Psalm 124 (123):2Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Simon, behold, Satan has desired to sift you as wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith should not fail” (Luke 22:31, 32). This malevolent and relentless enemy, if not continuously restrained, would bring chaos and destruction to all. When he managed to gain a bit of power over the righteous Job, he devastated his home, marred his body, cast numerous calamities upon him, ruined his possessions, caused the death of his children, filled his flesh with torment, turned his wife against him, and made his friends his foes; if he could do all this, how much more would he wreak havoc without any restriction? Thus, the prophet states, “If the Lord had not been with us.” They were few in number and in dire straits, yet many opposed them upon their return. Nevertheless, God’s wisdom was evident in the way that their security was not granted all at once, but rather gradually and step by step. God orchestrated this to maintain their righteousness and to ensure that the lessons learned during their captivity would remain with them. Since being released from trials often leads to carelessness, He permitted them to face temptations even amidst blessings, prompting a continual exercise of reverence. God does not leave individuals forever in suffering, lest they grow weary, nor in prosperity, lest they become negligent; rather, He guides their salvation through various means. “They would swallow us up alive.” Reflect on how he portrays the brutality of their attackers. Indeed, there are individuals who exhibit wild ferocity, at times more savagely than animals do toward one another. An animal, once it has attacked, typically ends its rage or, if driven away, does not return, whereas humans may attack again viciously, attempting to maim their neighbor. Such is the recklessness of anger, an ever-boiling passion! How can we remedy this affliction? If we exercise wisdom, contemplate the inevitability of death, and examine our very essence, made of dust. When the allure of earthly beauty tempts your heart, turn instead to the graves and tombs of your forebears, and observe those who once lived, now reduced to dust—this sight can instill within you a spirit of humility. Do not mistake my words for harshness. Just as the fever-stricken need clean air after their ailment, so too do those consumed by passions find clarity at memorials, where they can shed burdensome vices. Truly, just the sight of an urn can humble the proudest of hearts. From this point, redirect your thoughts toward that dreadful future day, filled with torment and judgment, where no solace can be found, and against which no one can shield you. With these reflections, subdue your passions. Remember the individuals who have experienced a fall from abundance to destitution, from honor to disgrace; and if anger arises, direct it not towards your fellow brother, but towards the evil spirit. It is against him that you should unleash your fury; never seek peace with him, but rather exhaust your anger in battle against him, continually waging war in this unseen conflict.

Some scholars suggest that the Greek conjunction οτι may be unnecessary here.

Eusebius indicates that the elders, who survived and gained their freedom, conveyed this message to the youth raised in Babylon. Origen notes that it was a common practice for the priest to address the people arriving at the temple in the morning, instructing them to declare, “Let Israel now say, If the Lord had not been with us,” at which point the people were to respond faithfully. Chrysostom comments that David, revered as a foremost leader of worship, often encouraged the people to repeat this acknowledgment, teaching them to reflect on how, without the Lord’s presence, they would have encountered various misfortunes.

He emphasizes the considerable lessons provided through captivity—those who chased after false gods and disregarded the Lord now recognize their salvation is through Him, singing praises to the One who has triumphed. Let us likewise acknowledge that, had the Lord not been with us, destructive forces would have consumed us; what would our adversary, the devil, ever refrain from doing, given his unrelenting desire to ensnare the apostles and his nature as a maleficent and ravenous beast? If not frequently curtailed, he would have merged all things into chaos.

Eusebius further explains that through trials, one who fell to sin before their testing and found themselves engulfed by evil may be overwhelmed in times of persecution; conversely, one who remained devoted to God yet turned away in moments of trial would be overtaken by the living, a fate the true Israel—those who harbor purity of spirit—will never face. Theodoret elucidates the phrase, “then the living would be swallowed up,” in a manner that suggests we would be deprived of burial, consumed alive as though we were mere beasts.

