Hello Family, It’s I WILL Wednesday, and today’s I WILL passage is one of my favorites, and yours too. This (extended) last week of Summer in the Psalms, we will be reading, writing, studying, and meditating on Psalms 121 (and 139).
Psalm 121 is one of the Psalms of Ascent-or Pilgrim Songs (Psalms 120—134.) These beautiful songs were used by Israelite travelers who were traveling to Jerusalem. The city of Jerusalem was upon a high hill. Travelers would sing these songs on the uphill road to Jerusalem. Some scholars even say the priests sang these Songs of Ascent while walking up the temple steps to perform their duties.
Can you imagine the beautiful worship as they ascended the hill:
As they walked, they’d sing:
I will lift up my eyes to the hills—From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore. Psalm 121
Beautiful, right?
The song asks the question, “Where does my help come from?”
The Psalmist answers that question. He was not looking to the HILLS or anywhere else but to the ONE WHO MADE HEAVEN and EARTH.
HE CLEARLY and DECISIVELY DECLARED, “MY HELP COMES FROM THE LORD!”
As I have talked to some of you over the past week, many of us use this psalm in our times of distress and trials. I love how one translation subtitles this Psalm–A song for those journeying to worship. When I’m in distress, life presses in-I will journey to worship!
Psalm 121 beautifully captures God’s tender-loving care and protection for His children. It reveals the all-powerful Father and His ever-present help.
Always there, always near. Ready to help in our times of hurt, pain, and fear.
No matter what you face, day or night, the Lord stands ready to shield you, fight for you, and to be your help!
Lord, I won’t look to anything else to get the help I need. I won’t look to alcohol or drugs. I won’t look at toxic relationships or vain self-ambitions. I won’t pour myself into my career, chasing the never-ending need for significance. I won’t do it!
I will fix my eyes on Jesus, the author and the finisher of my faith. I will cry out to the Lord who can save me with His unfailing love. I will trust Him, knowing that He is wholly trustworthy.
I WILL lift up my eyes to the hill. Where does my help come from? It comes from the Lord!
And REMEMBER: The Word WORKS! We are Walking in Wholeness, Righteousness, Obedience, Kingdom Success.
Your Friend in the Journey,
Erica
