June 30, 2020
For the next 15 days we will be reading through the Psalms of Ascent together as a church! The Psalms of Ascent are a collection of 15 psalms (Psalms 120-134) that pilgrims would sing on their way up to Jerusalem to worship. These songs are meant to instruct and prepare the hearts of the traveler to worship the Lord! As sojourners and aliens in this world, we too need to have our hearts prepared for and instructed in the worship of our God. Let’s meditate on these psalms and allow the Spirit of the Lord to move us to true worship as we seek Him together!
This psalm is a song of confidence in the provision and protection of the Lord as the pilgrim makes his way to Jerusalem to worship. The traveler was discontent with the brokenness, deceit, and hostility which surrounded him in Psalm 120, and yearned to go and be in the presence of God; now he expresses his confidence in the Lord to protect him from the dangers of the road as he journeys to Jerusalem!
He begins with looking up to the hills. The hilltops were the so-called “high places” where idols were worshipped in the land of Canaan. As the pilgrim looks around at these places of idolatry, he remembers that his help does not come from a mere statue made of wood or metal, but from the Lord who made heaven and earth!
The pilgrim’s confidence in God’s protection and provision as he makes his way to Jerusalem is based in God’s character and faithfulness. God’s providence for His faithful ones is absolute because His authority and power are absolute. The Lord’s watchfulness over His people never failing and His care extends to even the smallest details; the pilgrim expresses confidence that the Lord would not even let him so much as lose his footing on his way to worship Him (v.3)!
As we travel through this life to our final destination, where we will be with God and worship Him forever, we can have this same confidence. The dangers and hardships that we face along the way are very real, but, because of what Jesus has done for us, we have been made sons and daughters of the living God, and we can entrust ourselves and every area of our lives over to His perfect, wise, and loving care!
Psalm 121
My Help Comes from the Lord
A Song of Ascents.
121 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.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Family Discussion Question:
- The psalmist expresses his confidence in God over the idols that the people worshipped on the hilltops (v.1-2). What are some things that we tend to place our confidence over and above God? How can we act to place our confidence, trust, and hope where they should rest, in the Lord?
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for today and for always being here for us. So many times we put our confidence in our own abilities or in someone or something else like money or fame only to find they were not enough and we were disappointed. You never disappoint. You are always faithful and constant. Thank You for that assurance that we can depend on You for all of our needs today, tomorrow and forever. We all need to look to You only…for our help truly comes from You. I will forever meet God in the morning and take Him with me all day long. In Jesus’ precious and Holy name
Amen.
Dear Heavenly Father thank you for this word and for your promises. I know your way is always better for me than I could ever imagine on my own. Lord please give me the wisdom to know your will and the strength to walk in it. I pray this in the name of your son Jesus Christ, Amen.
Amen and amen ….
AMEN and HALLELUJAh!!! Lord I want you to be my Lord and Savior no other Lord or God can take your place. You are the one and only God. All I ask is to teach me and mold me as you will. Give me the strength to do as you will. In Christ Jesus name Amen
Heavenly Father from where does my help come from? From You Lord. The great the mighty and awesome God. You who calms the raging seas. You who walks beside me in still waters. You who restore our souls. Stand up and bless the Lord our God forever and ever. Blessed be Your glorious Name Lord Jesus which is exalted above all blessings and praise. You alone are the Lord. The maker of heaven and earth and everything in them. You chose us and I choose You. In Jesus Name Amen.
dear Father, thank you for heavenly help day to day and being our keeper day and night. amen
Father, thank you for another day to serve you. I thank you for all my many blessings. Father, I surrender all to your will. Guide me and help me accomplish your will in my life today. Only through the strength given by you can I stand against the wiles of the evil one. Keep me under your wing of protection from this time forth and forevermore. Now, let’s be going and doing to help save one more for your son, Jesus. Amen
Good morning Lord! Life is a hard road to travel. I’ve found that traveling it alone is wearisome. Also, it just doesn’t make a whole lot of sense not to take advantage of your free offer to do all of the really heavy lifting that life occasionally demands. So, I’ve decided to walk with you. Thank you for your slowness to anger, your faithfulness and your steadfast love.
Father God help me to rest in You.
The lead in commentary mentioned the character of God. His character is summed up not in books but in one word: HOLY. The Bible says, “Holy, Holy, Holy.” That is the very nature of God.
Thank you Lord for your provision and walking with me. Thank you for your Son, our great Shepard – protecting us and guiding us. This Psalm reminds me of your provision and safety net for me and all of those who seek your face. This terrible virus which is ever present in our community strike fear and feelings of desperation. Thank you for your protection and guidance. Thank you that you are the creator of our science and thoughts. I pray that you are honored as our source of strength and guidance! I pray you have mercy on our land. Please protect us on this journey. Please Lord cure our land – remove this virus. Let your name and your name only be glorified as sending the cure! May we not grow weary of traveling with you as our Shepard – our guide, our salvation!
Help me Lord be more sensitive to and lead by your spirit, rather than my fear and anxiety. Help me have supreme confidence in and trust you because you are good, faithful, all powerful, all knowing, gracious, merciful, generous, created me for your pleasure, for your glory and because you love me.
The Lord is my keeper, the Lord is my shade on my right hand. The sun shall not strike me by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep me from all evil, He will keep my life. The Lord will keep my going out and my coming in from this time forth and forevermore.
Thank you that You are my comforter, my healer, and my sustainer. Help me to focus on You and only You and do not let situations, hobbies, work or relationships get in the way.
Thank You Lord for being my provider and comforter
Dear Lord , thank You for this day. I want You to always be the first one I think of when I wake in the morning for giving me another day to serve You by serving others throughout the day. And the last one I thank for the day given, asking for another day of forgiveness for my sins, thankful for Your overflowing blessings for me and mine. Praying for this pandemic to end, peace and sanity will return. Glorifying Your precious name Lord Jesus. Amen