Everyone in life needs a help. If we’re honest, we need a ton of help. It seems the world today lures us into financial difficulty, drains our emotional health, and strains our closest relationships. Today we’re looking at Psalm 121, another Psalm of Ascent. Remember, these Psalms were written by those who were making a trek to Jerusalem to worship. They looked forward to an exciting time but were in the middle of a tough journey along the way. Any of you in that place? You see the end, but the journey is long and painful? Who gives you help along the way?
Where to Look (vv.1-2)
The psalmist opens his search for help with a confident understanding of where he can find it. He asks a question and then quickly answers it with a beautiful description of God and some of His incredible attributes. “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord who made the heaven and the earth” (1-2). The psalmist undeniably understands and has confidence in the Creator of all things. He understands that God is in control of all things and genuinely cares for him. Whatever the difficulty, God is the answer. He is not some uninvolved Creator and deserter of the universe.
I believe the psalmist also understood that he could not do it alone. Every day is filled with moments where we realize that we can’t do it alone. But do we really allow God to give us the help He desires to provide? The psalmist encourages us by showing us exactly how God cares and helps us. He is our help.
He is always vigilant (vv.3-4)
God doesn’t sleep or slumber. Isn’t that good to know? I know it isn’t very easy to understand because we are so different than He is. When I was growing up, my mom would make me take a nap on Sunday afternoons. I hated it. It would make me so mad. I laid on my bed for hours, and then she would come in my room and tell me nap time was over and to get ready for church. BUT TODAY? I LOVE NAPS! I look for those times during the week when I can catch a quick one. You know….the “power nap.” They’re awesome, but when I’m asleep I have no idea what’s going on. When I sleep, I can do nothing but sleep.
But God never naps. He is continuously involved with us and cares for us. Our help comes from one who is constantly engaged and has our best interest in mind. He is the God who keeps Israel….certainly he can help us! (Check out Romans 8:28)
He is our watchman (vv.5-6)
I love the beach, but I don’t enjoy the sun. Does that sound weird to you? I bet so. I’m not a sun worshiper, but I do love to sit under the umbrella and feel the swift ocean breeze. I can’t imagine anyone enjoying basting themselves with suntan lotion, lying down on a sand-covered towel, and then baking for several hours. It’s just not for me. I try and find a large umbrella so I can enjoy the day and experience protection from the sun. That’s my kind of beach day!
That is precisely what God does for us. He is our watchman and protects us. He is like a huge umbrella that protects us from the harmful rays of the sun. Does this seem to be the image of a God who doesn’t care? No. He is a God who intimately cares about all we do and protects us. He is our help.
He is our help (vv.7-8)
God is not stationary. He moves with us where we go. In verse 7, the psalmist says he will “keep (us) from all evil.” Evil is a word that means distress or adversity. Are you in a time of trouble or difficulty in your life? I don’t know what your greatest need is right now, but God does. I don’t know about the adversity you’re currently going through, but God does. And He cares so much about you. Not only does God help us through our adversity, but he does this ALL THE TIME. God is constantly with us.
The psalmist tells us that, “The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore” (v.8). This is so reassuring to me because it helps me to understand that the Lord doesn’t just watch me go through adversity from a distance. He cares about me every minute and every second of the day. Something is comforting about God and his infinite love for us. He is our help.
Some questions….
- What kinds of adversity do you face today?
- How does God, who never sleeps or gets tired, encourage you each day?
- If your help comes from God, why do you experience adversity and anxiety about life?
- Commit to trusting God and His help that He offers you today and every day.