The Soul's Song - Series on the Psalms

Singing of God’s Help!

Psalm 121 NIV84

A song of ascents. I lift up my eyes to the hills— where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you— the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

Have you ever felt the need to ascend?

To go up and explore something that is just too high for you to explore at ground level, so you have to climb; you have to make an effort; even strain yourself to get to the top and see what your curiosity longs to see.

This is in the mind of this Psalmist as he expresses His longing to know more of God and experience the presence of God in his life! - “I will lift up my eyes to the hills - where does my help come from!”

This Psalm is...

I. A SONG FOR JOURNEY - WHEN I NEED HELP FROM GOD!

Notice that he is looking for help!

This implies that he is in trouble, that he needs support to aid him and he is aware of the place and the person who will help him! Almighty God, is the source of his hope?

It’s important to see that his hope is not in “the hills”! Sometimes it is read this way, as if the hils themselves contain a mysterious power of intervention but as beautiful; as awesome; as impregnable as they may be, they cannot help us, indeed as we shall see they may be the very thing that hinders us!

However, the hills impress the Psalmist here, perhaps because they remind him of their Creator and they may have prompted him to to sing our praise to God in “awesome wonder” of His creation and of His protection as in Psalm 125:2 “As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people both now and forevermore.”

OR it may that the Psalmist on his journey, sees the hills as intimidating dark places, as in Jeremiah 3:23, where the Prophet says:“Surely the idolatrous commotion on the hills and mountains is a deception; surely in the LORD our God is the salvation of Israel.”

“The first option emphasises the need for help. The second option contrasts idols—which provide no help—with God...The psalmist’s question, “From where does my help come?” refers to the object of his trust and security. Where do you find your trust and security in life? Other than God, what do you place your trust in? (Custis, M. (2014). Psalms: A Life of Worship (p. 39). Lexham Press).

Happily he knows his help comes from God - “My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of Heaven and Earth”!

And this is our privilege to know as well! The “Lord, the maker of Heaven and Earth” is with us and for us! As Paul puts it in Romans 8, “God is for us” and the net result of this is, “who can be against us?”

We who know Christ and walk with Christ are wonderfully protected by Him who Colossians 1:15–18 declares is “the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.”

We don’t need to worry! He has got everything in control! And He is our help! As the wonderful hymn of Isaac Watts reminds us:

O God, our Help in ages past, our Hope for years to come, our Shelter from the stormy blast, and our beloved Home.

Under the shadow of Thy throne Thy saints have dwelt secure; sufficient is Thine arm alone, and our defense is sure.

This Psalm is...

II. A SONG FOR THE JOURNEY - WHEN I NEED THE COMPANY OF GOD!

The Psalmist is anticipating excited at the prospect of God’s help! He is expecting the Lord will to come through for him.

Commentators will point out that when pilgrims were heading to the Temple in Jerusalem to worship they would “go up to the House of the Lord”; to Mount Zion; the place where the Temple resides and you can imagine the excitement (like another Cathedral on the hill at St James Park - the buzz in the air; the anticipation of glory!).

This Psalm would be sung by the Pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem. It would have the same impact as singing “You’ll Never Walk Alone” at Anfield. The journey may be difficult and arduous climbing up the mountains and then warding off the dangers of wild animals and even the potential of robbers, but in the end you will win, no matter the “storm” you have to “walk through” or the darkness that might make you “afraid…walk on!” and eventually you will enjoy the special presence of God.

Little wonder they were excited as well as facing the journey with trepidation. St Augustine in his commentary on the Psalms says: “Come on, let’s go, let’s go!” Others ask, “Where are we going?” And they are told, “To that place, to the holy site.” People talk to each other and catch fire with enthusiasm, and all the separate flames unite into a single flame. This one flame that springs up from the conversation of many people who enkindle one another seizes them all and sweeps them along to the holy place. Their devout resolve sanctifies them. If, then, holy love energizes people and tugs them to a material place, what kind of love must it be that tugs persons united in heart toward heaven, as they say to each other, We are going to the Lord’s house? Let’s run, let’s run fast, they say, for we are going to the Lord’s house!”(Saint Augustine. (2000). Expositions of the Psalms 121–150 (B. Ramsey, Ed.; M. Boulding, Trans.; Vol. 20, pp. 2–3). New City Press).

