Monday, September 12, 2016
Psalm 121:1-2, 7-8 I will lift up my eyes to the hills-- from whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth ... The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore.
LORD, YOU ARE MY KEEPER, IN YOU I PUT MY TRUST
The keys words in this psalm -- they occur six times -- are "keep" and "preserve." The psalmist derives comfort from the Spirit-worked confidence that Jehovah is his Keeper. He isn't like the idol god Baal. He never slumbers or sleeps, is never "off duty." He's aware of what's going on in the lives of His believers at all times. And since He is the almighty Maker of heaven and earth, He is eminently qualified (powerful enough!) to defend them from danger and help them out of trouble.
The people of Israel must have derived great comfort from this psalm while on festival pilgrimages* to Jerusalem. It assured them that the Lord would keep them safe from harm both as they traveled to Jerusalem and as they returned home. But the psalmist, by the terms "coming in" and "going out," was thinking about more than just a journey to and from an earthly city. He had in mind especially the pilgrimage of a believer from earth to the New Jerusalem. He expresses confidence that Jehovah will keep close watch over His people throughout their sojourn in this world till the day they reach their heavenly destination.
Christians of every period of history have found comfort in the assurance this psalm brings. How blessed also we are to know Jehovah is our Keeper. For we also "walk in danger all the way." How many are the pitfalls, snares, and temptations that would hinder and keep us from reaching our destination. But our Savior, who possesses all power in heaven and earth, promises to protect and defend us from these threatening perils. He will guide us through this sinful world "till we safely stand in our fatherland."
* This "Song of Ascents" is one of the psalms sung by Jewish pilgrims traveling up to Jerusalem to celebrate their three great annual festivals: Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles.
