Psalms 124

Psalms 124:1

The LORD Hears and Is Holy

The LORD is the same King in the realm of peace as He was in the days of Moses and of Aaron and of Samuel (Psalms 99:6). Moses and Aaron have been “among His priests” the men through whom He has interacted with His people. In a strict sense, Moses was not a priest, but he was one who served God in a priestly way through his intercessions. Samuel is mentioned by name among others who have called on His Name for the benefit of His people.

All three cried out to the LORD and He answered them (Exodus 17:10-13; Exodus 32:11-14; Numbers 12:13; Numbers 16:19-22; Numbers 21:7; 1 Samuel 7:5; 8-9; 1 Samuel 12:16-18; 23; cf. Jeremiah 15:1). They did not call out to Him in vain. The calling out to Him happened because of the people’s aberrations. Based on their calling, God spared His people and brought them into the land and helped them there. Thus, God will give the final blessing to His people on the basis of the intercession of the Lord Jesus.

The LORD spoke to His people “in the pillar of cloud”. This is a speaking not with words, but by His guidance. He went before them in a pillar of cloud and showed them the way (Psalms 99:7; Exodus 13:21). Moses, Aaron and Samuel “kept His testimonies and the statute that He gave them”. They listened to Him and therefore He listened to them.

The psalmist again addresses the LORD directly in Psalms 99:8. He calls Him again, as in Psalms 99:5, the “LORD our God”. That is how they know Him, God is their God. He knows that God has heard the three men mentioned because He was “a forgiving God to them”. God was able to forgive the sins of the people after Moses, Aaron and Samuel intervened with God as priests for the people.

Thereby He also had to exercise “vengeance” over “their [evil] deeds”. The wrong, sinful deeds they have done, God does not condone. He can forgive on the basis of the work of His Son which He had already foreseen in the Old Testament (cf. Romans 3:25). Yet sinful deeds result in God punishing them.

God’s acts of mercy have been manifested in the past with regard to Moses, Aaron, and Samuel. This leads the psalmist to call once more for the LORD to be praised, to sing His praises, and to honor Him (Psalms 99:9; Psalms 99:5). The place he designates for this purpose is “at His holy mountain”. There they are to worship, make themselves small before Him, thus emphasizing His greatness.

The psalmist concludes by once again professing the holiness of the LORD: “For holy is the LORD our God.” This is always the reason for praise and worship. He, with Whom they are connected, is “the LORD”, Yahweh, the God of the covenant He has made with them, allowing them to call Him “our God”.

At the same time, He is “holy”, completely separated from evil and free from any connection with sin. For people who are naturally depraved sinners, this makes the privilege of being brought into contact with Him unspeakably great. This cannot but produce great thankfulness, which is expressed in eternal praise and worship. Each time of the three times it is said that He is holy (Psalms 99:3; 5; 9) it is associated with the call to praise the LORD.

Psalms 124:2

The LORD Hears and Is Holy

The LORD is the same King in the realm of peace as He was in the days of Moses and of Aaron and of Samuel (Psalms 99:6). Moses and Aaron have been “among His priests” the men through whom He has interacted with His people. In a strict sense, Moses was not a priest, but he was one who served God in a priestly way through his intercessions. Samuel is mentioned by name among others who have called on His Name for the benefit of His people.

All three cried out to the LORD and He answered them (Exodus 17:10-13; Exodus 32:11-14; Numbers 12:13; Numbers 16:19-22; Numbers 21:7; 1 Samuel 7:5; 8-9; 1 Samuel 12:16-18; 23; cf. Jeremiah 15:1). They did not call out to Him in vain. The calling out to Him happened because of the people’s aberrations. Based on their calling, God spared His people and brought them into the land and helped them there. Thus, God will give the final blessing to His people on the basis of the intercession of the Lord Jesus.

The LORD spoke to His people “in the pillar of cloud”. This is a speaking not with words, but by His guidance. He went before them in a pillar of cloud and showed them the way (Psalms 99:7; Exodus 13:21). Moses, Aaron and Samuel “kept His testimonies and the statute that He gave them”. They listened to Him and therefore He listened to them.

The psalmist again addresses the LORD directly in Psalms 99:8. He calls Him again, as in Psalms 99:5, the “LORD our God”. That is how they know Him, God is their God. He knows that God has heard the three men mentioned because He was “a forgiving God to them”. God was able to forgive the sins of the people after Moses, Aaron and Samuel intervened with God as priests for the people.

