Kept by God

Good Afternoon, family and friends.

Hear with me the Word of the Lord through Psalm 121:

Psalm 121 ESV

A Song of Ascents. 1 I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? 2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. 3 He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. 4 Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. 6 The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. 7 The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. 8 The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.

As we gather today, we do so in order to remember a life well-lived.

We come to remember my mom. Someone who touched many lives in her own unique way.

At such a time, we feel the weight of grief upon us.

We as a family, particularly remember all that this special person who is my mom did for us as a wife, and as a mother.

It is because of these wonderful and close relationships that were built up that we grieve.

In God’s world, where He created us and designed us as people to live and to function in relationship with one another, it is appropriate that we grieve.

As we grieve, we are reminded once again of the frailty of life.

But today, although we grieve at our loss of a loved one, we do so, in the words of the apostle Paul, “not…as others do who have no hope.”

Psalm 121 is a Psalm that was in fact chosen by my mom.

As we saw the cancer taking its toll on her body, we discussed together some ideas that she had, and would have liked for her funeral, and she specifically pointed out this Psalm as one that she really liked, and which was particularly meaningful to her.

And the Psalm is a wonderful encouragement, and by my mom choosing it, I know that it was a source of encouragement to her.

The Psalm gives words of encouragement and hope, and it is because of the kinds of truths that we find in this Psalm, and in light of God’s word as a whole, that although we do grieve today, our grief is not without hope.

The Psalmist begins in verse 1 by asking an important question that was pertinent and relevant to a weary traveler.

The Psalm is a Psalm / Song of Ascents, and thus was one of the Psalms that the Israelites would sing together as they made their way on their pilgrimages towards Jerusalem for one of the annual celebrations.

As they went on these long pilgrimages, without highways and cars to drive, but rather on well-trodden paths on foot, the journey would be long, and there were dangers that they faced as they traveled.

And so the question is asked in verse:

Psalm 121:1 ESV

1 I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?

As the pilgrim journeyed along the road, his mind would have had concerns regarding all the possible dangers that he would have, or could have, faced, he asks himself the question: “From where does my help come?”

It is within our human natures to place our hope and our trust in something or someone.

In Proverbs 18:11, we read about the rich man’s wealth being his strong city - he imagines it to be a wall that is unscaleable.

In Psalm 20:7, the Psalmist writes about some trusting in chariots and some in horses.

In Psalm 146:3, the Psalmist cautions us not to place our trust in princes, in rulers of this world, in government.

Everyone places their hope and trust in someone, or something.

But, where does my help come from, asks the writer of this Psalm.

And then he answers the question in verse 2:

Psalm 121:2 ESV

2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

The Psalmist does not put his hope in anything in this world.

He does not place his hope in the Judean mountains, which could have been places of refuge.

He does not place his trust in any of the false gods whose shrines and temples had been built in the high places.

He did not place his trust in anything created.

But rather, He placed His trust in the Creator, the Maker of heaven and earth.

And my mom would have read this Psalm, and she too would be able to ask this question (as should we all): “Where does my help come from?”

And I know that the answer she would give would be that of the Psalmist: My help comes from the LORD.”

Sometimes in life, we learn lasting and powerful lessons from very simple and unprofound acts.

One such life-lesson that I learnt from my mom is firmly imprinted in my memory.

We as a family were on a road trip with the caravan, and at the time by dad owned a Toyota Cressida station wagon - a good towing vehicle, but when towing, it would certainly be quite thirsty on fuel. And as we were between major stops on our route, my dad realised that we would probably not make it to the next town with the amount of fuel that remained in the car.

A decision was thus made to off-hook the caravan at one of those picnic sites along these long-haul routes, and my dad would wait there with the caravan, while my mom would take us children and drive the car to the next town, hoping to make it before the fuel ran out.

And so we got going, at a rather slow pace, conserving every ounce of fuel. But I remember us children asking my mom all sorts of questions. What will happen if the fuel runs out? What if we don’t make it?

When we questioned her, she didn't say that someone coming along would help us; she didn't even say to us: don't worry, I will take care of you.

Rather, she pointed us to the Lord, and said God is faithful, and He will take care of us. Her eyes looked upward to her maker, and she taught us as children to turn our eyes and look to God as our help.

A simple occasion, a simple teaching moment, but one that has stuck in my memory - my mom looked to the Lord as her helper.

As things turned out, we found a small little place on the side of the road, with a lone fuel bowser in the middle of nowhere, and managed to get going on our way again.

God Is A Vigilant Watchman Over his Loved Ones (vv.3-4)

One of the reasons that the Psalmist goes on to outline in terms of why his trust is in the Lord is because the LORD is a vigilant watchman over His loved ones!

He begins in verse 3 by saying “He will not let your foot be moved...”

The Psalmist understands that it is God’s protective and powerful hand that keeps him.

He expresses his conviction that it is God who will not let your foot be moved.

So it was with David, who said in Psalm 18:2...

Psalm 18:2 ESV

2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

All of those terms express the solidity of God, the steadfastness of God, and the fact that in the midst of any troubles, God is the solid one in whom our trust may be placed.

But God is not simply a strong keeper in daylight hours.

As Psalm 121 goes on to say in verses 3-4...

Psalm 121:3–4 (ESV) — ...he who keeps you will not slumber. 4 Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

God watches over His people without slumber; without sleep; and with no need for rest.

Further than this, there is never a moment when God’s loving eyes are not upon His children.

Psalm 34:15 (ESV) — 15 The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry.

Psalm 34:17 (ESV) — 17 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.

As earthly parents, we delight in protecting our children from the pains that life can throw at them.

We want to be there for our children, and watch over them.

