God, our Helper

My eyes were drawn to the phrase “Watch over you” in Psalm 121. This phrase occurs 5 times in this short psalm of 8 verses.

Psalm 121 is a Psalm of Ascent, meaning this psalm is sung as worshippers traveled up to the temple in Jerusalem to worship once a year.  The people are reminding themselves of who God is. In this Psalm they are recalling/meditating/reflecting on God’s character:  reminding themselves that God is like a gardener or a shepherd who watches over His people. God protects them, He keeps them, He leads them and nourishes them with all that is good.

In some ways they are inviting and soaking in God’s presence as a means of reorienting themselves away from fear, ungodly attachments, perhaps controlling spirits, or evidences of entitlement, devoid of God’s leading.

What a wonderful psalm to dwell on as we go through this pandemic and are faced with uncertainties, fear, depression, impatience, and emotional exhaustion.

And if you find yourself thriving during this time, use Psalm 121 to pray for any of your friends who might be experiencing very difficult challenges.  Use God's Word to remind yourself and others that God is our help.

Psalm 121

A song of ascents.

1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—

    where does my help come from?

2 My help comes from the Lord,

    the Maker of heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot slip—

    he who watches over you will not slumber;

4 indeed, he who watches over Israel

    will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord watches over you—

    the Lord is your shade at your right hand;

6 the sun will not harm you by day,

    nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord will keep you from all harm—

    he will watch over your life;

8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going

    both now and forevermore..