What does Psalm 124:5 mean?

Were God not working on behalf of Israel, the nation would have been overwhelmed by enemies (Psalm 124:1–3). The psalmist is comparing the power of these attackers to a flood (Psalm 124:4). A flood is the ultimate emblem of unstoppable, absolute domination. Yet the Lord fought for Israel. So, the nation survived what would have been impossible under their own power (Exodus 12:14; Deuteronomy 4:37–38; 2 Samuel 10:6; 2 Kings 19:32–36).

An earlier psalm asked for relief from derision and scorn (Psalm 123:3–4). In this verse, the writer uses a Hebrew word only seen here in the Bible. This term is zedonim', which specifically describes the way a flood of water would move, yet can also be a reference to pride. Israel's enemies were more than dangerous, they were also derisive (Nehemiah 4:1–4).

Scripture makes use of the same flood analogy when depicting an invasion by Assyria (Isaiah 8:7–8). Jeremiah also employs the image to describe an oncoming mighty army (Jeremiah 47:1–4). The book of Revelation says that Satan's attack on Israel in the end times is like pouring an entire river from his mouth (Revelation 12:15).