THE GOD WHO KEEPS US

THE GOD WHO KEEPS US

PSALM 121

INTRODUCTION- This psalm is labeled as a psalm of ascent, which means “to go up.”

1. Widely believed by most scholars to have been sung during a pilgrim’s journey to Jerusalem.

2. During my studies, I have seen four affirmations the psalmist was making.

3. These would be sung later by the pilgrims I mentioned before, who were traveling to Jerusalem.

4. These four affirmations, which are still important today, are:

a. God’s power is with me.

b. God’s permanence is before me.

c. God’s presence is beside me.

d. God’s protection is around me.

5. ILLUSTRATION OF COMMERCIAL DIVING---the environment, the dependence, and the danger. I remember saying once “If I make it back, it won’t be because of my tender.”

I. GOD’S POWER IS WITH ME. (Psalm 121:1-2)

A. The hills were a place ruled by perspective.

1. There are varying opinions on this reference:

a) “The hills:” a good place to run into robbers and petty terrorists.

b) “The hills:” a place where false idols are worshiped (1 Kings 14:23; 2 Kings 17:10).

c) “The hills:” that which pointed to and led to Jerusalem.

d) An occasion for anxiety on the one hand and anticipation on the other.

2. The seems to be more merit in the latter opinion.

a) Jerusalem was on an elevated geographical plain.

b) There are several places that show this fact:

i. 2 Kings 12:17- Syria going up against Jerusalem, they were North.

ii. Ezra 1:3- A call from the Persian king Cyrus to those in exile, to the East.

iii. Matthew 19:1-20:17- Jesus on the Judean coast to the West.

c) This also shows that their God, was above everything.

i. He is the creator; therefore, he is greater than idols.

1. This shows God is greater because idols would always be dependent upon its followers.

2. They, however, were dependent upon their God.

ii. He is the creator; therefore, he is greater than those on the hills.

B. The psalmist is asking who:

1. Will keep me from stumbling along life’s journey (v.3)

2. Who will overshadow me (v.5)?

3. Who will be by my side (v.5)?

4. Who will keep me from evil (v.7)?

5. And who will never leave me or forsake me (v.8)?

6. Verse 2 answers his rhetorical question and takes the focus from the hills to the creator of these hills.

C. This question is answered out of a held confidence.

1. The psalmist makes declarations and is, in essence, saying:

a) He made me and He cares for me.

b) He is all-powerful, ever-presence and all-knowledge.

c) He is great and powerful, but also powerful and personal.

2. This is not only a bold declaration of who their God is:

a) This is a direct affront to what who everyone else’s’ god was not.

b) And to what every other “god” could not do.

D. How does this apply to those reading today?

1. We need to understand how people in the Old Testament used this psalm:

a) People used this psalm while they were making a journey.

b) Acknowledging a higher power, God.

c) Acknowledging their dependence to God.

2. When you are in the water looking to the surface in complete dependence, you begin to realize that there is a far higher power (literally) than in you in this world, and if you continue to look you can see the highest power, which is over all, God.

3. Today, we need to understand how to use this psalm, and have this same perspective:

a) To see God for who He is.

b) To acknowledge our complete dependence on God.

c) And to understand the importance of this knowledge during our own journey.

II. GOD’S PERMANENCE IS BEFORE ME. (Psalm 121:3-4)

A. Some depend on their own efforts.

1. Illustration of the tenders sleeping.

2. The Bible teaches us that is a failing concept:

a) Because man is fallible (Proverbs 3:5-6).

b) Because it could lead you astray.

B. Some depend on the efforts of others.

1. Illustration of me sleeping.

2. The Bible teaches that this also is a failing concept:

a) Because man is fallible (Psalm 118:8; Isaiah 31:1).

b) Because it could lead you astray.

c) Because there is no salvation in it (Psalm 146: 3).

C. Some depend on God alone.

1. When we depend on Christ, we allow his will to work through us (Galatians 2:20).

2. When we depend on Christ, we have a firm foundation (Matthew 7:24-27).

D. How does this apply to us today?

1. Acknowledging how my tender would always be there, ever vigilant put me at ease.

2. Acknowledging with faith that God is always there, should give us unshakable confidence, for:

a) My tender may sleep, or I may sleep.

b) The idols need sleep.

c) God does not sleep or “slumber.” (Psalm 34:15)

3. We must acknowledge that God is not slack in His regard for us, or His promises toward us (Deuteronomy 31:6).

III. GOD’S PRESENCE IS BESIDE ME. (Psalm 121:5-6)

A. To become isolated, even in numbers, was a danger position.

1. Illustration of how it feels during decompression stops sometimes (fears and thoughts).

2. The weary pilgrim would most likely look nervously along his journey.

a) There was the constant threat of bands of thieves who might try to overcome them.

b) There were also the conditions of the environment in which they were traveling.

B. The weary pilgrim is assured of two promises to calm fears (Psalm 121:5):

1. He is assured that God is his keeper.

a) This speaks to being kept by One who cannot fail.

b) And God would keep and preserve His people day and night.

i. This speaks of protection from elements.

ii. This also can speak to threats that could come, day or night.

2. He is assured that he is kept by God’s right hand.

a) The right hand is widely seen as a place of protection and power (Exodus 15:6).

b) The pilgrim, therefor, would have rest as he is protected.

C. How can we apply this today?

1. When you are over a hundred feet underwater, it feels as though you are alone on the planet.

a) You “know” that there are people topside.

b) The reality is that, if there were imminent danger, even though they there, they are not with you.

c) It is not so with God. He is with us through threats of the day and of the night (moon).

2. Right there beside me, promising never to leave me or forsake me (Hebrews 13:5-6).

3. I am promised His presence day to day, month to month, year to year.

IV. GOD’S PROTECTION IS AROUND ME. (Psalm 121:7-8)

A. Repetition is a tool for confidence.

1. The word keeps (or a version of it) is used six times in this psalm.

2. Three times, however, in the last two verses.

3. We all do this in our lives, sometimes without even noticing:

a) We use safety belts.

b) We check mirrors.

c) We lock doors.

4. Illustration of a diver being equipped; every piece of equipment has its limits.

B. There is an assurance to be kept from all evil.

1. We need to see that the promise does not mean trouble-free, but well-protected (Psalm 23:4).

2. We need to see that the promise is not some, it is all.

C. There is an assurance of a preserved soul.

1. The Psalmist knew the answer, look unto God.

2. Today, we have God’s word, and as we walk therein, we have a confidence (Romans 8:35-39).

3. With this confidence we have someone who can preserve or destroy a soul, on our side (Matthew 10:28).

D. There is an assurance of a preserved way.

1. We have a preserved word (Deuteronomy 5:33).

2. We have a preserved example (1 Peter 2:21).

3. If we do as the psalmist, we have a preserved reward (Colossians 3:23-24).

CONCLUSION- We are in luck! We have been training for this and have not realized it most likely. – Let us remember some of this training:

1. Think of high Mt. Moriah where God provides a ram for Abraham (Genesis 22).

2. Think of Moses coming down from the mountain (the hills) with God’s law (Exodus 20).

3. Think of Jesus on the Mount (the hill) delivering the greatest sermon ever (Matthew 5-7).

4. Think of our Lord on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17), transfigured with the Father declaring from heaven, “this is My beloved Son, hear Him.”

5. Think of Jesus on Golgotha (the hill of Calvary) bearing the full measure of God’s wrath for sinners (Matthew 27).

6. This is “the God who keeps us.”

7. Why would we look anywhere else?