THE GRATEFUL PILGRIM 
Text: Psalm 124

The pilgrim’s journey is often fraught with dangers. However, after receiving help in overcoming these troubles, how easy it is for the pilgrim to forget the times of trouble! It is as though those issues had never existed. He becomes complacent until the next trial rolls his way.

Thankfully, David was not such a pilgrim. As he sees the pilgrims rolling into Jerusalem to worship the LORD, he acknowledged that such a privilege would not have been possible without the LORD’s help. He then enjoins Israel to recall how the LORD had been their Deliverer in history. The wicked men are described as the torrential current and waves of a gushing river, almost like that of a tsunami. Not even the most accomplished lifeguard in the world can survive such waves.

Throughout history, many proud men who sought to destroy God’s work have strived to obliterate Israel. These men were much more powerful than Israel. In the eyes of the world, Israel stood no chance against such oppressors. Were it not for the LORD, Israel would have been destroyed swiftly and completely.

Israel must never forget the goodness and mercies of the LORD as they journey up to Jerusalem. One may be present in Jerusalem for worship, yet the heart may be far from meditating on the LORD. The pilgrim’s praise on the holy day must be sincere from the heart and full of joy because one has acknowledged and understood what God has done for him in his life.

Similarly, during times of ease, we must never forget the LORD. That would be most ungrateful. Let us not forget to thank the LORD after He has delivered us from our troubles. Do not treat God like an Aunt Agony whose only use comes when there is trouble. He is the LORD God Almighty!

When we meditate carefully and faithfully upon God’s Word, and consider what he has done for us a pilgrim unto heaven, we cannot help but be filled with praise just like the pilgrim psalmist in verses 6-8. Two illustrations were used to describe the precarious nature of his troubles, the first is that of a potential prey escaping the predator by the skin of the teeth. The second is that of a bird who is trapped in a fowler’s net, yet somehow was able to escape because the snare was broken. Who broke the snare? It is the LORD! And therefore, praise must be given unto the Deliverer.

Moreover, the LORD is no ordinary Deliverer. He is the one who made the heaven and the earth with the power of His Word. If that is the case, what are traps set by wicked puny men? There is nothing that can stand against the sovereign God.

As pilgrims on the route to heaven, let us not fail to give thanks when the LORD has delivered us from our troubles. As God’s church, we must also corporately give thanks to the LORD, when He has helped us throughout the years of our existence. Where will we be without the LORD? Recall how God worked during the time of the Book of Acts to install the local church witness. Remember also how the Lord worked in church history, especially during the time of the 16th Century Reformation. We must also not forget how the Lord has been good to us in the establishment of the B-P movement in Singapore, and of Tabernacle BPC. All praise and glory must be given unto our LORD.

Let us all be grateful pilgrims on our way to heaven. All glory be to our Saviour.

Lovingly in Christ,
Pastor Clement Chew


SPURGEON’S POETIC RESTATEMENT OF PSALM 124

Had not the Lord, my soul may cry,
Had not the Lord been on my bide;
Had he not brought deliverance nigh,
Then must my helpless soul have died.

Had not the Lord been on my side,
My soul had been by Satan slain;
And Tophet, opening large and wide,
Would not have gaped for me in vain.

Lo, floods of wrath, and floods of hell,
In fierce impetuous torrents roll;
Had not the Lord defended well,
The waters had o’erwhelm’d my soul.

As when the fowler’s snare is broke,
The bird escapes on cheerful wings;
My soul, set free from Satan’s yoke,
With joy bursts forth, and mounts, and sings.

She sings the Lord her Saviour’s praise;
Sings forth his praise with joy and mirth;
To him her song in heaven she’ll raise,
To him that made both heaven and earth.