Psalms 124:4

4 then would the waters have overwhelmed us, the stream would have gone over our soul;

Psalms 124:4 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 124:4

Then the waters had overwhelmed us
People, comparable to waters for their multitude, Strength, force, and impetuosity; which bear down all before them, and against which there is no standing; which, like the waters of the flood, overflow and destroy all they pass over. These are the floods of ungodly men, which are very destructive and terrible; see ( Revelation 17:15 ) ( Isaiah 8:7 Isaiah 8:8 ) ( Psalms 18:4 ) ; together with all those reproaches, afflictions, and persecutions, which come along with them; which the presence of God only can bear up his people under, and carry them through, ( Song of Solomon 8:7 ) ( Psalms 69:1 Psalms 69:2 ) ( Isaiah 43:2 ) ;

the stream had gone over our soul;
and so deprived them of life; the whole force of the enemy; which, like a stream, flows in with great strength and rapidity, when a breach is made and spreads itself, Arama interprets it of the stream of the Egyptians, and restrains it to them, their armies and forces; but it rather designs others, and the enemies of God's people in general, which threaten their ruin, even their very souls and lives: it may be applied to the stream of corruptions, the flood of temptation and flow of persecutions, such as the flood the dragon cast out of his mouth after the woman; which, were it not for divine grace and assistance, would destroy the saints, who have no might against this great force, ( 2 Chronicles 20:12 ) ( Isaiah 59:19 ) ( Revelation 12:16 ) .

Psalms 124:4 In-Context

2 "if it had not been the LORD who was on our side when men rose up against us,

3 then would they have swallowed us up alive when their wrath was kindled against us;

4 then would the waters have overwhelmed us, the stream would have gone over our soul;

5 then the proud waters would have gone over our soul."

6 Blessed be the LORD, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth.