Lift Up Your Eyes!
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1 I will lift up my eyes to the hills—From whence comes my help?
INTRODUCTION:
Notice that the psalmist is already in a position of acknowledging his NEEDINESS.
He is lifting “up” his eyes - he sees himself as below, he sees himself as needy.
If we do not approach this psalm with a posture of neediness, we cannot even begin at verse one - we cannot enter this psalm if pride remains.
The psalmist has already come to that point - he is needy!
Do you see yourself as Spiritually Needy?…Spiritually Broken?…Spiritually Weak?...In Poverty?…Wanting?…Lacking?
We’ve all seen a young child kneeling down to tie their shoe - but they don’t know how to do it…they have never learned, never been taught...
Yet they want to do it themselves! and any attempt to reach down and help them is brushed aside. They could struggle and fumble with those laces for a week and never tie those shoes, but they would rather struggle than submit.
If we refuse to see ourselves as spiritually needy and broken, we are like children fumbling with laces we don’t know how to tie.
Yes, we are (hopefully) growing and maturing in our faith, but we all have some spiritual brokenness at some level - and if we refuse to acknowledge that, we cannot even enter into this psalm.
WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT PSALM 121 IS ALWAYS RELEVANT!…It never goes out of season in our lives…our lives never grow out of the need for this passage and the very personal application it provides.
Pride cannot tolerate being helped or admitting neediness…pride cannot “lift up its eyes” because it is too consumed with looking down on everyone else…and the darkest dimension of this pride is that it tries to look down on God, as if just like everybody else, God should look up to us.
There’s probably a small, blank space before verse one there in your Bible…it’s that space I am addressing right now…What does that space look like on your heart?
So as we go to prayer right now, would pray along with me that the Spirit would reveal to us our brokenness and our neediness before God, and that we would, along with the psalmist, lift our eyes? [PRAY]
Our outline is a simple, five-word framework:
Seeking
Standing
Sleeping
Shaded
Secure
These 5 words define the actions and the mindset of the psalmist and us.
1. Seeking
1. Seeking
1. Seeking
A. Asking (v.1)
1 I will lift up my eyes to the hills—From whence comes my help?
Notice the question mark at the end of this phrase.
In fact, if your Bible doesn’t have one, would you take your pen and carefully write one in there?
The psalmist has lifted his eyes up to where?…the hills!…and he is still in need…the hills have not delivered. (there is another perspective on this, which I will share in a moment)
And so the question I believe is in front of us is what hills are we looking to?…what hills are we lifting our eyes to in order to be helped?
The Hill of Human Wisdom
This hill appeals to man-centered philosophy. It seems that every time you climb up to one ledge, there’s two or three more that seem to have a little different spin and so the climb begins again.
The problem is that the idea of absolute truth is a bygone idea in our secular society, so the top of this hill is always in flux…the philosophical landscape is constantly changing…moving targets are impossible to hit with certainty.
19 For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”
The Hill of Human Wisdom
The Hill of Human Approval
This could also be called the “Fear of Man”.
And this is a very appealing hill to climb - we buy in to the idea that we need another person’s approval in order to move forward, and we are absolutely crushed when that person or those people don’t like our posts, or they are negative about our choices.
We are basically asking the creation to do what the Creator does…we are placing the fear of man above the fear of God.
29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men.
The Hill of Human Wisdom
The Hill of Human Approval
The Hill of Human Autonomy
The hill of autonomy is one of the most pernicious and pervasive lies that the devil and his culture try to persuade us to believe.
autonomy /ɔːˈtɒnəmi/
■ noun (plural autonomies)
1 the possession or right of self-government.
2 freedom of action.
Do you see any problem with living this way from a theological perspective?
Is there anything in our culture, happening right now as we speak, that is an example of people living this way???
When we place our trust in Christ, we become His servant!
We begin the life-long process not of autonomy, but of surrender!
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
And so the hills of Human Wisdom, Approval, and Autonomy are all prevalent in our modern world just as they were in the ancient world…and they are no more beneficial today than when this psalm was written about three thousand years ago.
This is psalm is known as a “psalm of ascent” - or going up - meaning they were sung as the Jews were going to Jerusalem - everyone went “up” to Jerusalem - not a direction, but an elevation - and these psalms were likely sung as the Jewish people would make their way to the pilgrim feasts at Jerusalem. They would travel together in groups and sing these as they went along.
Certainly, the temple was located on the hill, the mountain Moriah, and so the pilgrims would have certainly looked up to the hills, as it were, as they would have equated the presence of God with those hills…but I believe that the psalmist’s question is a tell-tale sign that we must seek for something more…something higher. And we will see that in verse 2.
1. Seeking
A. Asking (v.1)
B. Receiving (v.2)
2 My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.
Something happened between verse 1 and verse 2 - the psalmist’s eyes lifted up ABOVE the hills!
