What if the LORD had not been on our side? Let all Israel repeat: What if the LORD had not been on our side when people attacked us? They would have swallowed us alive in their burning anger. The waters would have engulfed us; a torrent would have overwhelmed us. Yes, the raging waters of their fury would have overwhelmed our very lives. Praise the LORD, who did not let their teeth tear us apart! We escaped like a bird from a hunter’s trap. The trap is broken, and we are free! Our help is from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. [Psalm 124.1-8]
David's Psalm reveals much today.
If God had not been on Israel's side, their enemies would have swallowed them up alive in the burning anger (but they didn't).
If God had not been on Israel's side, the waters would have engulfed them (but they didn't).
If God had not been on Israel's side, the torrent would have overwhelmed them (but it didn't)
If God had not been on Israel's side, the raging waters of their enemies would have overwhelmed them (but they didn't).
If God had not been on Israel's side, their enemies' teeth would have torn them apart (but they didn't).
Instead, Israel escaped like a bird from a hunter's trap.
It says "Our HELP is from the LORD..."
Define "help." In this Psalm help is the "but it didn't" part.
It is time that God's people once again simplify our lives and theology. If we are "helped." it is the goodness and mercy of God. If we are not "helped," it is our own sin and we need to repent.
David's words here are the words of a repentant man. His praise is the praise of a repentant man who has truly experienced forgiveness (and all its blessings) and is genuinely worshipful.
So, praise is really for the repentant. Yes, praise belongs to God, but when delivered from an unrepentant heart, it never reaches its Recipient.
No amount of praise will overcome un-confessed sin in our lives. No amount of praise will overcome disobedience in our lives.
Praise is not coercion. Again, praise is the natural response of one who has experienced the blessings of God (read Deuteronomy 28.1-14) resultant to the effort of repentance.
In these New Testament times, repentance begins as the repentance for unbelief and is remedied when, "...whosoever believes in Jesus..." So, in Christ, we may indeed praise God, for in Christ is the greatest manifestation of God's love, mercy and forgiveness. But no one comes to Christ except through the heart-gate of repentance.
The unrepentant is unforgiven and therefore has nothing for which to praise God. An unrepentant person has absolutely no right or claim to praise God.
Any attempt for the unrepentant to praise God will do one of two things: (1) bring conviction which will in turn stop the praise (for a time) and start the repenting, or (2) callous the heart with a facade of powerless and lifeless religion that will likely never be overcome.
Is it worth it to be unrepentant?
Father, I am completely blown away today by the revelation of Psalm 124. Help me to reserve my attempts at praise for my responses to You when I have truly experienced Your forgiveness.
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