A Journey To Happiness

We can get discouraged and sad. But God can bring us back from the depths. Psalm 124 is a song of degrees. The Hebrew word speaks of going up. Three times a year, the Jews had to go up to Jerusalem to worship God. God knew that people would have their earthly problems and the Lord provides Psalm 124 to focus our hearts on His goodness and bring us to happiness.

1. The power of self
   1a. we lack power (124:3)
   Something has to be stronger than you if you are to be swallowed up by it. Our power is inherently weak. Ecclesiastes 8:8 says no man has power in the day of death. We can't solve our temporal problems at times, much less our eternal problems. The spies all agreed there were giants in the land that were stronger than them. Only two of the spies understood God had the needed power.

1b. we lack discernment (124:7)
Like a bird, we go into the net. We can't see the net before us. We lack discernment in the things of the Lord.

1c. we are unable to escape our pitiful condition (124:7)
Christ told the Jews: How can you escape the damnation of hell?

2. power of Satan
   2a. Satan's kingdom
   If it had not been the Lord who was on our side. There are really only two sides: The Lord's side and Satan's side.

2b. Satan's craftiness
Satan wants to get you into the net. That is what he did to Adam and Eve. A woman who had no sin fell for Satan's craftiness. How much more are we in danger!

2c. Satan's goal (124:6)
His goal is to destroy your soul

3. power of the Savior
   The Lord is on our side. The wisdom of God can get you out of the snare. His power is unparalleled. He made heaven and earth.

4. praise of the Savior (124:6)
   We bless the Lord for escape