If it had not been ...

"If it had not been ..." "If I had not been ... " "If you had not been ..."

Such a phrase catches my attention. It speaks of a central event that occured that had it not occured ...

So the psalmist reflects on either one or a number of events of the past.

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 ...

(Psalm 124:1-2)

As always, these words say that victories, whether excessively small or exceedingly great come from the LORD.

If it had not been ...