My Help Comes From the Lord

A Song of Ascents

Psalm 120-135 are a group of psalms that were sung while ascending

The road up to Jerusalem

The 15 steps into the temple

Songs of pilgrimage

A journey into the presence of God

Psalm 121 NIV

A song of ascents. 1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? 2 My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. 3 He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; 4 indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The Lord watches over you— the Lord is your shade at your right hand; 6 the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. 7 The Lord will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; 8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

High Places for Many Gods

At the mountain tops, Earth touches the heavens

Places of worship

Temples and shrines erected to many gods

Where does my help come from?

Who do you think made those mountains?

The Maker of Heaven and Earth

God Doesn’t Sleep

In 1 Kings 18:22-40, Elijah challenged and defeated the prophets of Baal

In verse 27, he taunted them, saying, “ Shout louder! Maybe he is sleeping.”

We do not need to get God’s attention.

He is already watching over us without sleep and does not grow tired.

YHWH as Protector

The Sun and Moon were worshiped as deities.

The scorching sun was a very real risk of harm in the day

The moon was thought to control the evils of the night

God created and controls the Sun and Moon

God is our shade to protect from their harm in both day and night

Wholistic, Not Just Physical

The Lord will keep you from harm (evil)

The Lord will watch over

Your life (soul)

Your coming and going

Now and forevermore

Where are your eyes pointed?

Many look to “high places” for help and physical protection from a variety of gods

No amount of noise can wake the “sleeping” gods

Are your eyes pointed to the Living God who never sleeps?

The One who cares for your soul