Chapter One Hundred Twenty-Three

Just as with psalm 121, this psalm has the name of David in the inscription in the Hebrew Bible, but in the Vulgate and in the LXX there is no such inscription. In agreement with the inscription, one can think that the psalm was written by David during a war, probably with the Syrians, when there was an attack on the southern borders of Judea by the Edomites.

If it were not for the Lord being with us, we would have perished in the torrent of misfortunes (1–5). Blessed be the Lord, who sent us help; in His name is our protection (6–8).

It is known that during the struggle with Syria, to which all those capable of bearing weapons were drawn, the southern borders of Judea remained defenseless. The Edomites, having attacked Judea, encountered no opposition and, if they had wished, could easily have surrounded and cut off David from Jerusalem and destroyed his troops. The psalmist rightly compares such a dangerous position with the threat of being swallowed up (Ps 123:3).

Psalm 123:4. The waters would have drowned us, the stream would have gone over our soul; Psalm 123:5. The turbulent waters would have gone over our soul. “Waters” is an image of abundance of misfortunes, “turbulent waters” are strong misfortunes, capable of drowning, completely destroying.

Psalm 123:7. Our soul has escaped, like a bird, from the snare of the catchers: the snare is broken, and we are delivered. “Our soul has escaped, like a bird, from the snare of the catchers” – our life, which was threatened with destruction, escaped the latter through the intercession of the Lord.

Psalm 123:8. Our help is in the name of the Lord, who created heaven and earth. “Our help is in the name of the Lord” – our strength lies in the firmness of our trust in the Lord, who alone can save from the most dangerous situations and, by human understanding, from hopeless positions.