FRAMEWORKS:
Psalm 121: God, my Source of Security
A
song of ascents.
[Preliminary
Comments: In this second psalm of ascents, the psalmist
turns from rejecting the world [in the previous psalm] to declaring
his trust in the Lord, a very practical trust because he knows
the Lord is there for him to protect him wherever he is and whenever
he is.]
v.1
Others looked to the ‘high places' but is that where help really
comes from?
v.1
I
lift up my eyes to the mountains –
where does my help come from?
v.2
No, real help only comes from God who is Creator of all things
v.2
My
help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
v.3a
God is for us and therefore will make us secure
v.3
He
[i] will
not let your foot slip –
v.3b,4
He watches over us vigilantly every moment of every day and night
he
[ii] who
watches over you will not slumber;
v.4 indeed,
he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
v.5,6
But His watching is not passive, it is protective
v.5
The
Lord watches over you –
the Lord [iii]
is your shade at your right hand;
v.6 the
sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
v.7,8
His protection is there for every aspect of our comings and goings
of life
v.7
The
Lord [iv] will
keep you from all harm –
he will watch over your life;
v.8 the
Lord [v] will watch over your
coming and going
both now and for evermore.
[Additional
Comments: Verse 1 hints at the trust that others put
in gods they worshipped at the high places in the hills but, by
contrast the psalmist knows that security only comes from the
Living God, the all-powerful Creator of all things, who will be
there for him providing stability, security and protection at
all times wherever he is. A song declaring total confidence in
the One he is going to meet.]
Continue
to Psa 122