Psalm 124:6 claims God protected Israel from being devoured, yet the Bible elsewhere describes God allowing invasions and captivities. How do we reconcile this contrast? 1. Introduction to the Apparent Contrast Psalm 124:6 declares, “Blessed be the LORD, who has not given us as prey to their teeth.” This verse celebrates deliverance—Israel’s acknowledgement that despite mortal risks, God spared them from being “devoured.” Yet, the same Bible describes how Israel endured various invasions, such as the Babylonian captivity (2 Kings 24–25) and the Assyrian invasions (2 Kings 17). At face value, it may seem contradictory that God would decisively protect His people in one instance while allowing them to endure subjugation in another. However, the biblical narrative emphasizes that these two realities are consistent with God's righteous sovereignty and faithful preservation of His covenant people. Below is an exploration of how Scripture itself brings coherence to this apparent tension. 2. Context of Psalm 124:6 Psalm 124, attributed to the Songs of Ascents, expresses gratitude for God’s saving intervention on behalf of Israel. Verse 6 proclaims that though danger threatened to consume them, God ensured they were not entirely destroyed. The context depicts a specific instance (or set of instances) where Israel faced immediate peril—like an enemy seeking total annihilation—and God provided a remarkable rescue. The Hebrew expression behind “devoured” (or “prey to their teeth”) intensifies an image of complete devastation. Yet, God’s response was decisive: Israel was not left in the hands of oppressors to be eradicated. This sets the tone of the psalm—a vibrant song of thanksgiving for divine protection. 3. Understanding God’s Purpose in Allowing Captivities Despite the triumph of Psalm 124, biblical history records multiple instances where Israel was overrun by foreign powers. The northern kingdom (Israel) fell to the Assyrians (2 Kings 17), and the southern kingdom (Judah) experienced destruction and exile in Babylon (2 Kings 24–25). Scripture clarifies that God allowed these invasions primarily due to Israel’s repeated violation of covenant obligations (2 Chronicles 36:15–17). Such subjugation was part of divine discipline, not divine abandonment. In Deuteronomy 28, God warns that disobedience would invite foreign oppression. Yet, even these judgments served a redemptive element, prompting the nation to repent (Jeremiah 29:10–14). God’s discipline was never intended to obliterate His people but to correct them. This demonstrates that while God sometimes permits suffering for a season, He still upholds His covenant to preserve a faithful remnant (Isaiah 10:20–22). 4. Deliverance vs. Complete Destruction Psalm 124:6 points to the notion that divine rescue often stops short of letting Israel be destroyed altogether. While Israel suffered military defeats, Scripture consistently shows that the nation was not utterly eradicated. For instance, during the Assyrian conquest, the kingdom of Israel was taken into exile, but survivors migrated or remained, foreshadowing eventual regathering. With the Babylonian captivity, the people were exiled, but that exile lasted seventy years (Jeremiah 29:10). By the decree of Cyrus of Persia (Ezra 1:1–4), the Jewish people returned to their homeland. Archaeological discoveries, such as the Cyrus Cylinder, confirm the historical veracity of this decree, showing that despite conquest and exile, God arranged for His people’s restoration, in accordance with His covenant promises (Isaiah 44:28). Thus, even in times of captivity, God’s protecting hand prevented their complete destruction. 5. God’s Sovereignty Over Nations The Bible repeatedly affirms that God has ultimate authority over the fate of nations. Daniel 2:21 declares, “He changes the times and seasons; He removes kings and establishes them.” This includes His power to raise or remove foreign empires. When Israel or Judah fell into rebellion, God used neighboring nations as instruments of discipline. However, the same sovereign God judged these nations if they proceeded with excessive cruelty (Isaiah 10:5–19). Hence, we observe God’s overarching plan, using the nations for His purposes, yet preserving Israel from total elimination. 6. Preserved Covenant and the Promise of the Messiah Fundamental to reconciling Psalm 124:6 with the historical record of invasions is the role of God’s covenant. From Abraham forward (Genesis 12:1–3; 17:1–7), these promises included land, descendants, and a special relationship with God. The Old Testament anticipates the Messiah would arise from Israel’s lineage (2 Samuel 7:12–16; Isaiah 9:6–7). If Israel had been fully “devoured” by enemies, these prophecies would fail. Instead, the captivity narratives highlight God’s faithfulness: though He disciplined His people, He did not abandon His redemptive plan. This plan culminates in Jesus (Matthew 1:1–17), thus confirming He preserved Israel for the fulfillment of salvation history. Even after the Babylonian exile, the remnant that returned (Ezra 2) laid the foundation for the nation through which Christ would come. The fact that Israel continued, despite harsh subjugation, affirms the sentiment of Psalm 124:6—that God did not allow them to be destroyed utterly. 7. Discipline as a Sign of Love Biblically, discipline and protection are two sides of God’s fatherly love. Hebrews 12:6 teaches, “For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises every son He receives.” Through invasions and exiles, God was not relinquishing His care but acting in accordance with His righteousness and covenant terms. Short-term suffering brought about long-term promise of restoration. Moreover, Lamentations 3:22 reminds us: “Because of the LORD’s loving devotion we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail.” Although the people faced devastation, they were not completely wiped out. This interplay between divine discipline and divine mercy reveals God’s multifaceted care for His covenant community. 8. Harmonizing Psalm 124 with Historical Accounts When the psalmist praises God for protection from being “devoured,” it affirms the overarching theme of Israel’s survival against impossible odds. Historical records, combined with accounts like the Cyrus Cylinder and the Elephantine Papyri, show that Israel indeed endured invasions, sieges, and deportations. Yet, they remained intact as a distinct people group and eventually returned to their homeland at crucial junctures of redemptive history. Thus, God’s permission of invasions does not negate the truth of Psalm 124:6. Rather, the tension is resolved in recognizing that the discipline served a corrective and redemptive function, while Psalm 124:6 proclaims God’s refusal to let His people be completely erased from history. 9. Application and Reflection The story of Israel’s near-misses and ultimate survival provides believers with a perspective on God’s character. Trials and hardships—whether personal or national—do not imply divine neglect. Instead, they often serve God’s gracious purpose of correction, reliance, and faith-building. Psalm 124:6 stands as a testament that ultimate deliverance belongs to God, even when circumstances seem dire. Believers can thus reconcile divine discipline with divine protection: God may allow temporal adversity, yet He remains faithful to His promises, ensuring His people are not lost in the grand narrative of redemption. This blend of discipline and rescue reflects a merciful and sovereign God whose designs are broader and deeper than immediate circumstances. 10. Conclusion Psalm 124:6 proclaims that Israel was spared from total destruction, a truth that is consistently borne out in Scripture and supported by historical testimony. While Israel faced repeated oppressions, including exile and captivity, these hardships served as necessary discipline rather than signals of abandonment. God’s ultimate plan always involved preserving a people for Himself and demonstrating His power to save. God’s faithfulness in preserving Israel—even amid invasions—provides a profound example of His balanced interaction with humanity: extending covenant promises while justly addressing sin. Thus, the truth of Psalm 124:6 that Israel was not handed over to be “devoured” remains entirely compatible with the broader biblical narrative of discipline, redemption, and restored fellowship with God. |
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