Our psalm for today may have been written by a pilgrim coming to the hills of Jerusalem for a religious festival. Alternatively, hills and mountains in Scripture frequently symbolize God's creation, or His command & power over all things. Either way, the psalmist is asking the same question you & I often ask when we're suffering or feeling overwhelmed: From where does my help come?
PSALM 121
1 I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot be moved;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
4 Behold, He who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord is your keeper;
the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
6 The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord will keep you from all evil;
He will keep your life.
8 The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in
from this time forth and forevermore.
We are all pilgrims on our journey to our heavenly home. Our journey often takes us through places of suffering, worry or struggle. In this psalm, God reminds us of the most important thing to remember, no matter where we're journeying: Our help comes from the Lord. He is our keeper, always alert and protecting us.
So, you might say, why then do I keep suffering? Why does the Lord my keeper seem not to hear my prayers? The Lord tells us His answer, but we don't usually like to hear it. In His infinite wisdom, in His will which is beyond our understanding, the Lord allows our suffering, for His purposes. Most often we don't know His purpose, but the Lord does tell us this: "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness." [2 Corinthians 12:9] God always desires that our suffering draws us to His perfect will, and we receive His strength during our sufferings.
So, it does not matter if you're journeying today through places of suffering or comfort, be encouraged and strengthened by God's words in this psalm. Your God is eternally alert, going above you, going in front of you, and leading you to your eternal home with Him! Your God promises to keep you as His own, all the days of your life on earth and then eternally in heaven! What sweet comfort the Lord gives to you!
Peace in Christ, who keeps you in His care,
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