Help is something we all need from time to time in life. There are many who take pride in being self-sufficient, but given time, their day will come. They too will need help. Help for now and help for securing eternity. I love to help people in need. Those who are sick and need a meal, those who are distressed, and need a comforting word, but especially those who need the Lord. Nothing satisfies my soul more than telling someone about the ultimate help, Jesus Christ.
I love Psalm 121. Most commentaries think it was written by David. Whoever the writer was had complete confidence that help was coming. As he goes through the Psalm he proceeds to cheer himself with the assurances of the character traits of God.
Psalm 121:1-8 A Song of degrees. “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore.”
He looks up to the hills as if he is expecting his help to come across the top of the hills. In Psalm 121:1, God promised his blessings and life evermore from the hills. The writer understood that God and God alone had the power and desire to help his children. He is the creator and sustainer. He is all-powerful.
He is convinced God will not allow harm to come to him. He knows the one who keeps him does not sleep. He doesn’t even get drowsy! The shade is referring to His protection and His defense. He refers to the right hand being protected because it was the side with no shield when going to battle.
In far eastern countries, the sun could be so hot that it could cause a heat stroke. To this day it is a very dangerous place to be in the desert. Some believe that the moon is mentioned because it is the light at night, and it can be dangerously cold after the intense heat of the day.
As his confidence in God is expressed it seems to grow with intensity. Now, he turns to complete confidence in the Lord. He not only will protect me he will not let evil take me. He will preserve thy soul for all eternity. “From this time forth and forevermore!” This phrase implies that his protection will never cease.
The psalmist gets his eyes off his present circumstances and takes a good look at the big picture. His destiny no longer depends on him. He is no longer living in fear of what man can do to him. He is focused on His Help!
Where is your help from? In this age of pandemics and turmoil, where is your confidence? Do you fret and worry about day-to-day life? While it is true we may suffer here in this life from choices we have made, or it may be a situation that was no fault of our own, it is also true that if we are saved, we have nothing to fear. Our destiny is with the Lord, and as long as we believe, we are secure. We need to look above the circumstances of life, look to the hills, and see what God is doing. What is he trying to teach you that will mold you to be more like Jesus?
I can say beyond a shadow of a doubt, Jesus it is you, you are MY HELP!
