Read Psalm 121
Questions from the Scripture text: What sort of Psalm is this (superscript)? Where is the psalmist looking (Psalm 121:1)? What does he ask? What is the answer (Psalm 121:2a)? What has this One done (verse 2b)? What will He not allow (Psalm 121:3a)? What will He not do (verse 3b, Psalm 121:4b)? What does He tirelessly do (verse 4a)? To whom? What two things is He to His people (Psalm 121:5)? What cannot harm them (Psalm 121:6)? From how much evil will YHWH keep them (Psalm 121:7a)? What will be done to them (verse 7b)? How much of their life will He keep (Psalm 121:8a)? For how long?
Who is our help? Psalm 121 looks forward to the opening portion of morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eight verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the almighty God, Himself, is our help.
As Israelites ascended toward Jerusalem, the heights displayed power, reminding them that their God is on high. But those same hills hid marauders, reminding them of their need for help. Both provoke the question (“From where does my help come?” Psalm 121:1) and provide the answer (“My help comes from the Lord,” Psalm 121:2a). What a blessing, on the way to the holy gathering: providence, and a Psalm to match, that gives an apt summary of all of Scripture: our help is in the name of YHWH, Who made heaven and earth (cf. Psalm 124:8; Hebrews 2:16, Hebrews 11:6).
And what is it to have YHWH as our help? The Lord’s care for His people is superlative! The rest of the Psalm emphasizes these superlatives.
- His care is effectual: He will not allow your foot to be moved (Psalm 121:3a).
- His care is continual: He neither slumbers nor sleeps (Psalm 121:3-4).
- His care is all-powerful: even the sun and moon, which idolaters worshiped as gods, and which God gave to govern the day and night, cannot harm God’s people (Psalm 121:6, cf. Romans 8:31).
- His care is from all evil (Psalm 121:7a).
- His care is entire, of the whole man, particularly his soul (verse 7b).
- His care is in all places and actions, whether we go out or come in, wherever we are (Psalm 121:8a).
- His care is forever, from this time forth and even forevermore (verse 8b).
Why and how is this care so superlative? Because His care is personal! He Himself is our keeping and our shade (Psalm 121:5)! Praise be to God. May He and His care be your comfort and confidence as you go to your slumber each night, and again as you rise each morning and throughout each day. And may imposing hills, and other providential grandeur or danger, lift your heart to Him.
What dangers do you face? What impressive things do you encounter? What is your help? Who is He?
Sample prayer: Lord, You have made the heavens and the earth, and You work all things according to the counsel of Your will. You accomplish all of Your purposes. Your faithfulness is constant. Your power, unstoppable. How great it is to have Your help! And how great that You Yourself are that help! Be glorified by the good that You do us, and receive the worship of our hearts and lips, now, we pray, through Christ, AMEN!
Suggested Songs: ARP121 “I Lift My Eyes and See the Hills” or TPH121A “I Lift My Eyes Up to the Hills”
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