1 If it had not been the Lord who was on our side—
let Israel now say—
2 if it had not been the Lord who was on our side
when people rose up against us,
3 then they would have swallowed us up alive,
when their anger was kindled against us;
4 then the flood would have swept us away,
the torrent would have gone over us;
5 then over us would have gone
the raging waters.
6 Blessed be the Lord,
who has not given us
as prey to their teeth!
7 We have escaped like a bird
from the snare of the fowlers;
the snare is broken,
and we have escaped!
8 Our help is in the name of the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
I remember in second grade, Mrs. Hankins (the greatest 2nd grade teacher in the world) one day showed us a glass of water that wasn't empty, but it wasn't full either. This is when I was introduced to the concept of the glass being half empty or half full. Pessimism or optimism; the choice is ours to make. How we approach everythin in life depends on whether we see our limitations as restrictive or an opportunity to grow with God's grace.
The Psalmist of 124 is definitely an optimist, a glass half full person. The Psalmist has gone through trials, temptations, anger of the people, snares, hatred like rushing waters. He has every reason to complain about everything. To whine and moan and do nothing about it. Instead, he begins with an acknowledgment: "If it had not been the Lord who was on our side."
Today, will you be grateful for what God is doing and has done, or will you continue to think about what cannot be done? Will your attitude be one of frustration, or will you take your fears and anxieties to God? The hope that we all have, and the thing which we can cling to, is that it is the Lord who has been, is, and will be on our side.
Prayer: God, forgive the times when I complain without giving thanks. Give me the hope to know that you are on my side. Amen.
G. Thomas Martin
