Commentary by A. R. FAUSSET
PSALM 124
The writer, for the Church, praises God for past, and expresses trust for future, deliverance from foes.
1, 2. on our side—for us (Psa 56:9).
now—or, "oh! let Israel"
2. rose...against, etc.— (Psa 3:1; 56:11).
3. Then—that is, the time of our danger.
quick—literally, "living" (Num 16:32-33), description of ferocity.
4, 5. (Compare Psa 18:4, 16).
5. The epithet proud added to waters denotes insolent enemies.
6, 7. The figure is changed to that of a rapacious wild beast (Psa 3:7), and then of a fowler (Psa 91:3), complete escape is denoted by breaking the net.
8. (Compare Psa 121:2).
name—in the usual sense (Psa 5:11; 20:1). He thus places over against the great danger the omnipotent God, and drowns, as it were in an anthem, the wickedness of the whole world and of hell, just as a great fire consumes a little drop of water [LUTHER].