Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 124
Verses 1-8
PSALM 124
Ps 124:1-8. The writer, for the Church, praises God for past, and expresses trust for future, deliverance from foes.
1, 2. on our side—for us (Ps 56:9).
now—or, "oh! let Israel"
Verses 2
2. rose … against, &c.—(Ps 3:1; 56:11).
Verses 3
3. Then—that is, the time of our danger.
quick—literally, "living" (Nu 16:32, 33), description of ferocity.
Verses 4
4, 5. (Compare Ps 18:4, 16).
Verses 5
5. The epithet proud added to waters denotes insolent enemies.
Verses 6
6, 7. The figure is changed to that of a rapacious wild beast (Ps 3:7), and then of a fowler (Ps 91:3), and complete escape is denoted by breaking the net.
Verses 7-8
8. (Compare Ps 121:2).
name—in the usual sense (Ps 5:11; 20:1). He thus places over against the great danger the omnipotent God, and drowns, as it were in an anthem, the wickedness of the whole world and of hell, just as a great fire consumes a little drop of water [Luther].
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory (1871). Public domain.