September 11, 2024 -- Psalm 124:8 -- Opening Worship

Our help is in the name of the LORD,
     Who made heaven and earth.
Psalm 124:8 ESV

This brief text is very familiar to many Christians of the Reformed tradition. For almost 500 years it has been part of a responsive reading at the very start of worship. Many people will recognize it when it is printed out (in a bulletin) like this:

Minister: Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ,
     in Whom do you find your help?

PEOPLE: Our help is in the Name of the LORD,
     Maker of heaven and earth.

This responsive reading is called the votum. That is, a prayer for help, an entreaty from one who knows his own neediness as he stands before the All-Powerful, and All-Knowing God. Worship is a conversation between the believer and the LORD of Heaven and Earth. Worship is the act whereby the believer acknowledges all his life, from beginning to end, is in the hands of the Sovereign God.

Psalm 124 is a brief Psalm that emphasizes how small and helpless people really are. There are forces in history, enemies presently that hover all around, and yes, there are threats to believers even from within the community of faith. Many people who claim to be Christians shelter among believers, only the Sovereign LORD can weed out the wicked from the godly. So, it is the LORD Himself Who delivers His people from all their foes, threats, and enemies.

Note also how the minister intentionally asks the people of Jesus Who their help is, and the people respond with the Name: LORD. When the Old Testament Name of God is used in this way, with all capital letters, it is an expression of the Name which God has given Himself. LORD is expressed as: Who Was and Who Is and Who Is to Come. He is everlasting. He is the promise-making, promise-keeping God. The liturgy intentionally links Jesus to the Holy Name of God. It is a weekly reminder that the Father is God; the Son Jesus is God; the Holy Spirit is fully God. This triune God, He alone is the source of every blessing in your life.

Today’s prayer is Psalm 124

If it had not been the LORD who was on our side—
    let Israel now say—
2 if it had not been the LORD who was on our side
    when people rose up against us,
3 then they would have swallowed us up alive,
    when their anger was kindled against us;
4 then the flood would have swept us away,
    the torrent would have gone over us;
5 then over us would have gone
    the raging waters.

6 Blessed be the LORD,
    who has not given us
    as prey to their teeth!
7 We have escaped like a bird
    from the snare of the fowlers;
the snare is broken,
    and we have escaped!

8 Our help is in the name of the LORD,
    who made heaven and earth.
Psalm 124 ESV

https://youtu.be/CmNXeReZqAg?si=Sdx3cQsM8h2ypVMV “Be Still My Soul”

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