#TeamGod

May 23, 2016 Year C

Psalm 124:1-8

There has been a tradition to pick sides and name that side with the following: #Team_________. For example, when Conan O’Brian was kicked out of his position as host of the Tonight Show by the producers who wanted Jay Leno, there were people on Twitter pickings sides: Are you on #TeamConan or #TeamJay? It’s become common to pick a team, put a hashtag and label it Team _____.

Even in the most recent films there have been people picking sides. One can be a fan of #TeamRey on the light side of the Force or or #TeamKyloRen on the dark side of the Force in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The promotion for the recent Marvel film Captain America: Civil War used the idea of choosing sides to engage people in the film. Are you on #TeamCap or #TeamIronMan?

The point is that it is human nature to pick sides. Here in this psalm, David expressed thankfulness that God is on his side. It may at first sound like this a psalm entitled #TeamKingDavid, the reality is that David is realizing that God’s people are glad that they picked #TeamGod.

King David describes the consequences to the people of Israel as if God were not on #TeamIsrael (Psalm 124:1-2). It reads more like God is the star of #TeamIsrael. The other team, (whichever nation was opposing Israel at the time) would lose. King David describes how badly #TeamIsrael would have lost without God:

“They would have swallowed us alive” (Psalm 124:3)
“Waters would have engulfed us” (Psalm 124:4)

The truth is that God is helping Israel because Israel is trusting Him. They praise God (Psalm 124:6). They attribute the wins to #TeamGod (Psalm 124:7-8).

The same will be true for me when I choose to be on God’s side. God can be on my side in the conflicts of my life, when I choose to be on #TeamGod. He can be my Helper (Psalm 124:8). He can be the Hero Who saves my day. All I have to do is choose #TeamGod.

Prayer: Thank You God for allowing me to be on Your team. Thank You that You are my help when life is hard. I want to listen and follow You in my life. I am thankful that I am on #TeamGod.