Monday, July 12, 2010
Psalm 121:7-8 The LORD will keep you from all harm -- he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
THE LORD IS OUR KEEPER
Our devotions this week will be based on verses from the "Songs of Ascents" section of the Psalms (120-134).
A key word in this particular psalm (occurring six times) is "keep" or "watch." The psalmist finds comfort in this, that the Lord is his Keeper/Watcher. He isn't like the idol-god Baal. He never sleeps, is never "off duty." He is aware of what is going on in the lives of His children. Because He is the Maker of heaven and earth He is eminently qualified to shield them from harm and help them in every trouble using His limitless power.
God's people of old were comforted by this psalm while traveling to Jerusalem for worship. They trusted their Lord would guard them from danger as they traveled there and made their way home. The psalmist, however, was thinking of more than his journey to and from an earthly city. He had in mind especially his pilgrimage through this world to the New Jerusalem. He expresses confidence that the Lord will watch over him and keep him safe throughout his days on earth till the time he would arrive in heaven.
Christians of every period of history have found the same comfort in this psalm. How blessed we are to know the Lord is our Keeper/Watcher as we travel life's road. We, like the psalmist, walk in danger all the way. We encounter pitfalls and temptations which would hinder us from reaching our goal. But our Lord, who wields all power in heaven and on earth, sees these dangers and defends us from them. He guides us by His power through this trouble-filled world till we safely stand in our fatherland. We may joyfully sing:
Praise to the Lord, who hath fearfully, wondrously, made thee;
Health hath vouchsafed and, when heedlessly falling, hath stayed thee.
What need or grief Ever hath failed of relief?--
Wings of His mercy did shade thee.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 39:3)
