If it Had Not Been the Lord Who Was On Our Side

Israel Can Now Say, When Men Rose Up Against Us

Chapter 1

The title is from Psalm 124, verses 1 & 2.

Here are Psalms 124,125, and 126 from the Holy Bible, Hoehn Version--

___Psalm 124

1 If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, Israel can now say,

2 If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when men rose up against us,

3 Then they would have swallowed us up quickly, when their anger was kindled against us,

4 Then the waters would 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 has not given us as a prey to their teeth.

7 Our soul has escaped like a bird out of the trap of the bird catchers, the trap has been broken, and we are escaped.

8 Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

___Psalm 125

1 Those who trust in the Lord shall be like mount Zion, that can't be removed, but remains forever.

2 As the mountains are around Jerusalem, so the Lord is around his people from now on, forever.

3 For the rod of the wicked shall not rest on the lot of the righteous, so that the righteous don't put out their hands to sin.

4 Do good, O Lord, to those that are good, and to those who are upright in their hearts.

5 As for such as turn aside to their crooked ways, the Lord shall lead them out with the doers of sin, but peace shall be on Israel.

___Psalm 126

1 When the Lord undid the captivity of Zion, we were like those who dream.

2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing, then they said among the heathen, "The Lord has done great things for them."

3 The Lord has done great things for us, for which we are glad.

4 Undo our captivity, O Lord, like the streams in the south.

5 Those who plant in tears shall harvest in joy.

6 He that goes out crying, carrying precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

Chapter 2

1 If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, Israel can now say,

2 If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when men rose up against us,

3 Then they would have swallowed us up quickly, when their anger was kindled against us,

The enemy would have swallowed us up, if the Lord hadn't been protecting us.

But the Lord does protect his people.

4 Then the waters would 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 has not given us as a prey to their teeth.

7 Our soul has escaped like a bird out of the trap of the bird catchers, the trap has been broken, and we are escaped.

8 Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

The Lord won't let his people be a prey for the enemy.

The Lord is a man of war.

There is no counsel against the Lord. There is no advice or device that will be effective against the Lord.

To choose to go against the Lord is to make a very bad decision. That will turn out badly for all who do so.

The Pharaoh of Egypt at the time of Moses was a very slow learner.

After God had sent all those plagues against him, persuading him to let the children of Israel depart from Egypt, then Pharaoh made the insane decision to pursue with his chariots against Israel.

God opened up the Red Sea, and Israel went through on dry land. So Pharaoh decides to do the same. But God didn't hold the sea open for the Egyptians.

The waters closed up, and the Egyptians drowned.

If you're a General, you've made a bad military decision if it causes your army to drown.

You see, it's as I said, Pharaoh was a slow learner.

___Psalm 125

1 Those who trust in the Lord shall be like mount Zion, that can't be removed, but remains forever.

2 As the mountains are around Jerusalem, so the Lord is around his people from now on, forever.

3 For the rod of the wicked shall not rest on the lot of the righteous, so that the righteous don't put out their hands to sin.

Here's a good promise. The rod of the wicked will not rest on the lot of the righteous. We can make some worship and some praise and a prayer out of that.

“Thank you Lord that you won't let the rod of the wicked be effective against me, because I'm righteous by the blood of Jesus.”

If you don't happen to be a Christian, more later in this book about how to become a Christian.

4 Do good, O Lord, to those that are good, and to those who are upright in their hearts.

5 As for such as turn aside to their crooked ways, the Lord shall lead them out with the doers of sin, but peace shall be on Israel.

The Lord will do good for his people.

___Psalm 126

1 When the Lord undid the captivity of Zion, we were like those who dream.

2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing, then they said among the heathen, "The Lord has done great things for them."

3 The Lord has done great things for us, for which we are glad.

The Lord does great things for you, if you are one of his.

4 Undo our captivity, O Lord, like the streams in the south.

5 Those who plant in tears shall harvest in joy.

6 He that goes out crying, carrying precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

We return with rejoicing, bringing our benefits.

Jesus said, “You MUST be born again.” It is a requirement of God that you get born again.

Someone might say, “But can't I choose for myself?”

Yes, but if you choose wrong, you'll wind up in hell, where there's crying and gnashing of teeth, where their worms don't die, and where the fire is never quenched, says Jesus, and I know that Jesus doesn't tell lies.

And why do people gnash their teeth? Because they're angry.

After I entered the U.S. military, I encountered an expression that I'd never heard before: “That torques my jaws.”

It means, “That makes me angry.”

This torquing of the jaws is about the same as the gnashing of the teeth by those in hell.

And why are they angry in hell? Because they've been tricked. They've been deceived. They've been lied to.

Maybe the devil told them there is no hell.

Maybe the devil told them that when you die, that's the end of it, there's nothing more.

Maybe the devil told them that everyone just automatically goes to heaven. NO, THAT'S A LIE.