“God is our refuge and strength, our Helper in the afflictions that befall us; therefore let us not fear, when the earth shall shake, and the mountains shall move to the midst of the seas” (Psalm 45:2-3). “In You our fathers trusted; they trusted, and You delivered them; to You they cried, and were saved; in You they trusted, and were not left in shame” (Psalm 21:5-6). “O Lord. You are our refuge in generation and generation” (Psalm 89:2). With this shield, the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob stood firm, as it is written: “He did not allow men to offend them, and rebuked kings for them” (1 Chron. 16:21). This same protection safeguarded Joseph, who remained virtuous in soul and body, untouched by the arrows of temptation and adversity. Through this shield, Israel was preserved as they departed from Egypt, safeguarded from their oppressor Pharaoh and the enemies they encountered along their journey, remaining unharmed in the promised land. “If the Lord had not been with us,” may Israel proclaim, “if the Lord had not been with us when men rose up against us, they would have swallowed us up alive; when their fury was kindled against us, the waters would have drowned us” (Psalms 123:1-4). King David of Israel bravely faced his enemies and declared: “All the Gentiles have overcome me, and by the name of the Lord have I opposed them; they overcame me like the bees of the honeycomb, and kindled like fire in thorns, but by the name of the Lord I opposed them” (Psalm 117:10-12). The prophets, apostles, saints, martyrs, and all who have pleased God throughout the ages have found refuge beneath this shield, enduring various trials and tribulations. Today, true Christians continue to place their trust in this invincible shield, and as they protect themselves from the onslaught of their enemies, they are emboldened to sing: “God is our refuge and strength, our helper in tribulation. The Lord of strength is with us, our Advocate, the God of Jacob” (Psalm 45:2, 8). “If God be for us, who is against us? He who spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not also with Him freely give us all things?” (Rom. 8:31-32). Fearless and victorious over all hellish forces is St. Paul, filled with love for God. Beloved Christian, Satan and all wicked spirits rage against humanity, especially targeting true believers, circling like unseen predators and rising to attack in myriad ways, seeking to annihilate them, whether directly or through false Christians and other vile individuals. Who could withstand their accusations and assaults had the Lord not shielded him with His goodness and the refuge of His merciful wings? Indeed, he would swiftly meet destruction. The sentiment expressed by St. David regarding ancient Israel’s defense is equally relevant for the new Israel, the Christians. Truly, the living would have been engulfed by our enemies had God not been present to protect us. “Blessed be the Lord, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth” (Psalm 123:6). Thus, it becomes clear how futile it is to place hope in anything other than God. What a feeble support is every mortal, a deceptive shield offered by any creature. Therefore, forsaking all else, we turn to this steadfast and formidable shield. “It is better to trust in the Lord than to hope in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to hope in princes” (Psalm 117:8-9). Some rely on cunning and deceitful words; others on riches or noble titles, or the influence of princes, or other worldly possessions. Yet all these are frail and fake shields that will ultimately disappoint. We shall defend ourselves in the name of the Lord, and we will not suffer shame. Be vigilant, Christian; let God alone be your strength, and His name will guard you against all accusations from the enemy. “I will love Thee, O Lord, my fortress! The Lord is my confirmation and my refuge, my Deliverer, my God, my Helper; in Him will I trust; my Defender, and the horn of my salvation, and my Advocate. I will call upon the Lord, and from my enemies I will be saved” (Psalm 17:2-4). “Even if I walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me” (Psalm 22:4). “You are my refuge from the affliction that hath overtaken me. My joy, deliver me from those who surround me” (Psalm 31:7). “You are my Helper; to You I sing, for You are my Advocate, my God, my mercy” (Psalm 58:18). When a Christian lives in the grace of God and in the protection of the Most High, though all evil forces, all worldly powers, and every demonic entity rise against him, and despite the multitude of troubles and disasters that surround him, he will find no harm. For God is mightier than all, holding him in His powerful hand, guarding and sustaining him. Fear not, O devoted and God-loving soul. “He shall deliver thee from the net of the trapper, and from the rebellious word; under His wings thou shalt be safe; His truth shall shield thee. Thou shalt not fear the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, the calamity that befalls by night, nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness. A thousand shall fall at thy side and ten thousand at thy right hand, but it shall not come near thee” (Psalm 90:3-7). This encapsulates the message of the entire psalm.

If interpreted in the context of the earthly Israelites, this psalm should reflect the trials they faced while in captivity or during the rebuilding of their city and temple. Conversely, if viewed as referring to the spiritual Israelites, that is, Christians on their pilgrimage to the heavenly Jerusalem, it should be associated with the persecutions inflicted by Gentiles and other wicked individuals, from which the holy martyrs and other faithful were rescued.

The psalm begins with profound and overwhelming joy, so great that it prompts the speaker to lose their ability to articulate their thoughts coherently. The Prophet, representing the multitude of saints liberated from severe trials, asserts that had it not been for the presence of the Almighty Lord, they would never have known deliverance. Before expressing a fully formed praise, he invites Israel—comprising all of God's people—to give thanks, exclaiming, "Let Israel speak," and reiterating, "If the Lord had not been in us."

He continues, noting that when adversaries rose up against them, they would have been consumed, similar to how the sea devours those who accidentally fall into its depths. He adds to this sentiment by noting the fury of their enemies, which metaphorically threatened to overwhelm them like a flood. The repetition of his thoughts underscores the enormity of their fear during distress, which can often exceed comprehension, while the relief of deliverance can cause them to forget the depths of their peril.

Satan seeks to undermine the awareness of God's mercy by flooding our minds with distractions that obscure it. Therefore, the Prophet emphasizes this astonishment to reinforce the recognition of divine protection. In the subsequent verses, he highlights the immeasurable power of God, which was made evident in the deliverance from enemies. This deliverance showcases that divine intervention surpasses human strength. The reference to "men" signifies a multitude of adversaries, illustrating that the trials faced by God’s people were not against a mere few, but against forces throughout the world. The phrase "For they have slain us alive" depicts not only the brutal ferocity of their enemies but also the overwhelming disparity in power; no weapons were necessary, as these ruthless foes could tear apart the defenseless with little effort.

The literal translation emphasizes this sentiment: “if it were not for the Lord’s presence with us.” The word used here conveys the idea that “if it were not that the Lord was with us.” In verse 5 of the Hebrew text, it states, “would that tempestuous waters had swept over our souls.” This expression is translated in Greek as ανυπόστατον and in Slavonic as unstable, indicative of tumultuous waters. In the context of the Greek text, this undoubtedly refers to overwhelmingly deep (bottomless) waters that offer no chance of escape; some early Church Fathers interpreted it as vast waters, while others applied the metaphor to real afflictions, describing them as unbearable and leading to destruction. Therefore, blessed be the Lord who has rescued us from peril (vv. 6 and 7); He, the Almighty who created heaven and earth, is our only helper, and hence we place our trust in Him (v. 8).

Had the Lord not been with us, the malevolent demons would have consumed us entirely; indeed, our adversary the devil incessantly seeks to undermine the apostles. This relentless and voracious enemy, if not continually restrained, would have brought chaos to all. Consider Job, who, despite experiencing the loss of his home, physical torment, ruin of his belongings, death of his children, and the scorn of his wife and friends—had he not been held back in myriad ways, would he not have faced utter destruction? The overwhelming tide of malevolence and demonic influence is countered by the waters of holy baptism, persistent prayer, endurance through suffering, and tears of repentance. The teeth signify demonic cruelty, while the snares symbolize the allure of idolatry, from which humanity has been redeemed through the Incarnation of Christ the Savior.