Psalm 121 - The Keeper
God has promised to bless you and keep you.
Psalm 121 (ESV)
121 A Song of Ascents.
1 I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
2 My help comes from the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
4 Behold, he who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The LORD is your keeper;
the LORD is your shade on your right hand.
6 The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life.
8 The LORD will keep
your going out and your coming in
from this time forth and forevermore.
Belgic Confession
Article 12: The Creation of All Things
We believe that the Father
created heaven and earth and all other creatures
from nothing,
when it seemed good to him,
by his Word—
that is to say, by his Son.
He has given all creatures
their being, form, and appearance,
and their various functions
for serving their Creator.
Even now
he also sustains and governs them all,
according to his eternal providence,
and by his infinite power,
that they may serve man,
in order that man may serve God.
Summary
I deeply appreciate when Christian music quotes scripture. Because it is highlighted in Casting Crowns’ song “Praise You In This Storm”, I cannot think of this verse without thinking of that song, and vice versa. Casting Crowns sang about praising God during the storms of life, which fits with the theme of God’s care and protection found in Psalm 121.
The psalmist writes of looking up to the hills. Where I live in Worthington, Minnesota, there are not a lot of hills to look up to. However, being in the hill country, there were plenty of hills to look up to surrounding Jerusalem. Even the temple was built upon a hill.
The psalmist asks where their help comes from. It does not come from the false gods that some worshipped in those hills. Their help comes from the LORD of heaven and earth who made those very same hills.
The theme of God’s protection is repeated throughout this psalm. The word keep is used six times. Additionally, it is written that the LORD will not let your foot be moved. The terrain around Jerusalem is very rocky and to prevent one’s foot from moving is to stop them from sliding and falling.
The psalmist also mentions how God never sleeps. You do not need to fear God’s watch over you lapsing as he is always alert, unlike the false gods of the hills. In 1 Kings 18, Elijah mocked the prophets of Baal by suggesting that perhaps their god had fallen asleep when they needed him.
Dig Deeper
Often, we think of God as the giver of salvation, but when is the last time that you took a moment to consider how God watches over you? Our God cares for more than just your eternal resting place, He is actively watching over you now.
The writer of Psalm 121 shows his trust in God’s protection. God is not described as some far away being who is vaguely aware of what is happening in our lives. God is instead spoken of as being very present and active in watching over His creation.
The LORD is described as a shade on your right hand. Just like how a shadow is always present, God is always there. No matter where you go in life, God is with you, he sees you, and he cares for you.
Find comfort in the fact that God watches over you. In times of trouble, look not to the devices of this world but to our LORD for help. Unlike the false idols of the hills, God knows you, God sees you, and God can help you.
ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, who made heaven and earth;
ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray will keep you from all evil;
ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:
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