Thereby He also had to exercise “vengeance” over “their [evil] deeds”. The wrong, sinful deeds they have done, God does not condone. He can forgive on the basis of the work of His Son which He had already foreseen in the Old Testament (cf. Romans 3:25). Yet sinful deeds result in God punishing them.

God’s acts of mercy have been manifested in the past with regard to Moses, Aaron, and Samuel. This leads the psalmist to call once more for the LORD to be praised, to sing His praises, and to honor Him (Psalms 99:9; Psalms 99:5). The place he designates for this purpose is “at His holy mountain”. There they are to worship, make themselves small before Him, thus emphasizing His greatness.

The psalmist concludes by once again professing the holiness of the LORD: “For holy is the LORD our God.” This is always the reason for praise and worship. He, with Whom they are connected, is “the LORD”, Yahweh, the God of the covenant He has made with them, allowing them to call Him “our God”.

At the same time, He is “holy”, completely separated from evil and free from any connection with sin. For people who are naturally depraved sinners, this makes the privilege of being brought into contact with Him unspeakably great. This cannot but produce great thankfulness, which is expressed in eternal praise and worship. Each time of the three times it is said that He is holy (Psalms 99:3; 5; 9) it is associated with the call to praise the LORD.

Psalms 124:3

The LORD Hears and Is Holy

The LORD is the same King in the realm of peace as He was in the days of Moses and of Aaron and of Samuel (Psalms 99:6). Moses and Aaron have been “among His priests” the men through whom He has interacted with His people. In a strict sense, Moses was not a priest, but he was one who served God in a priestly way through his intercessions. Samuel is mentioned by name among others who have called on His Name for the benefit of His people.

All three cried out to the LORD and He answered them (Exodus 17:10-13; Exodus 32:11-14; Numbers 12:13; Numbers 16:19-22; Numbers 21:7; 1 Samuel 7:5; 8-9; 1 Samuel 12:16-18; 23; cf. Jeremiah 15:1). They did not call out to Him in vain. The calling out to Him happened because of the people’s aberrations. Based on their calling, God spared His people and brought them into the land and helped them there. Thus, God will give the final blessing to His people on the basis of the intercession of the Lord Jesus.

The LORD spoke to His people “in the pillar of cloud”. This is a speaking not with words, but by His guidance. He went before them in a pillar of cloud and showed them the way (Psalms 99:7; Exodus 13:21). Moses, Aaron and Samuel “kept His testimonies and the statute that He gave them”. They listened to Him and therefore He listened to them.

The psalmist again addresses the LORD directly in Psalms 99:8. He calls Him again, as in Psalms 99:5, the “LORD our God”. That is how they know Him, God is their God. He knows that God has heard the three men mentioned because He was “a forgiving God to them”. God was able to forgive the sins of the people after Moses, Aaron and Samuel intervened with God as priests for the people.

Thereby He also had to exercise “vengeance” over “their [evil] deeds”. The wrong, sinful deeds they have done, God does not condone. He can forgive on the basis of the work of His Son which He had already foreseen in the Old Testament (cf. Romans 3:25). Yet sinful deeds result in God punishing them.

God’s acts of mercy have been manifested in the past with regard to Moses, Aaron, and Samuel. This leads the psalmist to call once more for the LORD to be praised, to sing His praises, and to honor Him (Psalms 99:9; Psalms 99:5). The place he designates for this purpose is “at His holy mountain”. There they are to worship, make themselves small before Him, thus emphasizing His greatness.

The psalmist concludes by once again professing the holiness of the LORD: “For holy is the LORD our God.” This is always the reason for praise and worship. He, with Whom they are connected, is “the LORD”, Yahweh, the God of the covenant He has made with them, allowing them to call Him “our God”.

At the same time, He is “holy”, completely separated from evil and free from any connection with sin. For people who are naturally depraved sinners, this makes the privilege of being brought into contact with Him unspeakably great. This cannot but produce great thankfulness, which is expressed in eternal praise and worship. Each time of the three times it is said that He is holy (Psalms 99:3; 5; 9) it is associated with the call to praise the LORD.

Psalms 124:4

The LORD Hears and Is Holy

The LORD is the same King in the realm of peace as He was in the days of Moses and of Aaron and of Samuel (Psalms 99:6). Moses and Aaron have been “among His priests” the men through whom He has interacted with His people. In a strict sense, Moses was not a priest, but he was one who served God in a priestly way through his intercessions. Samuel is mentioned by name among others who have called on His Name for the benefit of His people.

