The Traveler

What keeps you safe?

Who keeps you safe?

Psalm 121-136

Songs of Ascent

Pilgrim Psalms

Psalm 121

The Travelers Psalm

The Keeper of Israel

A Soldiers Song

A Traveler looking for help. v1

There is a need.

He does not tell us about his need.

Look for help.

He looks to the hills.

Is it Jerusalem? A solider looking for the calvary? Pagan altars found lacking?

Imagine traveling a mountainous remote road and your car breaks down. Can you imagine looking down the road for help coming over the hills?

Where can you go for help?

Your parents. Your teachers. Your church. A friend.

The Traveler Counsels Himself. v2-8

1. The Traveler thinks. v2a

2. The Traveler recalls. v2b-4

a. Notice the switch from “my” to “your”

b. Could have been responsive singing. A Leader and then the group.

c. The LORD made heaven and earth.

d. The LORD supports you.

e. The LORD keeps covenant with his people.

What is a covenant?

A relationship that God establishes with us and guarantees by His word. (Deut 29:10-12)

John 10:28–30 ESV

28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”

2 Thessalonians 3:3 ESV

3 But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.

f. The LORD never sleeps.

Keep is used 6 times and comes from the Hebrew word “watch” or “preserves”

3. The Traveler assures himself. v5-8

a. He is YOUR keeper. v5a

b. He is YOUR shade.v5b-6

c. He will keep You. v7-8

God is not saying evil will not touch your life. Consider Job. In a fallen world there is evil all about us which can cause pain, suffering, or disappointment.

No evil will touch you ultimately.

Romans 8:35–39 ESV

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 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.

Psalm 23:4 ESV

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

He will keep your life.

He will keep you day to day from now to eternity.

Jude 24 ESV

24 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,