Psalm 121

Introduction:

Series Intro:

Psalms of Ascent:

1. Psalms written by Hebrew Pilgrims as they ascend to Jerusalem for the three annual festival.

2. Pilgrimage as the most common biblical picture for walking with God

Promises found in these psalms as we journey through life (Pilgrims Guide):

Solace

Instruction

Hope & encouragement

Hiking Illustration:

I really enjoy hiking…

Often when I hike I find myself watching my feet…

I have learned overtime that I have to use the map my run app to make sure I can find my way back.

I was talking to a pastor recently who takes his team on extreme adventures.. . and he is not a fan of technology.

Application:

Just like in hiking if we do not know where we are going we need a guide.

We need help....

Transition= You have no greater help in life than God…

B.I= Pilgrims Guide: The Lord will keep you.

Read Psalm 121

1. Look to the Lord.

Psalm 121:1 ESV

I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?

The action of lifting my eyes to the Hill meaning?

1. The Hills = Mountain in front of you....

2. Looking your eyes upward (We ascend to something much higher)

a. If I look around

B. if I look down.

C. If I look inward…

Transition: I can encourage you to look to God, but without a base line of Gods Resume the question should be why would we look to God.. this is where the psalmist goes.

2. The Lord is able.

Psalm 121:2–4 ESV

My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

How is the Lord Able?

He made all things. V 2

God as Creator should give us trust…

Who knows more than the one who put it together

Who has more care than the one who made it.

Illustration: Wood Worker or Artist.

He is in control of all things V 3

Who vs Why?

Trust that Gods allowance of it is within his plan… and he will ultimately sustain you.

He does not sleep V 4

God does not sleep… = Many of us would say our need for sleep is our greatest weakness.

In the ancient world Gods were caught sleeping all the time…

God has no weaknesses = even the most powerful human has weaknesses that catch up with them.

I think of David and Kind Saul…

Transition: So God has the credentials we can trust him, the qualifications to be able to keep us… but you may be asking ok so how does he do it.. .well here is where the psalmist goes.

3. The Lord will keep you

Psalm 121:5–8 ESV

The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.

The Lord is your = A shift from I or my.... 1. the encouragement of a priest. 2. applied to all not simply a statement of hope or a cry of the psalmist… but a truth for all.

The Lord will keep you:

He Keeps The world in order (the shade on your right hand)

The sun shall not strike you

Protection is a burning issue for a pilgrim who is travelling

What about dehydration, what about sunburn, what about the elements… No God

2. He Keeps evil away from you.

Not an evil free live… but you are armed with all you need to overcome evil...

3. He protects your life.

This is the point of pilgrimage with God.

What ever happens to you on the journey in Christ your life is secure you will make it home...

4. keeps you at the start of your journey (going out)

everything

Think about packing for a trip… Do I have everything?

5. Keeps you until the end of your journey. (Completion) (For ever more)

This is the promise of God on our journey

Recap:

We look to God for help.

For he is able to help.

And he will help us.

Where do you need God to help?

Pray