The Traveler’s Psalm

A song of Ascent- Sang as Jews made their pilgrimage toward Jerusalem to celebrate the feasts.

Called the Traveler’s Psalm because of verses 7-8. Just before David Livingstone departed for missionary work in Africa (1841) he read this Psalm with his family. Many others have found comfort in its words as well.

The Psalm reminds us that God watches over and keeps His own. Notice how many times the word “keep” is used (3,4,5, twice in 7, 8). In verses 7-8 the KJV translates the Hebrew word “shamar” as preserve. I’m not sure why they did that. It’s the same word in all six instances. It doesn’t change the meaning but for some reason the translators decided to use a different word in verses 7-8.

Outline

The God of creation is our helper (1-2).

Those who belong to God can be certain that He will keep them (3-6).

Those who belong to God are kept by God completely (7-8).

1. The God of creation is our helper (1-2).

v. 1 We see another distinction in the KJV. It does not translate “from whence cometh my help?” as a question. There were no punctuation marks in the original manuscripts. Translators added them to make it easier to read and understand.

I think verse 1 should be translated as a question because the writer answers the question in verse 2.

From where does my help come from? (1)

My help comes from the Lord… (2)

Again, it doesn’t change the meaning at all.

“I lift up my eyes to the hills” This probably registered with the Jews as they made their way to Jerusalem. As they neared the city, they could see its hills. Imagine their long journey closing. They look to the hills surrounding Jerusalem with relief.

The Psalmist doesn’t say his help came from the hills. In those hills there were the high places. These were places that pagans worshipped their gods. He looked beyond the hills. He looked to the God who made the hills.

His God made heaven and earth.

Looking is a choice. When we need help where do we look?

Within ourselves

The world

Some substance

We are never to look to any created thing. We are to look to the Creator.

The Psalm suggests the writer was in some difficulty. There are times the believer will need help. There is no question about that. The question is, where will we look?

Illustration: Imagine you have some sort of technology that breaks. You need help. There are repair shops all around. But you also realize the person who made what you need repaired lives near you. Where would you go? It would make the most sense to go to the one that created that technology in the first place.

God made us. God made the heavens and the earth. No one knows this universe like God does. He is the One we should go to when we need help.

2. Those who belong to God can be certain that He will keep them (3-6).

God protects us physically. “He will not let your foot be moved”. Traveling was not easy in that area. Roads were what we would consider paths. There were dangers associated with traveling by foot to Jerusalem.

Twisting an ankle

Falling in a hole

Slipping and falling

The Psalmist trusts that God will keep him physically safe on his pilgrimage.

Some might be tempted not to make the journey. Especially as people age, they become afraid of falling. I encourage all of us to trust in God. Coming to worship is a big part of a person’s spiritual and emotional health.

We should pray that God will keep us physically safe and trust that He will. Accidents happen. We cannot let the fear of them keep us from living.

God protects us constantly. Two times we are told God does not sleep. We are also told He does not slumber.

Slumber= to be in an altered state of awareness.

God is never any less aware than He is at other times. Not only does He not sleep, but He also doesn’t doze off. He doesn’t get tired.

The imagery is probably of a watchman watching over a city. The city trusts the watchman. We should be able to rest knowing God is always watching over us.

If God were to sleep, there would be times He could not be trusted.

If God were to sleep, there would be times He should not be bothered.

Notice in verse 4 God is the keeper of Israel. In verse 5 He is “your” Keeper. God keeps the nation. God also keeps the one. Be careful not to view God as one not involved in the minute details of this world.

God protects us day and night.

“The Lord is your shade on your right hand.”

Right hand is the place of favor. He leads His people into shade. Verse 6 says the sun will not strike you by day. The heat was a danger to travelers. Especially during:

Time of drought

On a long journey

Cloudless days

The sun can kill a person. As they traveled God would make sure they had the shade they needed.

Spiritual aspect to this as well. There are times when we are overwhelmed by the trials of life. It seems the temperature is turned up too high for us. God, by His grace, provides us with refreshment through his Word and His Spirit.

We are also protected during the night. We shouldn’t think there is any danger from the moon. The Psalmist is speaking of nighttime. It was especially dangerous for travelers.

They could be robbed.

They could be attacked by animals.

They could get lost.

Don’t be afraid of the dark. Trust God.

There is a spiritual aspect to this as well. We travel through the valley of the shadow of death. There are dark times for the believer.

Times of depression

Times of sorrow

Times when we are attacked by Satan

Temptation

God keeps us during these times as well.

3. Those who belong to God are kept by Him completely (7-8).

“All evil” This doesn’t mean we won’t encounter evil. We will. We will not be overcome by evil.

God keeps us from the evil of sin. If it were not for the Lord many of us would sink deep into sin. God has kept us from many sins and in doing so He has kept us from the consequences of those sins. In keeping us from evil He keeps our life (soul as KJV).

He keeps us from false teaching.

He keeps us from finding pleasure in sin.

He keeps us from turning away from the faith.

He keeps us from trusting in ourselves.

We are surrounded by evil. If it were not for the Lord, we would be overwhelmed by it. God saves us from our sin. God keeps us from falling back into that sinful lifestyle. He preserves us.

Jesus told Peter in Luke 22:

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”

The difference between Judas and Peter was the prayers of Jesus. When you belong to God you have a High Priest interceding for you. Without Jesus Peter would have been easy prey for the devil. Peter came as close as you could get to the edge of hell. God pulled him back. Thank God He keeps us from evil.

“Going out and your coming in” The Jews came to Jerusalem only to leave again. Soon they would return for another Holy Day and again they would return home. This was the process.

As they left some might wonder if they would return to Jerusalem. The Psalmist lets us know that whether we are in Jerusalem or out of Jerusalem God is keeping us. Wherever life’s path leads us God is there keeping us.

One day will be our last day coming to church. We don’t know when that will be. But one day will be our last day on this earth:

Fellowshipping with God’s people

Singing corporate praise to God

Hearing His Word proclaimed

We will go out these doors one last time someday. If you are saved, I have good news for you. God will bring you in again. Not to the earthly church but to the heavenly one.

Fellowship with the saints

Sing corporate praises

See the Living Word of God on His throne

God keeps us forever. Not just on this earth. We will leave this world one day. On that day we will enter heaven. God will keep us for eternity. Jesus has promised to come and get us and take us to heaven (John 14).