July 3, 2020
For the next 15 days we will be reading through the Psalms of Ascent together as a church! The Psalms of Ascent are a collection of 15 psalms (Psalms 120-134) that pilgrims would sing on their way up to Jerusalem to worship. These songs are meant to instruct and prepare the hearts of the traveler to worship the Lord! As sojourners and aliens in this world, we too need to have our hearts prepared for and instructed in the worship of our God. Let’s meditate on these psalms and allow the Spirit of the Lord to move us to true worship as we seek Him together!
This is a song of thanksgiving because of the victory the Lord has given His people, the deliverance He has shown them when there should have been none! The pilgrim journeying to worship in Jerusalem celebrates the Lord’s deliverance from what was a seemingly hopeless situation. He expresses that they would have perished if it had not been for the Lord, but the Lord was with them and for them, and the Lord made a way!
This is the story of every one of God’s children. Our situation was hopeless; separated from God, dead in our sins, following the prince of the power of the air, under God’s just wrath with no way to change our situation. But God stepped in and made a way for us through Jesus Christ!
“At just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.” (Romans 5:6 NIV) Now we have been delivered and set free, just as the psalmist expresses in verses 6-7. We have been given the victory in Christ not because of anything we have done or anything good in us, but simply because God is for us, and every time we gather for worship we celebrate that victory! Let’s remember today how hopeless our situation was apart from God’s intervention and celebrate the victory and freedom which Christ has won for us today!
Psalm 124
Our Help Is in the Name of the Lord
A Song of Ascents. Of David.
124 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 people rose up against us,
3 then they would have swallowed us up alive,
when their anger was kindled against us;
4 then the flood would have swept us away,
the torrent would have gone 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 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.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Family Discussion Question:
- Why is it so important to understand that, if it were not for God’s intervention, we would be utterly destroyed? How does God’s being for us in such a radical way encourage us to respond to Him?
We are so blessed that God would be for us. He has confirmed that reality in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us!!
Our mission is to share that wonderful message of the gospel of Jesus Christ that changes our forever.
Amen and amen!!
AMEN and HALLELUJAh!! We are children of God. We need him everyday of our lives. We need to spread his word. We need to be nearer to our Lord and Savior. We need to pray to him everyday. I know my Lord loves me. All of this I pray in Jesus name Amen
My help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Our trust must always be in the Lord, who made heaven and earth! Amen
Dear Heavenly Father,
We are all so blessed to even be alive in this world whereas so many have never even been given the chance. We should be so thankful everyday that we would want to make the most of this life we are given and never underestimate this gift. .. especially the gift of eternal life we , as believers, have been awarded. Thank You, Lord ,for my life and for showing me the way to live with You on earth while You are preparing my home in heaven with You one day. Help me to guide others to You so no one will be left behind that seek You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
In the times we are living, we know God is with us, directing us, leading and guiding us through troubled waters. Let us seek God’s will daily in fervent prayer! Let us be faithful to our, one and only, present help in time of trouble, our All Mighty God, The Great Jehovah, The El Shaddai, The All Sufficient One. Let us draw closer to you Father, in a more intimate relationship, that we might know you greater. Thank you Father for loving us and providing a time of renewal spiritually. The same God who was with Israel in the Old Testament is with us today and will be with us forever. May Your Holy Name be praised and glorified enthusiastically daily, by your redeemed saints! Amen.
Lord rescue us once more. Father God, You have given us a banner to those who fear You. Lord Jesus You are our banner. May all see You as we go into battle. For where does my strength come from. It comes from the Lord the Maker of heaven and earth. In Jesus Name Amen.
Our trust must be in the Lord he alone is the only one that can help us.
Some in Israel may sure felt like the Psalmists in 1947. Lord help us in time of civil unrest to understand that you are in control and we must trust in you. We have to remember we are heaven bound
“If it had not been the Lord who was on our side—Our help is in the name of the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
“But God, rich in mercy and love…..”
Thank you Lord God for reminding us that if it had not been for Your love, mercy and grace we would be dying in our sins. I thank You that You are our help, our defense, our protection, our guide in the life you have called us to live. Please use us to reach others and point them to Jesus, the only Way to You. Amen.
Good morning Lord!
You are our bridge over troubled waters. You are our light in the darkness. You snatched us out of the pit. You are always there to catch us when we fall off the cliff. Thank you for your faithfulness and steadfast love.
This psalm spoke like never before. “If the LORD had not been on our side” – I began to imagine the choices and direction of my life without the guidance of the Holy Spirit and it overwhelmed me with gratitude for God’s Grace and mercy to save a sinner like me! Without being His child and left to my own devices, oh my! So I join the psalmist “Praise be to the LORD who has not let (me) be torn” by the enemy’s teeth! May the name of the LORD be praised!
Thank you Lord for the above awesome prayers and for this daily devotional. Amen
Absolutely………..”Our help is in the name of the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.”………Amen!
God reveals himself, his character, through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, that everything he does is ultimately to help us. I pray that today I will make decisions based on that fact, that I believe God wants to help me and that he’ll open and close doors accordingly. Today I will look for where God is working, and join him.
God will make a way when there seems to be no way. He will make a way for all that seek Him and are His followers.