1 If it had not been the Lord who was on our side,
now may Israel say;
2 If it had not been the Lord who was on our side,
when men rose up against us:
3 Then they had swallowed us up quick,
when their wrath was kindled against us:
4 Then the waters had overwhelmed us,
the stream had gone over our soul:
5 Then the proud waters
had gone over our soul.
6 Blessed be the Lord,
who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth.
7 Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers:
the snare is broken, and we are escaped.
8 Our help is in the name of the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
(Comments by Joan Boney)
Sometimes the proud waters go over our soul ... Sometimes it is our own pride. Other times it is the pride of others.
proud: feeling deep pleasure or satisfaction as a result of one's own achievements, qualities, or possessions ... or those of someone with whom one is closely associated.
5 Then the proud waters had gone over our soul.
Some people are proud of their children or grandchildren. For what reason that pride? Because of the physical appearance which "does you proud" and somehow makes you seem greater? For some form of achievement in earthly things?
One woman was proud of her sons. One son had risen to a very high rank in air force. Another son had risen to high rank as a police officer. Another son was a big name lawyer, high up in a law firm.
As I heard this story, I thought of how much those sons had to please men to get those ranks. Concerning the lawyer, how much fleshly wisdom exalted himself over other men.
None of these were godly ways.
Paul says ... 10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. Gal. 1
The proudest moment of my life came as a result of God revealing HIMSELF to me, causing me to belong to HIM.
I purchased a "fish" symbol and put it on the rear window of my car ... I put a symbol on the front door of my business that I owned at that time. A friend gave me a fish symbol necklace and I often wore it. I wanted all to know I am a Christian. It was the greatest thing that had ever happened to me and still is.
I am proud of the individuals in the church when I see they are going in a godly way, yielding to God, following God and not themselves.
I am proud of those things done by God.
When humans exalt themselves, I'm ashamed and grieved. It is very sad.
And often our pride is so silly. What about being proud of your football or basketball team that is from your college? or city? ... What can be more foolish than this? Inwardly we even think, when we lose, what will others think because we lost. We seem lesser for that team losing as if it diminishes us.
Pride is very foolish regardless. Paul warned us about this.
Phil. 3 ... 1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.
2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. 3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. 4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord:for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
Being made conformable unto Jesus' death by making ourselves of no reputation ... and being a servant to God, not to our own flesh or man.
Phil. 2 ... 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant (servant to God not man), and was made in the likeness of men:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him,
We see that because Jesus made Himself of no reputation and obeyed God even to the despicable death that came from being hung on a cross (there was no more shameful death than the cross) ... because of this actions, God exalted Jesus ... And for those of us who do this, God exalts us ...
But to try to achieve something so you would be high among men ... to exalt your flesh in physical appearance as most people try ... or to exalt yourself in skills or education or whatever it takes to rise above men... is glorying in your own shame though you don't often know that until the judgment seat of Christ when it will be made clear, and then it is too late to do anything about it, is so sad and fatal.
And to want to be worthy and to be considered worthy is hopeless.
Don't we know Revelation 5?
1 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not:behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. 7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.
8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof:for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests:and we shall reign on the earth.
11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders:and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; 12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.
So when the devil and our flesh desire to be worthy, can we stop and pray for God to help us? The scriptures show us. And each of us are subject to this desire for we still have flesh in which we live though we are of God.
Gal. 5 ... 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like:of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
We can't go in the way of the flesh. We who are of God must choose to go in the way of the Spirit of God instead of in the way of exalting the flesh. We resist exalting our own flesh and the flesh of others. Flesh is flesh ... Paul says he was persuaded in his flesh there dwelt no good thing. (Romans 7) ... If we allow the flesh to rule, we exalt man and not God... Therefore the flesh tries to rise up in us and to speak and to do certain things to make itself seem good and wise among men, but we refuse to allow the flesh to do this and thereby we "suffer in the flesh", making our own flesh suffer, not allowing it to do as it wills. For we now serve God instead of serving our flesh as we once did.
And when others try to exalt their own flesh, God can free us. We appeal to God for deliverance.
6 Blessed be the Lord,
who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth.
7 Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers:
the snare is broken, and we are escaped.
8 Our help is in the name of the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
Just in case we think God can't free us, the Psalmist adds this: The God to whom we appeal made heaven and earth.