Week 44: Psalms 124-126

Published October 23, 2025

Questions: Psalms 124-126

  • Have you ever felt alone in this world? Have you ever wondered if anyone is on your side? We can be assured that those who trust in the Lord have HIM on their side! Today, fill in the blank. Were it not for God being on my side, _________________________. Psalms 124:8 says, “Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth."
  • When you trust in the Lord, scripture says you cannot be moved. You are like a mountain! Today, as a prayer to the Lord, recount the ways that God has made you immovable. 

    • Devotion

    The Psalms of Ascent (120-134) were sung by the Jewish pilgrims as they ascended towards Jerusalem and the Temple on Mt Zion for the celebration of Passover. Jesus would have traveled 120 miles from Nazareth down the Jordan Valley to Jericho and then up through the wadis from the Dead Sea. Even though Jerusalem is only 2,430 ft. above sea level, the full ascent is 3400 ft. They would have done most of this climb on the last day of their journey. Along the journey, there would have been many dangers, bandits, marauders, flash floods, scorching heat, wild animals, and stinging scorpions. These Psalms walk us through the physical journey as well as the Spiritual one. They start in Psalm 120:1 In my distress I cried to the LORD, and He answered me. They end in 134:3 May the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth, bless you from Zion.

    Psalm 124 talks of our plight if not for the Lord. He keeps us from the attacks of people, raging torrents, being swallowed alive. He breaks the snare of the fowler so we can escape. Do you put all your trust in God? For all your troubles? Do you lean not on your own understanding when troubles come your way? The world is in great tribulation and we need to learn how to lean on Him.

    Psalm 125 continues this theme of God’s protection. This time, the imagery is how the Lord surrounds us as the mountains surround Jerusalem. It also talks of how the Lord will bring justice to the wicked so that the righteous will not do injustice. I think of the army of angels who surrounded Elisha when the Syrian army came to kill him. They blinded his enemies, whom he then led to Samaria. Elisha told the king to have mercy on this army and had them fed and sent home. The Syrians never invaded their land again. We also must treat our enemies with compassion when God has put them under our power.
    Psalm 126 finishes this theme with the rejoicing that comes from being miraculously set free from our enemies. God will get great glory on that day, even from the unbelievers. This will not be a temporary joy but a lasting joy, like being healed from a terrible cancer or seeing a wayward child come to faith. When we learn to lean on the Lord, our lives may not get easier, but our joy will be so much greater. 

    - Phil Van Sickel