Psalm 124

Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth
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Text
Explanation
The Lord's help in time of national crisis.
 1 ¶ <<A Song of degrees of David.>>
A If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say;
B,C,D 2  If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us:
B 3  Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us:
C 4  Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul:
D 5  Then the proud waters had gone over our soul.
  1 - If it had not been the Lord Recognition of the source of protection. See lu1712ff.
  5 - Proud waters Think about how flood waters might be proud. Compare re1215.
E,F 6 ¶ Blessed be the LORD, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth.
E 7  Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped.
F 8  Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
  6 - Not given us When His people rejected Him, He did give them as a prey (literally "an animal caught to be destroyed"). See Jer. 21, for example.
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The invitation for "Israel" to speak and the repetition is a clue that this psalm was likely sung with responding groups. Here's a suggestion for using the psalm:

Select six people, perhaps older children – one for each of the red letters. They could stand in a row: A B C D E F. Each person could step forward if speaking alone or draw stay back and stand close as partners when speaking in chorus. Speaking should be with expression. Adding motions would be nice, too. To add a little more color, all but A could assemble on the platform. Then A could come forward (or out), look at the five and say his/her piece.

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