“I was glad when they said to me, let us go up to the house of the Lord”(Psa 122).

But in another sense, the Psalmist is taking us beyond the Temple to the eternal City and to the very presence of God.

“The thought of this verse leaps beyond the hills to the universe; beyond the universe to its Maker. Here is living help: primary, personal, wise, immeasurable.” (Kidner, D. (1975). Psalms 73–150: An Introduction and Commentary (Vol. 16, p. 467). InterVarsity Press)

The Bible calls this “the Jerusalem above which is free and she is our mother”(Gal 4:26). And so the Psalmist is pointing us to “Mount Zion, the Heavenly Jerusalem; the City of God”(Heb 12:22-24).

The earthly Jerusalem and the Temple, however magnificent is just a shadow of the real one! And so he is saying to us, that whilst you are on the way and on that journey you are assured of the Lord’s presence and protection, so don’t worry, don’t be afraid:

He will not let your foot slip—

he who watches over you will not slumber;

indeed, he who watches over Israel

will neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD watches over you—

the LORD is your shade at your right hand;

the sun will not harm you by day,

nor the moon by night.

The LORD will keep you from all harm—

he will watch over your life;

(Ps 121:3–8).

This Psalm is...

III. A SONG FOR THE JOURNEY - WHEN I NEED REASSURANCE FROM GOD!

(i). God is watching over us on the journey!

There is a major emphasis in this Psalm to the idea of God watching over us! The word שָׁמַר (shamar) is used 6 times in this Psalm and is variously translated as “watches”(vs 3,4,5,7) or “keeps”(v7) and finally, although not in the NIV as “keeps watch”(v8).

Derek Kidner, in noting the repeated use of the word שָׁמַר points out that, “Protection is a burning issue for a pilgrim who is travelling arduously and through lonely country.” (Psalms 73–150: An Introduction and Commentary (Psalm 121. ‘I Lift up My Eyes’).

Not everyone is excited by Mountains. Indeed if you have been watching the Lord of the Rings Rings of Power on Amazon lately the Mountains are often foreshadows of doom; intimidating; dark and dangerous places. As the pilgrims walk towards Jerusalem, they have to consider how they walk - carefully and thoughtfully - is important, they need to be alert to the dangers and “sure-footed” on their way.

This serves as a useful metaphor of the journey of life, because everyone is walking on a path, as Jesus confirmed and it will be either the “narrow” and “difficult” path that leads to life, or the wide but easy path that leads to death. The point Jesus is making here, that we all must heed, is that we are all on a journey of life and how we walk it determines where we will end up - Matthew 7:13-14

Matthew 7:13–14 (NIV84)

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

(ii). There will be dangers on the journey!

The Psalmist speaks of dangers such as “the sun…by day; the moon..by night” A phrase which is technically called a merism, a rhetorical device, using contrasting words which serves to show the extent of something (e.g. I searched high and low; or I travelled near and far; it is a matter of life of death) and used to express totality or completeness.

So the Psalmist is saying, yes there will be dangers along the way and these will come by day and by night, but in the midst of them; you will be kept safe “from all evil” which is not to “imply a cushioned life, but a well-armed one. Cf. Psalm 23:4, which expects the dark valley but can face it.” (Kidner, D. (1975). Psalms 73–150: An Introduction and Commentary (Vol. 16, p. 468). InterVarsity Press).

It’s just as Jesus said to His disciples in Luke 21:16-19 when he warns His disciples that they will be persecuted; imprisoned; have their property confiscated; be betrayed by family members and even “some…will be put to death” but with a wonderful hint of irony He says, “not a hair of your head will perish. By standing firm you will gain life.”

Jesus is not speaking of our earthly lives, He is speaking of the totality of our lives; the never-dying self which cannot die which makes even the losing of our lives for His sake and the Gospel worthwhile for ultimately “not a hair of your head will perish. By standing firm you will gain life.” for the one “living and believing” in Jesus “shall never die”!(John 11:25-26).

