Selah

Psalm 121:1 CSB

I lift my eyes toward the mountains. Where will my help come from?

INTRO—

[Audio: My Help (Psalm 121:1-4) — Michael Card]

**Selah — stop…reflect…meditate...[[pray]]. [A respite]

***Today we take a Selah-type moment to stop and reflect on a rather comforting answer to a question like we’ve been asking

A SONG OF ASCENTS [sung on the way to Jerusalem (typically to celebrate on of the feasts/festivals; to worship; Pss 120-134]

[[Psalm 121:1 “I lift my eyes toward the mountains. Where will my help come from?”]]

The way to (and/or from) worship went along a challenging road [The hills/mountains = potential danger from robbers or wild animals; or seen as the ‘high places’ of pagan gods]

Where will help come from for the journeying worshipper?

[[Psalm 121:2 “My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”]]

The LORD, maker of heaven and earth, is the one who helps the psalmist.

My LORD Keeps Me — Tirelessly [Psalm 121.3-4]

PROTECTOR [ ‘He who KEEPS’…Watches (over)…Guards]

The psalmist uses this word six times in this psalm.

Our LORD does not slumber nor sleep. [contrast Elijah’s ‘encouragement’ to pagan priest to shout louder because their god might be asleep (1 Kings 18:27 “At noon Elijah mocked them. He said, “Shout loudly, for he’s a god! Maybe he’s thinking it over; maybe he has wandered away; or maybe he’s on the road. Perhaps he’s sleeping and will wake up!””)]

Our keeper doesn’t nap and sleep and wake and sleep and wake and nap…

My LORD Keeps Me — Constantly [Psalm 121.5-6]

Our LORD shelters us all the time and everywhere. [Shelter, ‘shadow’ like Psalm 91:1 “The one who lives under the protection of the Most High dwells in the shadow of the Almighty.”]

The psalmist conveys this fact primarily by using words focused on time. [Sun/Day & Moon/Night]

My LORD Keeps Me — Eternally [Psalm 121.7-8]

Our LORD protects our life both now and forever!

In the present and throughout the future (which in our relationship with God = FOREVER!).

Psalm 130:7 “Israel, put your hope in the Lord. For there is faithful love with the Lord, and with him is redemption in abundance.”

CONCL—

The help we need in life we find in a faithful (covenantally so) Keeper.

“Faithful love” (Psalm 51.1; Psalm 130.7)

This truth means — that when we cry out in lament (over circumstances or sin, individually or as a group [church]), we know (even if we need to be reminded) that we have a God who hears and cares and acts…for our good and his glory!

A respite of HOPE. [A selah moment; Psalm 131:3 “Israel, put your hope in the Lord, both now and forever.”]

INVITATION:

Salvation

Selah

Psalm 121:8 CSB

The Lord will protect your coming and going both now and forever.