God is always stronger than the greatest flood of adversity.
When the psalmist declares, “Then the raging waters would have gone over our soul” (v.5), he paints a striking picture of devastation and peril. In the Old Testament, “waters” frequently represents chaos or a life-threatening force, as seen in other passages such as Psalm 69:1 where the author likens overwhelming adversity to deep waters which endanger the very essence of life. The expression “raging waters” further amplifies the notion that God’s people were on the brink of being consumed by turmoil, highlighting that apart from the LORD’s intervention, total disaster would have ensued. The psalmist thus emphasizes that deliverance is found in the LORD alone, whose power surpasses every threat.
Psalm 124 as a whole celebrates the LORD’s protection. The mention of “raging waters” (v.5) reflects how trials can swiftly rise up around us, threatening to submerge us in hardship. Nevertheless, where human strength would fail, God intervenes to preserve His people. This reassurance of divine rescue resonates throughout Scripture, including stories like Jonah’s deliverance from peril in the sea, and David’s cries in Psalm 69 for salvation from watery chaos. Each account shows the LORD meeting believers at their point of greatest need, providing rescue where none else is found.
Set to dark mode
Psalms 124:5 meaning
When the psalmist declares, “Then the raging waters would have gone over our soul” (v.5), he paints a striking picture of devastation and peril. In the Old Testament, “waters” frequently represents chaos or a life-threatening force, as seen in other passages such as Psalm 69:1 where the author likens overwhelming adversity to deep waters which endanger the very essence of life. The expression “raging waters” further amplifies the notion that God’s people were on the brink of being consumed by turmoil, highlighting that apart from the LORD’s intervention, total disaster would have ensued. The psalmist thus emphasizes that deliverance is found in the LORD alone, whose power surpasses every threat.
Psalm 124 as a whole celebrates the LORD’s protection. The mention of “raging waters” (v.5) reflects how trials can swiftly rise up around us, threatening to submerge us in hardship. Nevertheless, where human strength would fail, God intervenes to preserve His people. This reassurance of divine rescue resonates throughout Scripture, including stories like Jonah’s deliverance from peril in the sea, and David’s cries in Psalm 69 for salvation from watery chaos. Each account shows the LORD meeting believers at their point of greatest need, providing rescue where none else is found.