Nisi quia Dominus

The reading of Psalm 124 is part of the Lectionary for Saturday, March 7^th. Tomorrow, the Church recalls Perpetua and her companions, also refered to as the Martyrs of Carthage.

1 If the LORD had not been on our side—
let Israel say-
2 if the LORD had not been on our side
when men attacked us,
3 when their anger flared against us,
they would have swallowed us alive;
4 the flood would have engulfed us,
the torrent would have swept over us,
5 the raging waters
would have swept us away.
6 Praise be to the LORD,
who has not let us be torn by their teeth.
7 We have escaped like a bird
out of the fowler's snare;
the snare has been broken,
and we have escaped.
8 Our help is in the name of the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

I've been asked to deliver a devotional message by Father Toby as tomorrow's Vestry meeting. I was humbled by the invitation and will strive to present cogent, actionable thoughts to the committee. Psalm 124 jumped off the page as an apropos message and a reminder to this body of elders of the source of their help.

The Latin subtitle of this Psalm, "Nisi quia Dominus", speaks volumes: Except for the Lord.