Choosing Sides

Scripture Verse that Caught my attention today: Psalm 124:1-5 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 our enemies attacked 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.

Observation: the Psalmist believed that they were saved from opposing armies because the Lord was on their side. Otherwise, the Psalmist believed, they would have been destroyed.

Application: there’s a part of me that loves this Psalm and another part of me that finds it troubling.

I love the sense of thanksgiving it expresses…and the belief that they were saved, not by their own will or effort, but because of the mercy of God.

More troubling, however, is the belief that God has chosen a side—namely, their side. I wonder how many unnecessary battles have been fought over the years (whether militarily between nations or just verbally within families or churches) because people assumed the Lord was on their side. Does God choose sides?

I think the answer to that question may be yes. But if so, it would appear that God most often sides with the disadvantaged, the downtrodden, the persecuted, the suffering, those most easily cast aside. Basically, God tends to work with the remnants of people. And as the balance of power shifts, so does, at times, the focus of the Almighty. For this reason, in today’s readings from 2 Corinthians, Paul is not ashamed to discuss his weaknesses. In fact, he finds a certain solace in it.

Prayer: Lord, I’m not sure what all the side-choosing is about, but I do pray that we might never be far from your side. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

(Readings today included: Psalm 124 and 2 Corinthians 11-13.)