Verse 1 is a question, but Verse 2 is the answer…it’s our declaration! “My help comes from the LORD!!!”
This is a declaration of exclusivity! My help comes from the Lord and only from the Lord!
If you remember nothing else from this sermon, would you please remember this truth?!? [say together]
But he doesn’t only name the Lord…he QUALIFIES the Lord: “Who made heaven and earth.”
Not just any god…not just any deity…but the one and only true God, the self-existent One, the all-powerful Creator God!
First, he looked to the hills, and now he is looking at the One who made the hills!
A creator has a unique position of authority over that which they have made [ex.: kid’s Lego creation, artist, sculpture, etc.]
As creator, God alone has the right to love and to be loved.
The Creator has the only true position and power to help in every sense of the word. God alone is both qualified and capable to be the Helper that we truly need.
Are you SEEKING help from the Lord?
2. Standing
2. Standing
Psalm 121:3 (NKJV)
3 He will not allow your foot to be moved;...
Notice that the voice changes from first person (I, my) to second person (you, your).
The pilgrim has declared that he is needy and then that his needs are met only by the Lord…and now a fellow traveler begins to tell him all the benefits of seeking the Lord’s help.
In vv. 1-2, the psalmist has acknowledged God’s sovereignty and His authority as the Creator of the universe.
This is a declaration not only of exclusivity but also one of surrender.
Because of this, the psalmist has chosen to submit to that authority by living in obedience…and now he can STAND without falling.
We should not say that God is our help and then continue to look elsewhere for help.
I we look to God for help, we must understand that we are submitting to His help, no matter what that looks like.
The word “moved” here means to be made to stagger or totter or sway.
1 Those who trust in the Lord Are like Mount Zion, Which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
The same word is used here as well…God is promising to keep us from staggering through this life. This is a promise of His divine support and balance as we obey Him.
This is not a promise to never experience hardship or loss…this is a promise that God will sustain us IN SPITE OF our hardship and loss.
33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
As we walk in obedience to God, the tribulations we will face are bearable because of God’s peace.
The hardships of life might be swirling around you right now - but you can still experience God’s peace IN SPITE OF those hardships.
24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
God will not allow our foot to be moved as we stand in surrender to Him.
1. Seeking
1. Seeking
2. Standing
2. Standing
3. Sleeping
3. Sleeping
Psalm 121:3–5 (NKJV)
3 ...He who keeps you will not slumber. 4 Behold, He who keeps Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The Lord is your keeper;...
The word “keeps/keeper” is used six times in this psalm alone.
שָׁמַר šāmar 469× [Q] to keep, watch, observe, guard
God never sleeps!…He is always at 100% capacity...think of the implications of that!
This is comfort because we must sleep. We need rest, but we often try to live without it - exhausting ourselves and not resting.
Or we try to sleep but find it impossible.
God doesn’t slumber... because of who He is, and He knows that we need to. He takes first watch, second watch, and third watch…He is our Watcher 24/7!
God never tires…and He never gets tired of watching you!
Of course He rejoices when we obey and He is saddened by our sin, but He still watches us…He is never distracted!
Psalm 121:3–5 (NKJV)
3 ...He who keeps you will not slumber. 4 Behold, He who keeps Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The Lord is your keeper;...
The word “slumber” means more than simple sleep - it implies a detachment from activities and other people.
Sometimes we need that “alone time” - a moment of peaceful quiet and solitude…but not God.
God never needs to just “get away for a few days” and He never “needs a break” from us…never needs a break from being God.
Are you comforted by the truth that God never sleeps?
1. Seeking
1. Seeking
2. Standing
2. Standing
3. Sleeping
3. Sleeping
4. Shaded
4. Shaded
Psalm 121:5b–6 (NKJV)
5 ...The Lord is your shade at your right hand. 6 The sun shall not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night.
The word shade here is certainly a literal shade, but it also has a figurative meaning of a defense. It comes from another Hebrew word that means to hover over or to cast a shadow.
At times life is like the blazing hot desert sun - it beats down on us, parching our thirst and burning our minds and the the heat-stroke of life falls on us and we swelter in its heat.
And God says, “I will shade you, protect you, overshadow you in My grace and love and peace.”
Again, God is not promising that there will never be another hot, desert season in our lives…He is saying “I will protect your soul. I will cover you with my wings.”
4 He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
Psalm 121:5b–6 (NKJV)
5 ...The Lord is your shade at your right hand. 6 The sun shall not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night.
As we look again at our verse, we see that the shade God offers is “at our right hand.”
The “right hand” is a phrase used in the Bible many times that represents a position of strength…a symbol of power.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand.
13 For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’
This phrase is also used of Christ:
3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
The right hand is the position of power, and that is exactly where God is standing - in other words He is present at the place where you need Him the most.
