August 28, 2023 — Psalm 121 

I lift up my eyes to the hills—from where will my help come?

My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. 

He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. 

He who keeps Israel will 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 will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. 

The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in 

from this time on and forevermore. 

“My help comes from the LORD,” is set up as a theme for this Psalm — which is further developed by a series of assurances that “the LORD is your keeper.” 

Psalm 121 is one of my favorites — it is one of several I have committed to memory for my own devotional purposes. What is interesting about this psalm is that, though it begins with a personal ascent of a relationship with the Lord (MY help comes from the Lord), it soon turns into a communal profession of faith The Lord is YOUR keeper. He will keep YOU from all evil). 

Again we can see the power of the Psalms to give us both words of comfort and words of devotion. The Psalm is good for communal worship — the Psalm is important to be included in our daily devotions. 

The Heidelberg Catechism, used in the Reformed church teachings,  makes the following statement about trust in the providence of G-d that provides a nice confessional commentary on Psalm 121: “To believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, is, the catechism teaches, to “trust in him so completely that I have no doubt that he will provide me with all things necessary for body and soul. Moreover, whatever evil he sends upon me in this troubled life he will turn to my good, for he is able to do it, being almighty God, and is determined to do it, being a faithful Father… . We are to be patient in adversity, grateful in the midst of blessing, and to trust our faithful God and Father for the future” 

Everyday, may we too be patient in adversity, grateful for our blessings, and trusting of our faithful G-d. 

Let us pray: 

O God, maker of heaven and earth, you help us in times of distress and watch over us day and night. Hold us securely in your mercy, that in the midst of fear and danger we may depend on you, our sure deliverer; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. 

Amen. 

  

Pastor Dave