As, Dallas Willard in his book, The Renovation of the Heart puts it, “Irredeemable harm does not befall those who willingly live in the hand of God.”

(iii). God is greater than any difficulties we will face on the journey and is always with us!

The hills in front of us, may be difficult for us to climb, but however unscaleable and scary they may be, God is above the hills and greater than the mountains we face.

As we draw nearer to them, God our helper will be ur companion and though the hills, indeed He is always closer to you than any hill you may have to encounter!

As you journey into the hills, know that He is your companion, watching (Heb: שׁמר meaning to keep watch or guard) over you; ever alert to the dangers ahead of you; the very “shade at your right hand”!

Just as the shade protects a person from the harsh and harmful effects of the sun, so God protects us from all that will ultimately harm us for he Lord is always near, ‘an ever-present help in trouble’ (Ps. 46:1).

And this is repeated emphasised in the wonderful reassurance of the final verse!

“The LORD will watch over your coming and going

both now and forevermore.”

God promises us that whether we are “coming or going” - as we have already noted, a phrase which implies that everything you do; you activities; your daily work; your family or life ventures (see Ps. 126:6), and for however long you do them, from the dawn of your life to the sunset of your days - He is watching over you and He will do “forevermore”!

Dallas Willard once said, “At the beginning of each morning I commit my day to the Lord’s care. . . . I have already placed God in charge. I no longer have to manage the weather, airplanes, and other people.”

Also it is wonderful to know that God is watching our for you even when you are not able to keep watch over yourself! - He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.”

Dallas Willard also reminded his dear friend John Ortberg, who complained of difficult in sleeping that because God watches over us and neither slumbers nor sleeps, “I can go to sleep!”

“Never will I leave you; Never will I forsake you”(Heb 13:5) - “and it would be hard to decide which half of it is the more encouraging: the fact that it starts ‘from now’, or that it runs on, not to the end of time but without end; like God himself who is (cf. Ps. 73:26) ‘my portion for ever’. (Kidner, D. (1975). Psalms 73–150: An Introduction and Commentary (Vol. 16, p. 468). InterVarsity Press).

What a hope we have on our journey as we walk with God each day!

Little wonder Paul calls it “That blessed hope!” - “Think of yourself as you will be when you get there. You are still on the way, but keep your future destiny before your eyes as though you were standing there and already rejoicing with the angels in a joy that can never be taken away from you. Bear yourself as though the prophecy in another psalm were already a reality for you: Blessed are they who dwell in your house; they will praise you for ever and ever (Ps 84:4).” (Saint Augustine. (2000). Expositions of the Psalms 121–150 (B. Ramsey, Ed.; M. Boulding, Trans.; Vol. 20, p. 4). New City Press).

God is not only watching, but is actively protecting you from evil and harm. As Footsteps reminds us:

One night I had a dream…

I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord, and Across the sky flashed scenes from my life. For each scene I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand; One belonged to me, and the other to the Lord. When the last scene of my life flashed before us, I looked back at the footprints in the sand. I noticed that many times along the path of my life, There was only one set of footprints.

I also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in my life This really bothered me, and I questioned the Lord about it. “Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, You would walk with me all the way; But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, There is only one set of footprints. I don’t understand why in times when I needed you the most, you should leave me.

The Lord replied, “My precious, precious child. I love you, and I would never, never leave you during your times of trial and suffering. When you saw only one set of footprints, It was then that I carried you.

We thank God for our Lord Jesus Christ who promises to carry our burden for us: Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Indeed in His high priestly prayer, He asks his Father to ‘protect them by the power of your name’ (John 17:11).

And Paul reminds us that ‘neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord’ (Rom. 8:38–39).

So, in this world, on this life journey, when you need help from God; when you need to feel the presence of God and when you need reassurance from God, turn your eyes toward Jesus; lift up your eyes, above the hills to God the Creator of the hills, who will be your helper; watch over you continuously and will journey with you not only for this life, but forevermore!