Psalm 121
1 I look up to the mountains—
does my help come from there?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth!
3 He will not let you stumble;
the one who watches over you will not slumber.
4 Indeed, he who watches over Israel
never slumbers or sleeps.
5 The Lord himself watches over you!
The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.
6 The sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon at night.
7 The Lord keeps you from all harm
and watches over your life.
8 The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go,
both now and forever.
This psalm has often been called the “Travellers’ Psalm.” Also, a song of ascents. Along with others (Psalms 120 – 134), it would have been sung by the Israelites making their way up to one of the major feasts (e.g., Passover, Pentecost or Tabernacles).
Verse 1-2 – I learned from the psalmist that when I am fearful, anxious or stressed, I should look up. As he looked up, he was reminded his help came from the One who made heaven and earth.
Imagine! If God is the Maker of the heaven and earth, what else can He not do? Is anything too hard for Him? (Jeremiah 32:17 – “Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.) He, alone, is the dependable Source of all help.
Applying this in our present situation, we are to look to the right place for our help. Instead of looking down at our problem, or looking to the right, to the left at our circumstances, LOOK UP!
Yesterday, at the Family worship service, going through the names of God was a great reminder and encouragement. They denote different aspects of His unchangeable nature and character. Today, we focus on the name – Maker of heaven and earth. How does God, the Maker of heaven and earth, help us?
1) He will not let your foot be moved – As this is a song of ascents, pilgrims ascending would be praying for their footing to be steady. Here, you can be certain, the Lord makes sure you are covered. In the words of Charles Spurgeon, “Though the paths of life are dangerous and difficult, yet we shall stand fast, for Jehovah will not permit our feet to slide”
2) He will not slumber – He watches over you 24/7! – you may go to sleep, but your Keeper will not. The Lord never sleeps on the job. He is never distracted; never forgets the wonderful plan He has for each one of us. And He is working out all things together for good, for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. (Rom 8:28)
“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.” (Isaiah 40:28)
3) He is your shade at your right hand, the sun will not strike you … – you are protected from the sun and the moon. These are natural elements that are beyond human control. Whether you are labouring under the scorching heat in the day or sheltering from the chill and frost in the night, you are kept safe. This reminds me of Israel in the wilderness, being protected by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. Talk about His loving-kindness and tender mercies!
4) He will keep you from ALL evil and keep your life (or “soul” in other versions) – anything that is not from God shall not touch you. The Lord preserves us from the dominion of sin, the world, the flesh and the enemy of our soul. Only God can preserve your soul. Do you recognize and trust Him as the Keeper of your soul?
5) He will keep your going out and coming in forever – this means in every aspect of our lives; the Lord will not stop keeping an eye on us. The people of God are kept at all times, in all circumstances by His power. For how long? Forever! This is the best protection insurance policy you could ever get! (can’t be beat 😊)
Prayer: Father, thank you for loving and keeping me. Thank you for the assurance of 24/7 protection! Even protection in every aspect of my life. Nothing is too big or too small for your attention. I choose to believe in, yield to and trust in your protection. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Psalm 121 – https://youtu.be/N2–JcvoGhI
I Lift My Eyes Up (Psalm 121) – Brian Doerksen – https://youtu.be/9g4eqKDkDiw