Unfailing Protection and Deliverance

We are blessed at Trinity Church of the Nazarene to have many gifted writers who share their gifts with us throughout the Advent season with daily devotionals. We invite you to reflect on these insightful readings and prepare your heart for celebrating this special season.

Psalm 124

¹What if the Lord had not been on our side? Let all Israel repeat:
²What if the Lord had not been on our side when people attacked us?
³They would have swallowed us alive in their burning anger.
⁴The waters would have engulfed us; a torrent would have overwhelmed us.
⁵Yes, the raging waters of their fury would have overwhelmed our very lives.

⁶Praise the Lord, who did not let their teeth tear us apart!
⁷We escaped like a bird from a hunter’s trap. The trap is broken, and we are free!
⁸Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

Unfailing Protection and Deliverance

Psalm 124 speaks to God’s unfailing protection and deliverance in perilous times. It invites us to constantly remember and give thanks for His intervention in our lives as it emphasizes our dependency on God. Our Father’s major intervention is the sending of His Son. This psalm calls to faith, reminds us that when faced with what seems insurmountable challenges we can confidently turn to our Maker and Protector, our Lord.

124:1-2 The names of problems do change with time, but their character of destruction is the same. David asks us to recall specific instances where you have experienced God’s deliverance in your life. How can these memories strengthen your faith?

124:3-5 The dangers faced by the Israelites and by us are metaphorically depicted as being swallowed alive, swept away by floods, and drowned by torrential waters. Totally hopeless and almost helpless—if not for the Lord!

After taking stock of the calamity that could have (perhaps should have) befallen us, David shifts to praise. He displays the attitude of gratitude we need to emulate.

The tone shifts to a joyous note of thanksgiving. The psalmist praises God for not allowing them to become a prey for their enemies’ teeth. Their escape is likened to a bird that has been released from the snare of a hunter–a metaphor that underscores God’s deliverance.

Develop a habit of thanking God for His protection and deliverance, both in personal prayers and communal worship.

124:8 Our Help Is in the Name of the LORD

David concludes with a powerful profession of faith, acknowledging that help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

We should remind each other, in times of peace and in times of trouble, of our Lord’s faithfulness in the past and promises for the future—continued provision and protection.

Author: Richard Lawson

Other Scriptures for today:

Genesis 9:1-17
Hebrews 11:32-40

More Advent Devotionals

The Branch Made Strong

“Look down from heaven and see the branch that You made strong for yourself.” (vss.14-15 NKJV)

Psalm 42

I have been thirsty–long hikes, limited water, and miles before the next source. I read the map, looking for the blue water drops printed next to the known sources of water.

Jude 1:17-25

Advent keeps us mindful that we are a people of waiting. This season mirrors the time God’s people endured waiting for the promise of redemption and reconciliation to be fulfilled. We wait, but we do not wait passively.

I Will Yet Praise Him

Near my home is a trench drain that collects water during the rainy season. If you live in Colorado, you well know that an abundance of collected water is not typical.

Isaiah 35:1-10

God is at work around us, the smells from the heavenly kitchen are wafting our way like the aromas from grandmother’s kitchen. God is calling us this advent to start setting the table.

1 Samuel 2:1-10

This is the Messiah for whom we eagerly await at Advent. This is the one we celebrate each Christmas as God’s gift to the world: the Messiah whose kingdom is established for eternity! God’s power, concern for the needy, justice, and eternal reign are manifest in the Christ child, our Lord and Savior.