Maybe they believed the lie that “Once saved, always saved.” Yes, there has been a teaching that once you become a Christian, you can never lose your salvation. THAT TEACHING IS A LIE.

And I can prove it by scripture.

Jesus said:

21 “Not everyone that says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me on that day, Lord, Lord, haven't we prophesied in your name? And in your name have cast out devils? And in your name done many wonderful works?

23 And then I will tell them, I never knew you, go away from me, you sinners. (Matt chapt 7)

Vs 22, “On that day.” Jesus is talking about Judgment Day. The sheep shall be divided from the goats. The sheep will be put at the Lord's right hand, but the goats on the left.

The sheep are the redeemed. The goats are the lost, that don't make it to heaven. If you don't make it to heaven, the only alternative is hell.

But in the above passage, Jesus is rejecting some people who had cast out demons.

In Acts chapter 19, the seven sons of Sceva, a Jew, tried to cast out demons from someone “In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches.”

Did the demons go out? No, and the would-be exorcists got beaten up, because they didn't have the authority to use the name of Jesus to cast out demons, because they were not Christians.

A demon answered using the man's voice, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know, BUT WHO ARE YOU?”

So, people who are not Christians can't cast out demons.

In the above passage from Matthew chapter 7, Jesus is sending to hell some people who had been Christians, (because they had cast out demons.)

But somehow, they weren't careful to maintain good works. (Titus 3:8)

Somehow, they didn't work out their own salvation with fear and trembling. (Phil 2:12)

Somehow, they got sloppy as Christians, and let their salvation slip away from them.

Jesus said, “And what I say to you, I say to all, WATCH.” (Mark 13:37) Watch means stay awake, pay attention, don't get sloppy.

There has been some false teaching about a supposed alternative to heaven and hell called purgatory, but there is no scripture to support that teaching, and there is scripture to disprove that lie.

“And as it is appointed to men once to die, but after this the judgment...” (Heb 9:27)

It's telling us that after we die, the next thing is the Judgment. There is no longer any opportunity to put things right between you and God.

That has to be taken care of during this life. And if it doesn't get taken care of, then you go to the default destination of hell.

You get born again by hearing or reading the gospel message that Jesus lived a sinless life, taught the people, healed the sick, raised the dead, cast demons out of people.

Then Jesus died on the cross of crucifixion for our sins.

You hear the gospel, and you believe the gospel, and you say “Yes” to Jesus.

Jesus says, “See, I stand at the door, and knock, if any man hears my voice, and opens the door, I'll come in to him, and will eat with him, and he with me.” (Rev 3:20)

Pray this easy prayer, “Jesus, save me!”

The Bible says, “All that call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Joel chapt 2)

Here's another passage on salvation: “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you're saved. For with the heart man believes for righteousness, and with the mouth, confession is made for salvation.” (Rom 10:9,10)

___James chapter 1

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes that are dispersed around, greetings.

2 My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into various temptations,

3 Knowing this, that the testing of your faith works patience.

4 But let patience have its perfect work, so you'll be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God for it, who gives to all men liberally, and won't find fault, and it shall be given to him.

6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven by the wind and tossed.

7 For let that man not think that he'll receive anything from the Lord.

8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted,

10 But the rich, in that he is made low, because as the flower of the grass he'll pass away.

11 For the sun has no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withers the grass, and the flower of it falls, and the grace of the fashion of it perishes, so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.

12 Blessed is the man that endures temptation, for after he's been tested, he'll receive the crown of life, that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

13 Let no man say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God," for God can't be tempted with evil, nor does he tempt any man,

14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed.

15 Then when lust has conceived, it produces sin, and sin when it's finished, produces death.

16 Do not err, my beloved brothers.

17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, nor shadow of turning.

18 He chose to father us with the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

19 So, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger,

20 For the anger of man doesn't accomplish the righteousness of God.

21 So, lay apart all filthiness and the unnecessary naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like a man seeing his natural face in a mirror,

24 For he sees himself, and goes his way, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.

25 But whoever looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues in it, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

26 If any man among you seems to be religious, and doesn't bridle his tongue, but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is for nothing.

27 Pure religion and undefiled before God the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

___James chapter 2

1 My brothers, don't have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

2 For if a man with a gold ring comes to your assembly in fancy clothes, and a poor man in dirty clothes comes in also,

3 And you have respect to him that wears the fancy clothes, and say to him, "Sit here in a good place," and say to the poor, "Stand there, or sit here under my footstool,"

4 Aren't you then partial in yourselves, and have become judges with evil thoughts?

5 Listen, my beloved brothers, hasn't God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him?

6 But you have despised the poor. Don't rich men oppress you, and bring you before the judgment seats?

7 Don't they blaspheme that worthy name by which you're called?

8 If you fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, "You shall love your neighbor like yourself," you do well,

9 But if you have respect of persons, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as sinners.

10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

11 For he that said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not kill." Now if you don't commit adultery, yet if you kill, you've become a breaker of the law.