But we are so limited, that we cannot possibly watch over our children 24/7 - we need rest.

There are moments where we need to turn our attention away for a moment, and in that moment, calamity can strike.

In fact, how often don’t tragic accidents happen with parents who for the most part vigilantly watch over their children, but suddenly, just as they were turning away for a moment, things go wrong.

The same cannot be said of the heavenly father towards His children.

His eyes are always attentive; always watching His children; perfectly watching over His children in every way.

Again, my mom would have known in her own life that her heavenly Father was perfectly watching over her life, as His child.

He is a perfect, vigilant watchman over His loved ones.

But further than that...

God is a Protective Shield Around His Loved Ones (vv.5-8)

Look at these beautiful truths as they come out in these verses:

Firstly, in verses 5 and 6, we read...

Psalm 121:5–6 ESV

5 The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. 6 The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.

Certainly in the region of Jerusalem, the harsh sun in the daytime was a very real and present danger for those walking along the roads on their pilgrimage.

Sunstroke, dehydration and exhaustion was a real possibility for them.

Some have suggested that even the moon at night could disorder the mind of people, leading them to lunacy (lunatic.... coming from the Latin Luna, meaning moon).

But the more likely scenario was that the Psalmist was simply expressing the fact that whether it be day or night, whatever the perils would be that would come upon them, God was there protecting them.

Not only is that the case, but the Lord is nearby.

“On your right hand” suggests a closeness of God - He is not far off, far removed, watching from a distance.

Rather, He is near to those who are His, and He cares for them.

The Psalmist only intensifies this argument in verses 7-8 as he writes:

Psalm 121:7–8 (ESV) — 7 The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. 8 The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in...

In other words, in all you do in your life, if you are God’s child, He will be there guarding and protecting you, He will be present as a protective shield around you.

It was in this truth that my mom delighted.

It was this reality and truth that encouraged her and enabled her to rejoice in the life that she lived - that God was a protective shield around her as His child.

But that does raise a question in our minds: “Why then all the pain, suffering, disease - particularly for those who claim to be Christians?”

My mom was a person who suffered for many years with many afflictions in her body.

She loved being busy, on the go, keeping herself occupied with all sorts of activities, from raising us as children, to crafts, to music, to encouraging others through visiting.

But she did so for many years with constant aches in her body, and struggles with chronic fatigue, she was greatly limited in what she could do.

And yet she remained a source of encouragement to others, and this Psalm continued to ring true in her life; even these promises of protection.

Why was this? What did she hold on to?

Certainly not the promise of deliverance from physical suffering; that was a daily struggle for her.

Rather, she knew that her soul was at peace with God, and she rested in the knowledge and hope that reconciliation with God as her deepest need had been satisfied.

2 Corinthians 5:17–19 (ESV) — 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

My mom was in Christ.

Here was her great hope - that her trespasses were not counted against her, but that in Christ she was reconciled to God.

She understood the message that Paul preached to both “Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Acts 20:21)

She lived with the wonderful joy and freedom that came through knowing the truth of 1 John 1:9, that...

1 John 1:9 (ESV) — 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Having realized her own sinfulness before a holy God, and having repented, and placed her faith in Christ as Saviour and Lord, she knew this reconciliation with Almighty God.

And because of this, she had peace with God.

Because of this, she lived with hope.

Because of this, it was well with her soul.

The words of Ephesians 1:13-14 were true of my mom:

Ephesians 1:13–14 (ESV) — 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

It is this wonderful inheritance that is spoken of there that she looked forward to.

The Apostle Peter wrote a wonderful letter to believers, in which he called them “Elect Exiles.”

He called them exiles not because they were exiled / sent out of an earthly location / country / area, but rather because they were living their lives as strangers in this world, whereas they truly belonged in the presence of Christ.

My mom, as one reconciled to God, as she lived out her life here in this world, knew that she belonged in the presence of Christ, and looked forward to that.

As the Apostle Peter wrote that letter to these elect exiles, he was writing to those who were facing severe persecution and trials:

1 Peter 1:3–7 ESV

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

My mom lived her life having to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.

She lived much of her life with pain in her body.

She lived the last number of months with greatly increased pain, until she received the diagnosis of cancer.

Things deteriorated quickly from there.

In those trials, there were no incessant complaints from her.

She really was not a grumbler.

She did not accuse God for wrongfully afflicting her, or allowing such pains to come upon her.

Her faith was tested through the trials of life.

But what a joy to know that through the testing of her faith, she persevered to the end. Her faith was proved genuine.

You see, through all of her suffering, because she was in Christ, my mom lived with that joyful truth that Paul expressed in Romans 8:38-39

Romans 8:38–39 ESV

38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

That was the promise and the hope that she held on to, knowing that her sin had been dealt with in Christ.

God was indeed the one who kept watch over her soul.

He did not shelter her from physical pain and suffering, but he sheltered her in his loving arms and ensured that her faith would persevere to the end.

And persevere she did.

And today, she has that inheritance.

At the end of the day, although there is grief and sadness today, there is great joy, in fact overwhelming joy, that my mom will receive a crown of glory, an inheritance that will extend into all eternity, and will never perish, spoil or fade.

What a glorious and wonderful truth to encourage our hearts today.

Family and friends, this is the testimony of my mom today for us.

More importantly, this is the testimony of God’s grace to my mom through her trials and suffering.

I am left to ask just one question, a question which is entirely appropriate as we remember my mom, her life and now her passing away: where does your help come from?

May it be that we too are kept by God, as we look to Him as the One from whom our help comes.

May it be that we live lives that are filled with a hope that can never die, because we too have turned in repentance, confessing our own sin before a holy God, and are trusting in the beautiful Saviour Jesus, and all the promises of God to us in Him.