Songs for the Road: Songs that Inspire
November 8
Psalm 124/123

Have you ever had a time when you had to overcome something you thought was impossible? Have you ever had one of those moments where you knew if were not for God being in your life you would have been swallowed up by the enemy (Satan)? This week as we continue in our series “Songs for the Road” we will be discussing psalms 124, calling it “Songs That Inspire” (Songs of Mercy). John Mason Good tells us that “The title informs us that this sacred march was composed by king David; and we learn very clearly from the subject, that the progression referred to was the triumphant return of the king and his loyal army to Jerusalem, upon the overthrow of the dangerous rebellion to which the great mass of the people had been excited by Absalom and his powerful band of confederates.” This makes me think of the many times we go into battle, and the odds may not be in our favor. Even the thought of joining the fight was a bad idea let alone actually fighting in it; however, with the Lord on our side we made it, we not only survived but we were victorious! All because of the grace of God! It reminds me of a friend at the church I was at before coming to Elk Grove, His name was Bill, and he served in the Army infantry during WWII. One day as I was waiting at the door to wish people well after services I noticed many stickers on his cane from Germany, (being a young whippersnapper) I didn’t put together the fact that they were from WWII instead because I had recently lived in Germany, Heidelberg in particular which was one of his stickers, I decided to start a conversation about how I enjoyed my stay in Germany. He then started to tell me how his experience wasn’t based on the same circumstances as mine, and begin to tell me about his journey in Germany. He told me how the average lifespan of an infantry soldier in WWII was 12 minutes. Think about that, 12 minutes! He then proceeded to tell me about how the army only bought him a one-way tickets and how he made them buy him another one to come home over a year later. He talked about how there were so many times that he shouldn’t have made it and how all he could do was pray to God. He was so thankful that God was on his side and answered his prayers; that not only did God keep him alive but he made it through with limited injuries and was able to spend a long and happy life with his wife that we was married to for over 60 years! I know he would relate to this Psalm and would probably be singing it on his way home just as David did, rejoicing in VICTORY, that only comes from GOD!

Psalm 124
1 If the Lord had not been on our side— let Israel say—2 if the Lord had not been on our side when people attacked us,3 they would have swallowed us alive when their anger flared against us;4 the flood would have engulfed us, the torrent would have swept over us,5 the raging waters would have swept us away.6 Praise be to the Lord, who has not let us be torn by their teeth.7 We have escaped like a bird from the fowler’s snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped.8 Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
Join us this Sunday at 10am as we discuss songs that inspire and reflect on Gods grace that gives us VICTORY! Visit egchurchofchrist.org for more details.