“If it had not been the Lord who was on our side,” Let Israel now say—“If it had
not been the Lord who was on our side, . . .” (Psalm 124:1 & 2, NKJV)
The Psalmist in this psalm takes a retrospective look back over Israel’s history and
where the nation would have been had it not been for God’s blessings and
protection. He begins the Psalm with “If it had not been for the Lord . . .” to get
Israel to see what would have happened if God had not loved and cared for them.
Every now and then we too should take a few minutes to look back over our lives
and ponder this same statement, “If it had not been for the Lord.” You see, too
often we are so focused on what we want, what we want to do, the hindrances, our
needs and our wants, until we forget to just thank God for what He has already
done and what He has kept us from. Where would you be if God had not
intervened in your situation? What would have happened had God not made a way
when you could not find a way? How often have you been at your very last and
God, “somehow” made a way?
The fact is, all of us have something to thank the Lord for. Today, bless and
encourage yourself. Take a few minutes, look back over your life as you reflect
upon the statement of the Psalmist, IF IT HAD NOT BEEN FOR THE LORD.