“Our soul has escaped as a bird out of the snare of the trapper; The snare is broken and we have escaped” (verse 7). Well, David certainly knew a thing or two about narrow escapes, didn’t he? We’re all familiar, for example, about how a stone from his sling just happened to hit the giant Goliath in just the right spot to bring him down (I Samuel 17:49). And on another occasion, when he was on the run from King Saul, there was only one mountain separating them. But Saul just happened to hear that the Philistines were carrying out a raid in another part of the country, so he broke off his pursuit of David (I Samuel 23:26-28).

Was David just lucky? Well, he certainly didn’t think so. Instead, in this psalm, he gives all the credit to the Lord. It was the Lord who was on his side, giving him victory over Goliath and Saul (verse 2). And throughout history, God’s people have had so many opportunities to give the same sort of testimony. In the days of Moses, God parted the Red Sea to allow His people to escape from Egypt, but then drowned Pharaoh’s pursuing army as the waters rushed back over them (verses 4 and 5; Exodus 14:26-29). In the days of Hezekiah, God sent an angel to destroy the army of the invading Assyrians, all of whom were destroyed (II Kings 19:35). Yes, each time God’s people have been saved from danger, David insists that we should bless the Lord (verse 6).

So, what about us? After all, the amazing truth is that the One Who made heaven and earth also rose from the dead to prove His power. And yet He also insists that He is on the side of all who trust in Him – and He went to the cross to demonstrate His faithful love. So, the next time we escape from danger or injury, will we say we got “lucky?” Or will we stand with David, and give all the credit to the Lord?

Psalm 124 (NASB)

A Song of Ascents, of David.
“Had it not been the LORD who was on our side,” Let Israel now say,
2 “Had it not been the LORD who was on our side, When men rose up against us;
3 Then they would have swallowed us alive, When their anger was kindled against us;
4 Then the waters would have engulfed us, The stream would have swept over our soul;
5 Then the raging waters would have swept over our soul.”
6 Blessed be the LORD, Who has not given us to be torn by their teeth.
7 Our soul has escaped as a bird out of the snare of the trapper; The snare is broken and we have escaped.
8 Our help is in the name of the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.