The Keeper Psalm Psalm 121

The Keeper Psalm

Introduction

Notice in the words in bold. If you were a Jewish person reading in Hebrew, those words would stand out to you because they are the same exact word, which means “keep”.

1 I will lift up my eyes to the mountains;

From where shall my help come?

2 My help comes from the Lord,

Who made heaven and earth.

3 He will not allow your foot to slip;

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 will not smite you by day,

Nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul.8 The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in From this time forth and forever.

He will keep your soul.8 The Lord will guard your going out and your coming inFrom this time forth and forever.

7 The Lord will protect you from all evil;

8 The Lord will guard your going out and your coming inFrom this time forth and forever.

and your coming inFrom this time forth and forever.

He will keep your soul.

From this time forth and forever.

8 The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in

From this time forth and forever.

This Psalm was written for singing. The people of Israel were required to come to Jerusalem three times a year for specific festivals. As they traveled, they would sing psalms like this one. Here are two principles to encourage us.

The One who keeps is God

We do well to remember what kind of God we have. He is all-powerful, all-knowing, all-loving, and all-perfect. It’s one thing to look at the beautiful mountains, or the sky, or the ocean. But it’s even better that we remember that it is God who created all that beauty. Don’t let the creation be your help. Let the Creator be the one who helps you.

The One who keeps is GOD We do well to remember what kind of God we have. He is all-powerful, all-knowing, all-loving, and all-perfect. It’s one thing to look at the beautiful mountains, or the sky, or the ocean. But it’s even better that we remember that it is God who created all that beauty. Don’t let the creation be your help. Let the Creator be the one who helps you.

God is the KEEPER

Do you understand what it means to be a KEEPER? He protects, He guards, He preserves, He watches. But sometimes we look elsewhere for someone to be our keeper. Maybe it’s a friend, a spouse, a child, or another person who seems to care. But God is a keeper who is ALWAYS there. He doesn’t take a break or go on vacation.

Not only is God always on the job, but He is also aware of when we are having a difficult time in our lives. He allows those to come so that we will grow and so that we may help others in their difficult times. Also, we can look back at past difficulties and see how God was our keeper all along. He is our Protector. He preserves us in all life’s difficulties.

How can you be sure that God is YOUR keeper?

Life is a journey. As the Jewish people traveled to Jerusalem for their festivals, so the children of God today are traveling through this world to their final destination, their eternal home. If we trust Jesus Christ as our Savior from our sins, then our eternal home is in the presence of God.