Psalm 121

Read Psalm 121

“I lift up my eyes to the hills.” Israel was called to make a journey to God. Three times a year the males were to travel to the place that God appointed in order to keep a festival to Him. If they found themselves in far-off places, they needed to put one foot in front of another and head in the direction of home—the Promised Land that God had given to His children.

Along the way they might face danger and discouragement, but they could lift up their eyes to the hills, and remember that the God that they worshiped made the heavens and the earth. Their help came from Him.

Their Creator was also their Keeper. He would not let their “foot be moved.” He would “neither slumber nor sleep.” Even if they were guarded by the strongest soldier on the face of the earth, that mighty man would eventually have to sleep. God did not need to rest. He would protect them through every peril they might encounter as they made their way to the place of holy assembly.

The Lord's protection of His people would be far beyond what any army could promise. No police presence could guarantee to keep a person safe “from this time forth and forevermore.” Only the eternal God could promise health for Israel beyond this mortal life. This is what God has done for His people through the ministry of His Son.

If we hope in God only for this life, we are missing the point of His glorious grace. He is able to keep us forever. Through the blood of the Lamb, we have been granted safe passage to His temple on high which is beyond the earthly realms that we can see with our eyes.

When we look to the hills we can meditate upon the power of our Creator. We should also consider the community of the Lord that exists above—where Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father. We do well to remember that the Lord who made the most majestic mountains on the face of the earth is the same God who is reigning above in heavenly realms.

Prayer from A Book of Prayers

Father God, our help comes from You. You have created us, and You keep us through all kinds of difficulties. You will help us as we move along in our journey to the heavenly Jerusalem. You will keep us forever.