Psalm 124

“‘If it had not been the Lord who was on our side,’ let Israel now say – ‘If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when men rose up against us, then they would have swallowed us alive, when their wrath was kindled against us; then the waters would have overwhelmed us, the stream would have gone over our soul; then the swollen waters would have gone over our soul.’” Psalm 124:1-5 (NKJV)

The Passover seder is an annual traditional Jewish meal where the ordered re-telling of the Passover story occurs over a special dinner.  During that meal, just after the Exodus plagues against Egypt have been recounted, comes a moment of reflection called “Dayenu” (pr: die-A-new).  Dayenu means, “It would have been enough for us.” The purpose of the Dayenu section is to reflect on how God delivers over and above what we could have imagined.  Traditionally, there are 15 Dayenu verses recounted.  After each verse, those gathered around the seder table would say, “Dayenu!” meaning, “It would have been enough!”

Five Stanzas of Leaving Slavery

1) If He had brought us out of Egypt.  (Dayenu!)

2) If He had executed justice upon the Egyptians.  (Dayenu!)

3) If He had executed justice upon their gods.  (Dayenu!)

4) If He had slain their firstborn.  (Dayenu!)

5) If He had given to us their health and wealth.  (Dayenu!)

Five Stanzas of Miracles

6) If He had split the sea for us.  (Dayenu!)

7) If He had led us through on dry land.  (Dayenu!)

8) If He had drowned our oppressors.  (Dayenu!)

9) If He had provided for our needs in the wilderness for 40 years.  (Dayenu!)

10) If He had fed us manna.  (Dayenu!)

Five Stanzas of Being With God

11) If He had given us Shabbat.  (Dayenu!)

12) If He had led us to Mount Sinai.  (Dayenu!)  

13) If He had given us the Torah.  (Dayenu!)

14) If He had brought us into the land of Israel.  (Dayenu!)

15) If He built the Temple for us.  (Dayenu!)

Christians could easily say, “Had Jesus paid our sin debt but not filled us with His Spirit, Dayenu!  Had He filled us with His Spirit but not given us the Fruit of the Spirit, Dayenu! Had He given us the Fruit of His Spirit but not prepared a place for us in heaven, Dayenu!” etc.  This is the same idea David conveys in Psalm 124: God has delivered His people, and it would have been enough, but He just keeps going!

“Blessed be the Lord, who has not given us as prey to their teeth. Our soul has escaped as a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped. Our help is in the name of the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.”  Psalm 124:6-8 (NKJV)