Psalm 124 — David
What if the Lord wasn’t on our side? That’s the leading question in this Psalm.
David went on to describe what that would look like. But do we ever stop to ask ourselves what that would look like in our world today?
I can’t imagine all the ways our Father protects us without us even knowing as we walk through our day.
The Psalm ends with, “Our help is from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”
Thank you, Father, for Your mercy and love that protects us through the storms we see and don’t see. We can depend on Him because He is trustworthy.
Psalm 125 — Anonymous
This is yet another Psalm focused on how trusting in God is a form of protection.
It starts with, “Those who trust in the Lord are as secure as Mount Zion.” Mount Zion is the mountain on which Jerusalem was built, so I’d have to imagine this is a symbol for how strong and steady trusting in God is in our lives. By leaning on Him, we will not be moved by the storms in our lives. He is our Firm Foundation.
Verse 4 stuck out to me also—“whose hearts are in tune with you.” It made me wonder if my heart was truly in tune with His. What does that look and feel like?
I concluded that to have a heart in tune with God’s, we would walk the way He did—with integrity, purity, and love—which in turn would bring great inner peace.
Psalm 126 — Anonymous, A Song of Ascents
This is a reflection from when the people were freed from captivity and how unreal it felt compared to the deep suffering they once endured.
It was a beautiful way to express gratitude for what the Lord had done for them and an example of how they learned to trust in God to deliver them.
He cannot fail!
Psalm 127 — Solomon
There was a reason Solomon was known for his great wisdom. This Psalm begins by simply stating that if the Lord’s hand isn’t in it, you are wasting your time.
Humans spend a lot of energy, money, and time trying to impress others and often forget that without God’s blessing, their toiling often just wears them out and their labor doesn’t produce much fruit.
Solomon then goes on to say that anxious striving doesn’t impress the Lord one bit. He rewards those who put their trust in Him and allow Him to be the driving force behind their efforts.
He rewards them with rest and peace. What a gift!
The second half of this Psalm shifts to family.
He speaks of the beauty of a strong family and how children are blessings from Him. This is such a sweet message, as anyone who has been blessed to become a parent knows it comes with its challenges. But remembering it’s an honor the Lord entrusted you with should help you through those ups and downs. And once again, those children were His before they were ours, so we can have faith He will look after them.
Psalm 128 — Anonymous
What wonderful promises the Lord gives to His children!
However, I did have to spend some time with the phrase “those who fear the Lord.” This phrase is often repeated in the Psalms, so it’s something to tune into, especially with all the promises attached to it.
Scripture also repeats “Do not fear” in many different forms.
I interpret fear as the same concept in both places, but one leads to darkness and one leads to light and peace.
The fear of the Lord means to have a deep reverence and honor for God. Almost that no matter what storm or terrifying thing you might be facing, it pales in comparison to losing God’s presence and protection over your life.
The fear of God should draw you closer and keep you from spending time in the flesh.
With the Lord by your side, He promises to not only keep you safe from harm but provide you and your family with blessings that reflect His great love for you.
What a loving Father He is.
Psalm 129 — Anonymous
Another example of how faithful our loving Father is to those who follow Him.
The Psalm discusses the deep oppression and pain the people of that time experienced and how God delivered them through it all. I’m sure they had to wrestle with doubt and asked, “How long will it be this way?” many times, but in the end, God has the final say.
His timing. His perfect plan. The same goes for us today.
Jen Fitzgerald
