READING: Psalm 120-127, 1 Corinthians 1
It’s a simple statement, but it’s packed with relevance: “If the Lord had not been on our side . . . ” (Psa 124:1, 2). For the psalmist, Israel was to say “If the Lord had not been on our side when people attacked us, then they would have swallowed us alive in their burning anger against us. Then the water would have engulfed us; the torrent would have swept over us; the raging water would have swept over us” (Psa 124:2-5). Scholars debate the context of this psalm, but the direction is clear as the psalmist piled up the images of defeat: the Israelites would have been consumed by their enemies had it not been for God’s presence and protection.
Today, I wonder what my life would be like if the Lord had not been on my side. I would not be forgiven. I would have little purpose in my life—certainly not an eternal one. My sins would have overtaken me. I would not have had the many godly relationships God’s given me. Hope for eternal life would not exist. I would be, in Paul’s words, a man “pitied more than anyone” (1 Cor 15:19). Indeed, I cannot imagine what it would be like to live without God.
So, I’m really, really thankful God is on my side.
PRAYER: “Father, thank You for being with me.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Psalm 128-135, 1 Corinthians 14