJV)
IN PRAISE OF GOD’S WATCHFUL CARE
OUTLINE
(1) He Cares (v1-5)
(2) Thanksgiving for His Care (v6-7)
(3) Confident of Future Care (v8)
INTRODUCTION
Our LORD’S watchful care over His people is the theme of this psalm. Because He cares, therefore He acts. This is the testimony of the psalmist as he pens the good hand of God’s deliverance for Israel by 6 imageries to describe the imminent danger of God’s people and the power of our LORD that delivered them.
This psalm gives us confidence in our earthly sojourn of God’s constant, consistent and conscientious care for His people. We rejoice to be counted His children. What a great privilege He bestows upon us.
This is a psalm of David, who testified the watchful care of God over the span of his entire life. In every trouble, God was there to protect, to guide, to guard. When he confronted Goliath, God helped him to triumph in His name, the name of the LORD of hosts (1 Sam. 17:45).
2 Samuel 22 is possibly an expanded account of this psalm. In it the psalmist showed us in great detail how the LORD cared for him.
The LORD is described as his rock, his fortress, his deliverer (v2). When the waves of death compassed him, the floods of ungodly men made him afraid (v5).
He testified, “in my distress I called upon the LORD and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of His temple, and my cry did enter his ears.” (v7)
(1) He Cares (v1-5)
1 A Song of degrees of David. If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say; 2 If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us: 3 Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us: 4 Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul: 5 Then the proud waters had gone over our soul.
Because the LORD was “a matter of fact” or of a truth on our side, we were delivered from the calamities that befell us. This is the sense of the two negatives or “not” in verse 1 & 2. Why was God on Israel’s side?
David testified as examined his life and the life of the nation.
2 Samuel 22:20-29 “He brought me forth also into a large place: he delivered me, because he delighted in me.The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me. For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God. For all his judgments were before me: and as for his statutes, I did not depart from them.I was also upright before him, and have kept myself from mine iniquity. Therefore the LORD hath recompensed me according to my righteousness; according to my cleanness in his eye sight.
With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful, and with the upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright. With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself unsavoury.
And the afflicted people thou wilt save: but thine eyes are upon the haughty, that thou mayest bring them down. For thou art my lamp, O LORD: and the LORD will lighten my darkness.”
He testified that he walked in holiness before God. Where he has sinned, he confessed his sin. God forgave him. Not sinless perfection, but holiness living with the fear of God in the heart.
The dangers in life’s pathways are described by the psalmist in 6 powerful images from verse 3-7 well summarized by James M. Boice’s commentary of this psalm:
- An animal swallowing its prey (v3)
- A flood submerging its victims (v4a)
- A torrent rushing over everything (v4b)
- Waters sweeping everything before them (v5)
- An animal grinding its prey (v6)
- A bird entangled in a trap (v7)
All these scenarios of danger and deliverance attest to the fact that our LORD does care and He acts to deliver His people out of their afflictions. Our God is living and a very present help in trouble.
(2) Thanksgiving for His care (v6-7)
6 Blessed be the LORD, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth. 7 Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped.
When we cry to God, He hears and He sends help for us. For this, the psalmist blessed the LORD.
2 Samuel 22:47-51 “The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation. It is God that avengeth me, and that bringeth down the people under me, And that bringeth me forth from mine enemies: thou also hast lifted me up on high above them that rose up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man. Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name. He is the tower of salvation for his king: and sheweth mercy to his anointed, unto David, and to his seed for evermore.”
Let us worship and bless our God who truly cares for us.
(3) Confident of Future Care (v8)
8 Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
Our help is in the name of our LORD Jesus Christ in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col 2:3), in whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins (Col. 1:14), He is before all things, and by Him, all things consist (Col 1:17).
Jesus is God’s final revelation to mankind and no further. He is the theme of the Bible, the theme of every psalm, the theme of the saints’ worship for all eternity. It gives us confidence that we are safe in the care of Jesus now and for all eternity.
CONCLUSION
As we meditate upon God’s care for His people, it must give to us great comfort and encouragement, our hearts leap with joy was we contemplate the truth that God does indeed now and forever. Amen.
DOES JESUS CARE?
Does Jesus care when my heart is pained
Too deeply for mirth or song,
As the burdens press, and the cares distress,
And the way grows weary and long?
Refrain:
Oh, yes, He cares, I know He cares,
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares.
Does Jesus care when my way is dark
With a nameless dread and fear?
As the daylight fades into deep night shades,
Does He care enough to be near?
Does Jesus care when I’ve tried and failed
To resist some temptation strong;
When for my deep grief there is no relief,
Though my tears flow all the night long?
Does Jesus care when I’ve said “goodbye”
To the dearest on earth to me,
And my sad heart aches till it nearly breaks—
Is it aught to Him? Does He see?