All three cried out to the LORD and He answered them (Exodus 17:10-13; Exodus 32:11-14; Numbers 12:13; Numbers 16:19-22; Numbers 21:7; 1 Samuel 7:5; 8-9; 1 Samuel 12:16-18; 23; cf. Jeremiah 15:1). They did not call out to Him in vain. The calling out to Him happened because of the people’s aberrations. Based on their calling, God spared His people and brought them into the land and helped them there. Thus, God will give the final blessing to His people on the basis of the intercession of the Lord Jesus.

The LORD spoke to His people “in the pillar of cloud”. This is a speaking not with words, but by His guidance. He went before them in a pillar of cloud and showed them the way (Psalms 99:7; Exodus 13:21). Moses, Aaron and Samuel “kept His testimonies and the statute that He gave them”. They listened to Him and therefore He listened to them.

The psalmist again addresses the LORD directly in Psalms 99:8. He calls Him again, as in Psalms 99:5, the “LORD our God”. That is how they know Him, God is their God. He knows that God has heard the three men mentioned because He was “a forgiving God to them”. God was able to forgive the sins of the people after Moses, Aaron and Samuel intervened with God as priests for the people.

Thereby He also had to exercise “vengeance” over “their [evil] deeds”. The wrong, sinful deeds they have done, God does not condone. He can forgive on the basis of the work of His Son which He had already foreseen in the Old Testament (cf. Romans 3:25). Yet sinful deeds result in God punishing them.

God’s acts of mercy have been manifested in the past with regard to Moses, Aaron, and Samuel. This leads the psalmist to call once more for the LORD to be praised, to sing His praises, and to honor Him (Psalms 99:9; Psalms 99:5). The place he designates for this purpose is “at His holy mountain”. There they are to worship, make themselves small before Him, thus emphasizing His greatness.

The psalmist concludes by once again professing the holiness of the LORD: “For holy is the LORD our God.” This is always the reason for praise and worship. He, with Whom they are connected, is “the LORD”, Yahweh, the God of the covenant He has made with them, allowing them to call Him “our God”.

At the same time, He is “holy”, completely separated from evil and free from any connection with sin. For people who are naturally depraved sinners, this makes the privilege of being brought into contact with Him unspeakably great. This cannot but produce great thankfulness, which is expressed in eternal praise and worship. Each time of the three times it is said that He is holy (Psalms 99:3; 5; 9) it is associated with the call to praise the LORD.

Psalms 124:6

Introduction

This is the second-to-last in the series of psalms describing the coming of the LORD as King, the Messiah (Psalms 93-101). Now that the LORD’s kingdom is established, everyone is invited to offer a sacrifice of praise in Jerusalem (cf. Isaiah 2:2; Zechariah 14:16).

Serve the LORD With Gladness

When Christ reigns, this “psalm for thanksgiving” will be sung (Psalms 100:1). This psalm for thanksgiving is sung when the LORD takes His rightful place as King over the earth. That it is called “a psalm for thanksgiving” indicates that it is sung at the time of the giving of the thank offering in the temple.

It is a call to ”shout joyfully to the LORD”, a call that concerns “all the earth”. All the inhabitants of the earth are called to share in the joy and worship of Israel (cf. Deuteronomy 32:43). The counterpart of this psalm of praise for us, believers of the New Testament dispensation, is found in Ephesians 1 and Revelation 5 (Ephesians 1:3; Revelation 1:5b).

It is a privilege to come into God’s presence and serve Him there “with gladness” and “with joyful singing” (Psalms 100:2). Serving is the service of worship and also the service of all of life. We may worship God and put our lives at His disposal. We may serve Him with all that we are and have. Because God’s people have failed to do so, God has sent enemies to them and imposed on them the iron yoke of slavery (Deuteronomy 28:47-48).

God’s people testify to all the earth “that the LORD Himself is God” (Psalms 100:3). They acknowledge Him as their Creator, for “it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves” (cf. Isaiah 29:23; Isaiah 60:21). They did not come into being and become His people in their own strength. It is only His work. He created the people and made them His people (cf. Deuteronomy 32:6b). He is their Former (Isaiah 43:1; Isaiah 45:11).

God’s people also stand in a special relationship to Him, namely as sheep in relation to a shepherd. They are “His people and the sheep of His pasture”. God is not only their Creator, He is also their Shepherd. We see this in the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, Who as the good Shepherd laid down His life for His sheep. He is not only their Creator but also their Savior (Matthew 1:21). He brings them to “His pasture”, where He cares for them with all that is good for them (Psalms 23:1-6). This verse is a confession of faith about Israel’s origin (cf. Psalms 95:7a).

