Blessed Be Your Name, O Lord
BRD REFLECTIONS:
Deuteronomy 19; 20 and Psalm 124 (NIV)
(Loke Ai Mei, COSC Director)
READ:
Psalm 124 is a song of praise and thanksgiving describing deliverance and help from God for His people under threat of harm and destruction.
In verses 1-5, the psalmist reflects on the circumstances they were in, suffering under the hands of their enemies. He recognises that without the divine intervention of God, when the enemies’ anger was upon them, they would have been “swallowed” and “overwhelmed”. Verses 6-8 expresses gratitude to God who is sovereign. The Creator of heaven and earth is the only one who is mighty to save and redeem His people.
OBSERVE:
This Psalm consists of just eight verses but it tells beautifully of God’s redemptive power in times of desperate need and of His people celebrating the Lord as their one and true Jehovah.
The first two verses set the tone for the entire Psalm. The phrase “If it had not been for the Lord who was on our side” is a positive, affirmative declaration of the Lord who intervened in life-threatening situations to rescue His people on the verge of ruin. Everyone in the community is encouraged to sing this Psalm, giving praise to the Lord for His protection. It is a song worthy of the Lord and magnifies His power and grace.
In verses 6-8 Israel gives God all the glory and honor. He alone is their help and life. If not for the Lord, they would not have escaped. Their destruction was certain, like a snared, helpless prey about to face death. It is therefore right that David magnifies the praise of God and calls upon the people to testify and keep their confidence in their covenantal God, the deliverer.
APPLY:
Life can be hard. We face all kinds of uncertainty, hardship, pain, fear and anxieties. This Psalm reminds me that God is our only source of dependence and our deliverer. He is the Creator God who knew me before I was born and is able to rescue and redeem. I can rely on His faithfulness and proclaim “my help is in the name of the Lord and blessed be the Lord.”
We must, as a church community, continue to sing Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, magnifying the name of the Lord and His sovereign faithfulness and goodness. Let us exalt His name forever. We should seize every opportunity to encourage one another with testimonies on God’s saving grace in our lives and let others hear of His wonderful works.
When I continue to walk intimately with the Lord, to live a daily surrendered life and to practice reflection and meditation, I will recognise God’s active work. The “If it had not been…” in my life will be credited to God and not someone else. Glory, praise and honor therefore goes to Him and not to others.
DO:
To intentionally make every effort to practice daily reflection and thanksgiving, to recognise God’s plan and role in my life. Situations do not happen by chance. God is in control. I will share testimonies of His goodness and faithfulness in times of waiting, uncertainty and of His deliverance.
PRAY:
You are sovereign, O God . I place my trust in Christ alone. No matter life’s circumstances, I can sing of your goodness and say blessed is Your Name O Lord! When You rescue me from distress or difficulties, help me to recognise Your hand and tell others “If You had not been with me/us…”. Thank you that You are an everlasting, unchanging God who is ever-present, dependable and faithful. Thank you for loving me as your child. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen.