Psalm 121:5b–6 (NKJV)
5 ...The Lord is your shade at your right hand. 6 The sun shall not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night.
In arid climates like Israel, the days can be very hot, but when night falls, the temperatures can drop quickly - and be very uncomfortable if one is not properly protected.
God is our protector at all times of life - both in the sweltering heat of the high sun and in the cold bleakness of the pale moonlight.
And so from day to night, and in the cycle of the weeks and months, IN EVERY SEASON OF LIFE - GOD IS THERE!
What happens most often when we least expect it? - CHANGE!
Here we are reminded that even during the unexpected changes of life - the unplanned and difficult trials, the abrupt changes to our daily lives - GOD IS THERE!
If anything, this life is unpredictable - as my friend Ed likes to say, “You never know.” - and I would like to add an ending to that statement Ed - ...”but God does.
God is our shade from the heat and the cold of this unpredictable life.
1. Seeking
1. Seeking
2. Standing
2. Standing
3. Sleeping
3. Sleeping
4. Shaded
4. Shaded
5. Secure
5. Secure
7 The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. 8 The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in From this time forth, and even forevermore.
Notice the word, “preserve” - repeated three times.
We have already seen this Hebrew word in this psalm in verses 3, 4, and 5 - translated there as “keep” and “keeper”.
And so we have once again a principle of Bible interpretation - we look for words that are repeated to understand the meaning of the text.
So God has repeated this word at least 6 times in 8 verses - We need to pay attention to this -don’t miss this!
So some questions might come to mind:
If God preserves us from all evil, then why do bad things happen to us?
If God truly “preserves” us, then why do we suffer?
I would like to offer four reasons. (from N. Geisler - “If God, Why Suffering?”)
Why do we suffer?
We live in a fallen world. (the curse)
We have a supernatural enemy. (Job)
We experience other people’s choices. (other’s free will)
We experience our own choices. (our free will)
Notice that none of these place the blame on God.
God does not cause suffering, but He allows it at times.
7 The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. 8 The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in From this time forth, and even forevermore.
Notice also that the promise for preservation is very specific - “He shall preserve your soul.” - Not your body, not your reputation, not your bank account or other physical belonging, and not your health…God preserves the soul.
[5883] נֶ֫פֶשׁ nepeš 757× breath; by extension: life, life force, soul, an immaterial part of a person, the seat of emotion and desire;
This is the same word translated “living being” in Genesis 2:7
7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.
We will experience pain and suffering in this life, but we have an eternal soul - and if you have believed in Jesus Christ alone for salvation, your soul (along with your spirit and future glorified body) will spend eternity with God.
Through Christ, our soul is secure. And if our soul is secure, we are secure.
And yet we still experience suffering.
When we consider the evil hearts of man, perhaps the question is not “Why does God allow such evil?”…but rather “Why is God so gracious to allow any of us to continue to exist at all?”.
Man has defied God brutally, rejected His Word, mocked Him and His followers, yet God continues to offer grace and mercy to this dark and sinful world.
We must consider the fact that we often cannot see the purpose of our suffering, especially while it is happening, but there is purpose in suffering.
7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.
Paul understood that his suffering had purpose - to keep his pride in check.
When tragedy occurs, we often hear or say - “How senseless!”, but suffering is never senseless - God will always make sense out of tragedy.
Turn with me to Colossians 1:24 and we will see Paul’s view of human suffering and God’s purpose in it. [READ V.24-29]
What is Paul saying?…that his ministry would be far less effective if he had no suffering - he rejoices in it!
Paul understood that his temporary suffering had an eternal purpose…and so does ours.
Paul understood that his soul was safe with God, so the suffering he endured here was temporary but it had purpose - to warn and teach and present every person he could in Christ Jesus!
7 The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. 8 The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in From this time forth, and even forevermore.
As we look back to our text, we see that the Lord makes yet another promise to us - to preserve not only our soul but our going out and coming in (our daily lives) as well and our eternity (even forevermore).
God is preserving us right now - do you feel it? - we might not feel it in a tangible sense, but we can understand this and rest in it.
You are being preserved right now!
You see, God is concerned with our day-to-day rhythms of life just as much as He is concerned with our eternity - remember, He never tires of us.
You might say, “Well, this doesn’t really feel like I’m being preserved!” - “Look at all the suffering in my life!”.
God’s promise of security does not include a pain-free life - but it does include His presence in our pain -
God is present in our pain.
16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
We are secure in Christ.
Do you know this Jesus of whom we speak? - Have you by faith trusted in Jesus alone - His death, burial, and resurrection as our atonement for sin?
No good work will grant us eternal life - only that we should lift our eyes up to the hill called Calvary, where Jesus hung and died on a cross, shedding His blood so that we might live through Him - Have you lifted your eyes to Jesus?
Believe on Jesus today!