Psalm 124 (123):6Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The explanation lies in the assistance of God, the divine support, which serves as our unyielding refuge. Consequently, following his discourse on escape from disaster, the prophet also addresses the Source of this rescue, expressing it through praise: ‘Blessed be the Lord, who hath not delivered us to be a prey to their teeth! Our soul is delivered as a bird out of the net of the fowlers: the net is torn, and we are delivered.’ Notice how he illustrates both his own frailty and the might of his adversaries? They are likened to ravenous beasts and lions, eager to consume flesh, armed with both power and wrath; yet these foes are weaker than a mere bird. The astonishing acts of the Lord are most vividly demonstrated when the vulnerable triumph over the mighty.

The prophet brought together a vision of their ferocity alongside God's assistance; he employed the term: teeth, illustrating their savagery.

Praised be the Lord, who ensures our deliverance from peril. The mention of teeth by the Jews symbolically illustrates the ferocity and power of the neighboring nations that sought to consume them, much like wild animals prey upon their victims. Observe how he portrays both his vulnerability and their might. These creatures, resembling lions, launched their assaults, demonstrating their intent to consume, fueled by strength and rage; yet they were ultimately feebler than any bird. The miraculous works of God shine most brilliantly when the frail triumph over the mighty.

In this passage, the prophet encourages the faithful Israelites to express their gratitude, articulating sentiments that embody a thankful spirit. He illustrates through metaphor that their survival was solely due to God's intervention. He compares their deliverance from adversaries to a situation where one rescues a fierce beast from a trap. Furthermore, he introduces another metaphor to amplify the extent of God's benevolence: by likening the various treacheries of their foes to a fowler's snare, he leads them to give thanks to God for preventing their enemies from ensnaring them, akin to a bird trapped in a net.

God alone has been our assistance. The inscription found in the Hebrew version of the Psalter attributes this psalm to David, although this is mainly contradicted by the Aramaic influence present in its language. It is possible that this psalm was composed as a hymn of gratitude after threats from the Arameans and Idumeans had been averted, as referenced in 2 Samuel 8 and 10. Alternatively, it may express the thankfulness of those returning from exile: had the Lord not been with us—this is a declaration that all of Israel must earnestly affirm—our fierce adversaries would have surely overwhelmed us (vv. 1 and 2); we would have been entirely swept away by the onslaught of our enemies (3-5), as the Lord was not with us.

As the Word of God took on human form and lived among us, those who are baptized into Christ are clothed in His righteousness, growing strong and fearless in the face of evil spirits. The fallen angels, cast down from heaven due to their pride, have been vanquished, while Christians, as the children of God, access the celestial realms, their true home in the Heavenly Jerusalem. Idolaters may require the living presence of holy martyrs to feed their idols, yet these martyrs, bolstered by Christ our Lord, show no fear towards those who may take their lives, recognizing that though they can harm the body, they cannot destroy the soul. The waters symbolize the trials and tribulations inflicted by the wicked upon those who hold faith in Christ, the true God.