Psalms 124:7

Introduction

This is the second-to-last in the series of psalms describing the coming of the LORD as King, the Messiah (Psalms 93-101). Now that the LORD’s kingdom is established, everyone is invited to offer a sacrifice of praise in Jerusalem (cf. Isaiah 2:2; Zechariah 14:16).

Serve the LORD With Gladness

When Christ reigns, this “psalm for thanksgiving” will be sung (Psalms 100:1). This psalm for thanksgiving is sung when the LORD takes His rightful place as King over the earth. That it is called “a psalm for thanksgiving” indicates that it is sung at the time of the giving of the thank offering in the temple.

It is a call to ”shout joyfully to the LORD”, a call that concerns “all the earth”. All the inhabitants of the earth are called to share in the joy and worship of Israel (cf. Deuteronomy 32:43). The counterpart of this psalm of praise for us, believers of the New Testament dispensation, is found in Ephesians 1 and Revelation 5 (Ephesians 1:3; Revelation 1:5b).

It is a privilege to come into God’s presence and serve Him there “with gladness” and “with joyful singing” (Psalms 100:2). Serving is the service of worship and also the service of all of life. We may worship God and put our lives at His disposal. We may serve Him with all that we are and have. Because God’s people have failed to do so, God has sent enemies to them and imposed on them the iron yoke of slavery (Deuteronomy 28:47-48).

God’s people testify to all the earth “that the LORD Himself is God” (Psalms 100:3). They acknowledge Him as their Creator, for “it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves” (cf. Isaiah 29:23; Isaiah 60:21). They did not come into being and become His people in their own strength. It is only His work. He created the people and made them His people (cf. Deuteronomy 32:6b). He is their Former (Isaiah 43:1; Isaiah 45:11).

God’s people also stand in a special relationship to Him, namely as sheep in relation to a shepherd. They are “His people and the sheep of His pasture”. God is not only their Creator, He is also their Shepherd. We see this in the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, Who as the good Shepherd laid down His life for His sheep. He is not only their Creator but also their Savior (Matthew 1:21). He brings them to “His pasture”, where He cares for them with all that is good for them (Psalms 23:1-6). This verse is a confession of faith about Israel’s origin (cf. Psalms 95:7a).

Psalms 124:8

Introduction

This is the second-to-last in the series of psalms describing the coming of the LORD as King, the Messiah (Psalms 93-101). Now that the LORD’s kingdom is established, everyone is invited to offer a sacrifice of praise in Jerusalem (cf. Isaiah 2:2; Zechariah 14:16).

Serve the LORD With Gladness

When Christ reigns, this “psalm for thanksgiving” will be sung (Psalms 100:1). This psalm for thanksgiving is sung when the LORD takes His rightful place as King over the earth. That it is called “a psalm for thanksgiving” indicates that it is sung at the time of the giving of the thank offering in the temple.

It is a call to ”shout joyfully to the LORD”, a call that concerns “all the earth”. All the inhabitants of the earth are called to share in the joy and worship of Israel (cf. Deuteronomy 32:43). The counterpart of this psalm of praise for us, believers of the New Testament dispensation, is found in Ephesians 1 and Revelation 5 (Ephesians 1:3; Revelation 1:5b).

It is a privilege to come into God’s presence and serve Him there “with gladness” and “with joyful singing” (Psalms 100:2). Serving is the service of worship and also the service of all of life. We may worship God and put our lives at His disposal. We may serve Him with all that we are and have. Because God’s people have failed to do so, God has sent enemies to them and imposed on them the iron yoke of slavery (Deuteronomy 28:47-48).

God’s people testify to all the earth “that the LORD Himself is God” (Psalms 100:3). They acknowledge Him as their Creator, for “it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves” (cf. Isaiah 29:23; Isaiah 60:21). They did not come into being and become His people in their own strength. It is only His work. He created the people and made them His people (cf. Deuteronomy 32:6b). He is their Former (Isaiah 43:1; Isaiah 45:11).

God’s people also stand in a special relationship to Him, namely as sheep in relation to a shepherd. They are “His people and the sheep of His pasture”. God is not only their Creator, He is also their Shepherd. We see this in the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, Who as the good Shepherd laid down His life for His sheep. He is not only their Creator but also their Savior (Matthew 1:21). He brings them to “His pasture”, where He cares for them with all that is good for them (Psalms 23:1-6). This verse is a confession of faith about Israel’s origin (cf. Psalms 95:7a).