Psalm 124 (123):8Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

It is no longer an open struggle or a battle of equals; instead, the adversary is cast down while you stand tall and strike from a position of strength; he is weakened while you are empowered. So why does he often seem to prevail over us? Through our timidity, through the negligence of those who remain in slumber. If you stand against him, he will not dare to challenge you. Yet, if he overwhelms those who are asleep, it is not due to his might, but rather your own timidity. Who, even among the weakest, would not triumph over the one who sleeps? But now the strong one is bound, his resources are plundered (Matt. 12:29), his power is shattered, his refuge is laid bare, his weapons are taken from him. What more could you possibly require? Why do you continue to fear him? Why do you tremble? You are called to trample upon him, weakened: why do you hesitate? Do you not understand the Power that aids you? For not only has your opponent become feebler, but your assistance has grown immensely. The turmoil of the flesh is subdued, the burden of sin is dismantled, and you have received the grace of the Spirit, the anointing power: ‘As the law, which was weakened in the flesh, was powerless, God sent His Son in the likeness of sinful flesh as a sacrifice for sin, and condemned sin in the flesh, that the justification of the law might be fulfilled in us which do not live according to the flesh’ (Rom. 8:3, 4). He has made the flesh obedient and provided you with armor—the belt of truth, the helmet of salvation, the shield of faith, the Sword of the Spirit; He has given you sustenance—through His flesh and His blood; He has provided you the cross as an unbreakable spear, binding the adversary and throwing him down. Therefore, you have no justification if you are vanquished; you cannot plead innocence if you fall, for you have countless means to secure victory. ‘The net is torn, and we are delivered. Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.’ Do you grasp what a Leader you have, what a Monarch? The Creator of all, who spoke into existence such beings—vast and magnificent. Do not falter, stand boldly; nothing shall prevent you from raising a glorious standard. Beloved, understanding this, let us remain vigilant and diligent, let us not yield to slumber; let us sharpen our weapons and intensify our zeal as we engage the enemy relentlessly, so that, having achieved a glorious victory, we may enter the kingdom of heaven with great honor, which we shall all partake in through the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Chrysostom observes the remarkable nature of our commander and king: the Creator, who has brought forth such immense creation with just a single word. Thus, we should not lose heart, but rather remain steadfast, vigilant, and courageous. We must intensify our efforts, sharpen our spiritual weapons, and engage in battle relentlessly. For through His cross, Christ has shattered all of the enemy’s traps; the strong one has been bound, his treasures have been seized, and his power has been annihilated. So why do you fear him? Why do you tremble? You are urged to conquer the one from whom the stronghold has been taken; why does he still seem to triumph? It is due to our own passivity; if you choose to stand against him, he will hesitate to confront you, and even in your slumber, he will not gain the victory. It is not his strength that causes your downfall, but rather your own carelessness. Therefore, there is no justification for your spiritual decline.

Verse 5 is rendered, "Would that the turbulent waters had engulfed our being." The Greek term used here suggests deep, unfathomable waters that signify total despair; some early Church Fathers interpreted this as immense waters, while others, transitioning from metaphor to reality, referred to them as insurmountable calamities. Therefore, let us bless the Lord who has freed us from peril (6, 7). He, who is the Almighty Creator of heaven and earth, has come to our aid, and in Him alone is our hope (8).

This malevolent and insatiable force, if not restrained, would wreak havoc. For if he, having gained a measure of control over the blessed Job, could annihilate his household, ruin his physical form, unleash calamities, deplete his resources, take his children, infest his body with disease, turn his wife against him, and incite his friends to become foes, then without restraint, would he not destroy all? The relentless surge of evil and demonic enchantments is vanquished through the waters of holy baptism, continual prayer, the endurance of suffering, and the tears of repentance. The teeth signify the cruelty of demons; the snares represent the allure of idolatry from which humanity was liberated by the incarnation of Christ the Savior.