My Help Comes From the Lord

Psalm 121 ESV

A Song of Ascents. I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? 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. 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.

“Where My Help Comes From”

Psalm 121 A Gospel-Centered Sermon

Introduction: A Question We All Ask

INTRO:

Blake Bassham Kidney Stone story

Have you ever felt helpless?

Maybe it was during a medical emergency, the loss of a loved one, a financial crisis, or a deep spiritual battle. In moments like these, we instinctively ask the question the psalmist opens with:

“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?” (v.1)

This is not just a poetic line—it’s the cry of a heart looking for security. Looking for help. It's the voice of someone on a journey, exposed to danger, unsure of what lies ahead. And that is the story of all of us, right? On this journey of life, we are all exposed to danger, unsure of what lies ahead.

Psalm 121 is part of a group of songs called the Songs of Ascents (Psalms 120–134). These were sung by pilgrims traveling to Jerusalem, often through difficult terrain. The journey was not only physically demanding but spiritually symbolic. The road ahead can be hard, and at times you will feel helpless.

But Psalm 121 gives us deep, gospel-rich comfort. Telling us where our help truly comes from. And showing us who our Helper truly is.

I. The Lord is the Source of Our Help (vv. 1–2)

“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.” (vv.1–2)

The hills represented many things at this time—dangerous terrain, hiding places for robbers, or they even could represent the high places where false gods were worshiped.

In other words our psalmist is asking us to check our hearts: “Where does my help come from? Do I find my help in the hills? Do I trust in creation, Do I trust in human strength, or do I trust in false gods?”

The answer comes quickly and clearly: “My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.”

He is not just the God of the hills—He is the Creator of the hills. He is not a regional protector, but the sovereign God of the universe.

We can often forget how big our God is, and at times we can see it in the ways that we pray.

Anglican pastor and theologian John Stott speaks directly into this when he talks about a small prayer gathering that he entered. He says,

“I remember some years ago visiting a church incognito, I sat in the back row. When we came to the pastoral prayer, it was led by a lay brother, because the pastor was on holiday. So he prayed that the pastor might have a good holiday. Well, that’s fine. Pastors should have good holidays. Second, he prayed for a lady member of the church who was about to give birth to a child that she might have a safe delivery, which is fine. Third, he prayed for another lady who was sick, and then it was over. That’s all there was. It took twenty seconds. I said to myself, it’s a village church with a village God. They have no interest in the world outside. There was no thinking about the poor, the oppressed, the refugees, the places of violence, and world evangelization.”

We are not a village church with a village God. We worship, Yahweh, Jehovah, the sovereign God of the universe. He is the sustainer of the cosmos.

And this is who we must look to. Not inward to ourselves. Not outward to the world. But upward—to the blessed and boundless God.

Gospel Connection:

The greatest help we need is not just help with our problems—it is help with our sin. And this is why Jesus came. He is our help from heaven.

“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us…” (John 1:14)

He came down from the throne of heaven to walk the dangerous road we could not walk. He faced temptation, suffering, even death, for us. And He rose in victory so we could say: “My help comes from the Lord.”

II. The Lord is the Keeper of His People (vv. 3–6)

“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.” (vv.3–4)

This is a beautiful image of constant care.

God doesn’t fall asleep on the job. He doesn’t take breaks. He is never distracted. He never grows tired. Things are not catching God off guard.

When you are asleep, God is awake.

When you are vulnerable, God is strong.

When you are unsure, God is steady.

Just picture the most powerful men that have ever walked this earth. Great conquerors and explorers that roamed and ruled the earth.

Then I think of them at supper time, or during a nap or at some other vulnerable moment.

“I’m gonna take over the world, but first I’m gonna go night night.”

Even the strongest of us sleep, get hungry, and display our need for help a thousand different ways throughout our days. But not Yahweh.

“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.” (vv.5–6)

This is poetic language. The sun and moon represent the whole scope of time—day and night, seen and unseen dangers.

God covers every moment. Every threat. Every circumstance.

Gospel Connection:

Jesus said in John 10:28–29:

“I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.”

He is our Good Shepherd. He doesn't just watch over us—He laid down His life to protect us from sin, death, and hell.

He keeps us not just physically, but spiritually. Completely. Forever.

III. The Lord Will Keep Us Forever (vv. 7–8)

“The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.” (v.7)

This does not mean we won’t suffer or face trials. But it means this: No evil can ultimately destroy you. Not sickness. Not sorrow. Not Satan. Not even death.

God doesn’t just guard your path—He guards your life. Your soul.

“The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.” (v.8)

This is total, eternal coverage.

In every season—coming in and going out. In every moment—from now and into eternity.

Gospel Connection:

Romans 8:38–39 gives us a New Testament echo of this truth:

“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come... will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Through the finished work of Jesus—His perfect life, substitutionary death, and victorious resurrection—we are kept by God forever.

Conclusion: Where Are You Looking for Help?

Let’s return to the opening question:

“From where does my help come?”

Who or what are you looking to right now?

Your strength?

Your money?

Your career?

Your relationships?

Your religion?

None of these things can ultimately keep you.

Only the Lord can.

Only Jesus can.

“My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.”

Call to Faith and Hope:

If you are weary, Jesus says:

“Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11:28)

If you are afraid, Jesus says:

“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you.” (John 14:27)

If you are lost, Jesus says:

“I am the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6)

Benediction (Jude 24–25):

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.”