By He Reads Truth
Scripture Reading: Psalm 121
The Christian life is a climb—a journey of constant growth, sacrifice, and trusting God for what we cannot see. As Eugene Peterson said, we are pilgrims, but we are also disciples—always moving and always learning. The Psalms of Ascent (Psalms 120-134) were sung by worshipers as they made the journey up to Jerusalem for the annual feasts. In this 3-week reading plan, we are digging into these traveling songs with the help of short summary essays and thoughtful, reflective questions for each psalm. Take your pack on your shoulder and walk with us as we pursue God together.
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Psalm 121 (CSB)
THE LORD OUR PROTECTOR
A song of ascents.
1 I lift my eyes toward the mountains.
Where will my help come from?
2 My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not allow your foot to slip;
your Protector will not slumber.
4 Indeed, the Protector of Israel
does not slumber or sleep.
5 The LORD protects you;
the LORD is a shelter right by your side.
6 The sun will not strike you by day
or the moon by night.
7 The LORD will protect you from all harm;
he will protect your life.
8 The LORD will protect your coming and going
both now and forever.
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A Song of Providence
This is a song for the anxious and afraid. When all the voices of fear and accusation come rushing in, the pilgrim-disciple remembers that his help comes from the One who governs heaven and earth.
Our Helper is also our Keeper. The One who watches over us does not sleep. The One who guards our souls cannot be moved. The God who paints the fields with wildflowers and tends to the sparrows is the same God who cares for us.
Reflect
1. Where do you feel you need God’s help most right now? What are you thinking about as you read this song?
2. Is it easy or difficult for you to accept that God is able to help you? Why?
3. Which statements in this psalm encourage you most? Why? In what ways has God already shown that He has done everything described in this psalm?
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4 thoughts on "Trust in God as Our Protector"
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Trey Loging says:
There are sins that I struggle with. God protects me from my flesh. He keeps me from my own desires.
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Colton Sherbondy says:
1. There are always places that I need to fight harder. Even the thought that I need to be the one fighting is incorrect. I can’t fight in my power only God can give me the strength to fight as well is it only He that can keep my feet held in place just as he did for Israel.
2. It’s difficult for me to accept that He will be able to help me. In my mind I always spring to action in how I can best fix my problem. Even in a ends justifies the means sort of manner. I feel like God doesn’t fix my problem as fast as I need him too, I never see him moving pieces.
3. Verses 3 and 4 are the most encouraging because they remind me that God will not let me be moved in my battle against sin.
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Sok says:
What I cannot accomplish is the “all” that is in front of me.
Each piece is achievable. Nothing in front of my scares my soul or shakes my faith.
But the summation of it is overwhelming.
When the huge confronts me, I turn to God.
But the minutiae is outside of my faith, outside of my connection to God, and it adds up and adds up and becomes a mountain I have not the faith to move.
I’m terribly forgetful to ask God to step into my daily things. To help me finish a Report, or Timesheets, or Dinner with the Kids.
Where does my help come from?
In the day to day, experientially I know not. -
Sam Stoddard says:
I found that the repetitive use of the word “keep” is very intentional. The word “keep” is a translation of the Hebrew word “Shamar” which means “to keep, to guard, to watch over, to attend to carefully.” (taken from ESV study bible.)
God is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent; shouldn’t it stand to reason that His love, His grace, and His protection should be as well?
“The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in.” It makes no reference of destinations or locations, just simply the act of going and coming. God will guard His children, He will Keep His children, and he will watch over his children, to borrow a word from Metallica, wherever I (they) may roam.God is great; I am not. I confess the great difference. Hallelujah!
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