Psalms 124:5

Then, &c.— Then it had passed over our soul, even {proud / swelling} waters.

REFLECTIONS.—The greater the danger is to which we are exposed, the greater doth the power and grace of our God appear in our rescue, and the more are we indebted to him in love and praise.

1. The enemies of God's church and people are many and mighty; rising up fierce as a lion, and ready to devour them, quick and eager in the pursuit, and raging in their wrath to destroy them. Then in that day of trial we may truly say, the waters had overwhelmed us, and the stream had gone over our soul; then the proud waters had gone over our soul, the floods of persecution, affliction, temptation had prevailed, and we had sunk as a stone in the mighty waters, if,—and a blessed if it is—

2. If it had not been the Lord, who was on our side, or with us, for our strength is weakness, and we have no power to stand, either against our foes without or within; but having a friend close to our side, one so faithful to stand by us, so almighty to save us, even Jehovah, we cannot sink under these mighty waters; fixed, as upon a munition of rocks, we may look down secure, and mock their impotent rage.

3. The Psalmist, in the person of the faithful, blessed God for their support and deliverance. Blessed be the Lord, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth, he hath broken the teeth of the lions, our persecutors; and, as a bird from the fowler's snare, are we escaped from our wily foes. Note; When the faithful are nearest in appearance to be overcome, and perish, then shall they be made more eminently to experience the salvation of God.

4. Past experience encourages the faithful to stay themselves still upon God. Our help is in the name of the Lord; we have no other able or willing to save us, but he who made heaven and earth; and he can assuredly save to the uttermost. Let Israel therefore trust in the Lord.