Blessed by God's Protection
#Blessed by God’s Protection
PSALMS 121
A SONG OF ASCENTS
I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD watches over you—
the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
The LORD will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.
My two young adult daughters helped me read the second pilgrim song, as it was most likely an antiphonal psalm. That means the leader of the company, in this case, myself, opened with verses 1 and 2, and then different people or groups, in this case, the girls, would answer with verses 3 and 4 and so on, as they are in the second person.[1] Can you too imagine them singing this as pilgrims, occasionally looking up towards the distant mountains surrounding Jerusalem?
The theme of Psalm 121 is God’s protection over His people. The word shamar (translated as watch in the NIV and keep in other translations) is used six times in this relatively short psalm, reminding us of God’s faithful guardianship and guidance along the way.
As this a traveller’s song, some areas of concern are mentioned:
- Pilgrims could misstep or trip over a loose stone and hurt themselves.
- They could suffer from sunstroke for much of the country is arid and dry.
- They could be plagued by moonstroke (lunacy today) as anxiety and fatigue takes an emotional toll, or camping out during a chilly night could result in their physically fatigued bodies to get a bad cold.
- Finally, there was always the possibility of robbers lying in wait for these small groups of travellers.
Just as the Jewish pilgrims set out towards their ancient capital, Jerusalem, we can identify as Christians, for we too are on a journey, our destination the heavenly Jerusalem. The famous opening lines of the psalm, I lift up my eyes to the mountains — where does my help come from, echoes in our hearts too as we are potentially a long way from our destination! Similarly, when exhaustion sets in, and we feel physically or emotionally overwhelmed by a particular stretch of the road on our life journey, all kinds of real or imaginary threats can loom large. Amid such trials and tribulations, a person of faith instinctively knows that their help comes not from the creation but the Creator of it all and thus we, too, emphatically declare: My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
Peterson declares the Creator Lord over time, watching our beginnings and endings.[2] He also proclaims Him the Lord over the natural and supernatural forces, as He made the sun, moon and rocks. Thus, imbedded in this psalm is not that we shall never stub our toes but rather that no injury, illness or accident will have evil power over us. The underlying promise is that nothing can separate us from God’s purposes for our lives.[3]Thus, while we are not promised a trouble-free life, we are promised a well-protected life!
I especially love that the psalmist is so absorbed by God, referring to him three times as Yahweh, or God and eight times as the guardian, or as the one who guards. It overshadows any possible calamities hinted at or mentioned outright. So absorbed by the presence, protection, and power of God as the Keeper of both Israel and the individual is he, that we must stop and take note. The lesson is clear, as fellow pilgrims our testimonies should not focus on the trials and tribulations of the journey, rather we should bring honour and glory to the character of our great God who preserves, accompanies and rules us on the way![4]
Imagine, He never sleeps nor slumbers. Like a mother who has learnt to sleep with one ear open, so that she can respond when her child cries in the night, God is eternally vigilant and alert to our calls for help. It is important to be reminded that there are still those times that God expects us to wait for Him to respond, especially when it will do us “the most good and bring Him the most glory.” [5]
In the last two verses, 7 and 8, the phrase, the LORD shall preserve/watch over or keep your life is repeated three times. It is Spurgeon who links this triple promise to the Trinity, as if God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit wanted to seal his commitment to his disciples through a deliberate repetition.
GRACE CHALLENGE FOR THIS MONTH
As disciples and pilgrims travelling upwards to the New Jerusalem, the one promise that supersedes and undergirds this psalm, is that we are not travelling alone. Not only has God provided fellow pilgrims to help and comfort us, He Himself is with us every step of the way. Whether we are celebrating victories, mourning losses, experiencing fear, anxiety and worry or see dreams come true, Christian pilgrims have this blessed assurance, that God’s protection is not only 24/7, but encompasses spirit, soul and body. This month, it is my prayer and my challenge to you – that God will open up your eyes so that you can recognize these fellow pilgrims, and not only those who can help you but also those who need your help, support, prayers and encouragement on their journey.
TAKE AWAYS:
God is just as present in the journey as in the destination. (Guzik)
Our exits and our entrances are under one protection. (Spurgeon)
The delays of God are not denials. (Wiersbe)
We need to wait in silence before the Lord. (Wiersbe)
[1] https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/wiersbe-be-bible-study/psalm-121
[2] When we go out in youth to begin life, and come in at the end to die, we shall experience the same keeping. Our exits and our entrances are under one protection.” Spurgeon as quoted in 2020 The Enduring Word Bible Commentary by David Guzik.
[3] A Long Obedience In The Same Direction, Eugene Peterson pg. 36
[4] 2020 The Enduring Word Bible Commentary by David Guzik
[5] https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/wiersbe-be-bible-study/psalm-121
