Text: “If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say; If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us: Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul: Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.”– Psalm 124:1,2,4,8.
Comment: This declaration by King David is expressive of his appreciation of the lovingkindness of God in delivering him from death so many times from the wicked devices of King Saul and from the several wars he was engaged in. The wars were not for his personal glory but were in defense of the name of God and His chosen people. Likewise, our appreciation of the Lord’s goodness should be underlined by the fact that He had delivered us from the wicked activities of terrorists, insurgents, armed robbers, kidnappers, etc. We should do the will of God more and more in appreciation of His goodness. – Psalm 40:5; Isaiah 38:18, 19.
It is the will of God that those who are still steeped in wickedness should first receive warning from God. In Isaiah 58:1, it is written: “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.” The essence of warning the people is to turn them from their sinful past. “But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.” – Ezekiel 18:21-23.