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Reading: Psalm 124
A song of ascents. Of David.
If the LORD had not been on our side—
let Israel say—
if the LORD had not been on our side
when people attacked us,
they would have swallowed us alive
when their anger flared against us;
the flood would have engulfed us,
the torrent would have swept over us,
the raging waters would have swept us away.
Praise be to the LORD,
who has not let us be torn by their teeth.
We have escaped like a bird
from the fowler’s snare;
the snare has been broken,
and we have escaped.
Our help is in the name of the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth (NIV).*
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Reflection
We live in a highly competitive world, and I’m not just talking about sports. Businesses compete for customers; advertisers compete for eyeballs; corporations strive for a competitive advantage. Nations jockey for leadership and influence on the world stage.
Now here is a question for you. In all this does the LORD take sides? Is He rooting for my football team—my business—my city—my country? Is He a Blue Jays fan, a Patriots fan, or is He rooting for Real Madrid? Will He be tuned into the big game?
Let’s tackle the easy question first. Yes, the LORD will be tuned into the Super Bowl game, the World Cup final, and the World Series. But He will also be watching a cricket match in Mumbai and a pick-up hockey game at an outdoor rink in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. Oh, and let’s not forget that newborn taking its first breath in a tin-roofed shack in Tanzania, or the grandma drawing her last breath in a hospital in Sweden. The LORD will watch it all.
Yes, but whose side will He be on? Actually, according to Psalm 124, that too is an easy answer. The LORD is on our side. If the LORD had not been on our side—let Israel say—if the LORD had not been on our side when people attacked us… the raging waters would have swept us away.
The LORD is always, always, always on our side. He is rooting for you. Three iron nails in a wooden cross drive home that point far better than words on a page or a screen. The real question is, and always has been, whose side are you on? Are you on the LORD’s side? Are you His man? Are you His woman?
Response: LORD God, I am so thankful that you are on my side, on the side of your redeemed people. This is my confession: Our help is in the name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. Amen.
Your Turn: Are you a sports fan? Are you on the LORD’s side? How are you showing you are on God’s side?
* New International Version, Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica
Volume II of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer by award-winning author David Kitz is available now. For a closer look at Volumes I and II click here.
15 And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of [e]the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” – Joshua 24:15 NKJV
Amen. We will serve the Lord.
Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging.
Thanks for reblogging, Vincent. Have a great weekend.
How inspiring to know our omnipresent God is by our side and the side of all who are in real need, I cannot help but declare my love for such a loving Father – I am on His side!
This reminded me of the old hymn, “Who Is On The Lord’s Side?” by Frances Ridley Havergal which I share here, https://youtu.be/QfunlcqcBXA
I’m not familiar with that hymn, Alan, but thanks for sharing it. I’ll have a listen.
Just a thought to add to the conversation, what if ‘whose side is God on’ is the wrong question? After the death of Moses, Joshua takes the mantle of leadership and crosses the Jordan River into the promised land. Israel than builds an altar, worships The Lord in that place and reestablishes their covenant with God. Then the Lord’s Commander confronts Joshua and Joshua asks him this exact question, ‘ whose side are you on?’ The response he got? No. We see in this moment, the question is not whose side is the Lord on, of course a good father is for his children, the question is whose side are we on? Are we for the Lord or not?
You are so very right, Dylan. Thanks for adding this account from Joshua. I make the same point in the conclusion of this post: “The real question is, and always has been, whose side are you on? Are you on the LORD’s side? Are you His man? Are you His woman?”
May we be on God’s side (and not assume God is on our side just because we are Christians!)