12 Speak in such a way, and do, as those who'll be judged by the law of liberty.

13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that has shown no mercy, and mercy rejoices against judgment.

14 What does it profit, my brothers, though a man says he has faith, and doesn't have works? Can faith save him?

15 If a brother or sister needs clothes, and lacks daily food,

16 And one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you don't give them the things that are needed for the body, what good is that?

17 Even so faith, if it doesn't have works, is dead, being alone.

18 Yes, a man could say, "You have faith, and I have works, show me your faith without your works, and I'll show you my faith by my works."

19 You believe that there is one God, you do well, the devils also believe, and tremble.

20 But don't you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

21 Wasn't Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son on the altar?

22 Do you see how faith worked with his deeds, and by works faith was made perfect?

23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness, and he was called the friend of God."

24 You see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

25 Likewise also wasn't Rahab the prostitute justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

26 For like the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

___James chapter 3

1 My brothers, don't be many masters, knowing that we'll receive the greater condemnation.

2 For in many things we offend all. If any man doesn't offend in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

3 See, we put bits in the horses' mouths, so they'll obey us, and we turn around their whole bodies.

4 Look also at the ships, which though they're so large, and are driven by fierce winds, yet they're turned around by a very small helm, wherever the captain wants.

5 Even so, the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things. See how great a matter a little fire kindles!

6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of sin, so is the tongue among our members that it makes dirty the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and it is set on fire by hell.

7 For every kind of animals, and of birds, and of snakes, and of things in the sea, gets tamed, and has been tamed by mankind,

8 But no man can tame the tongue, it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

9 With it we bless God, the Father, and with it we curse men, who are made after the likeness of God.

10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be.

11 Does a fountain send out at the same place sweet water and bitter?

12 Can the fig tree, my brothers, produce olive berries? Or a vine, figs? So no fountain can yield both salt water and fresh.

13 Who is a wise man, possessing knowledge among you? Let him show out of a good lifestyle his works with meekness of wisdom.

14 But if you have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, don't glory, and don't lie against the truth.

15 This wisdom doesn't descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be reasoned with, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

18 And the fruit of righteousness is planted in peace by those who make peace.

___James chapter 4

1 Where do wars and fightings among you come from? Don't they come from your lusts that war in your members?

2 You lust, and don't have, you kill, and desire to have, and can't obtain, you fight and war, yet you don't have, because you don't ask.

3 You ask, and don't receive, because you ask wrongly, so you can consume it on your lusts.

4 You adulterers and adulteresses, don't you know that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world is an enemy of God.

5 Do you think that the scripture says for nothing, "The spirit that lives in us lusts to envy?"

6 But he gives more grace. So he says, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he'll run away from you.

8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double minded.

9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and cry, let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.

10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he'll lift you up.

11 Don't speak evil about each other, brothers. He that speaks evil about his brother, and judges his brother, speaks evil about the law, and judges the law, but if you judge the law, you're not a doer of the law, but a judge.

12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy, who are you that judges someone else?

13 Go on now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we'll go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and make a profit,"

14 Actually, you don't know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is a puff of steam, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away.

15 For you ought to say, "Lord willing, we'll live, and do this, or that."

16 But now you rejoice in your boastings, all such rejoicing is evil.

17 Therefore to him that knows to do good, and doesn't do it, to him it is sin.

___James chapter 5

1 Go on now, you rich men, cry and howl for your miseries that shall come on you.

2 Your riches are corrupted, and your clothes are moth eaten.

3 Your gold and silver are rusted, and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh like fire. You've heaped treasure together for the last days.

4 See, the wages of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which you've kept back by fraud, shouts, and the shouts of those who've reaped have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabbath.

5 You've lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton, you've nourished your hearts, like in a day of slaughter.

6 You've condemned and killed the just, and he doesn't resist you.

7 Be patient therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, and has long patience for it, until he receives the early and latter rain.

8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is getting near.

9 Don't grudge against each other, brothers, so you won't be condemned, see, the judge stands at the door.

10 Take, my brothers, the prophets, who've spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.

11 See, we count them happy that endure. You've heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord, that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

12 But above all things, my brothers, don't swear, not by heaven, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath, but let your yes be yes, and your no, no, so that you don't fall into condemnation.

13 Is anyone among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is anyone merry? Let him sing psalms.

14 Is anyone sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord,

15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up, and if he has committed sins, he'll be forgiven.

16 Confess your faults to each other, and pray for each other so you'll be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man is does a lot of good.

17 Elijah was a man subject to the same kind of passions that we are, and he prayed earnestly that it wouldn't rain, and it didn't rain on the earth for three years and six months.

18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.

19 Brothers, if any of you strays from the truth, and someone converts him,

20 Let him know, that he that converts the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.