Psalm 121 A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.
“I look up to the mountains—does my help come from there?
My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!
He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber.
Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps.
The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.
The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night.
The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life.
The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.”
“I look up to the mountains—does my help come from there?” Pilgrims are streaming towards Jerusalem, a city that is built on a tall hill. But these people have been hiking for days, looking at the hills around them.
What’s so important about hills? Throughout the world, people have always erected places of worship in the tops of hills or mountains. Even in the Andes mountains in South America, there are shrines on mountaintops, and sometimes people still worship at these shrines. By locating places of worship on mountain tops, perhaps worshipers hope to be closer to God.
The Jews also have strong traditions of erecting altars on mountain tops. One of the most famous incidents took place on the top of Mount Carmel when the prophet Elijah confronted 400 prophets of Baal. (1 Kings18:20-39) Elijah challenges the prophets of Baal, who fail to make their god do anything. Then Elijah demonstrates the power of God.
“Then Elijah called to the people, “Come over here!” They all crowded around him as he repaired the altar of the Lord that had been torn down. He took twelve stones, one to represent each of the tribes of Israel, and he used the stones to rebuild the altar in the name of the Lord. Then he dug a trench around the altar large enough to hold about three gallons. He piled wood on the altar, cut the bull into pieces, and laid the pieces on the wood.
Then he said, “Fill four large jars with water, and pour the water over the offering and the wood.”
After they had done this, he said, “Do the same thing again!” And when they were finished, he said, “Now do it a third time!” So they did as he said, and the water ran around the altar and even filled the trench.
At the usual time for offering the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet walked up to the altar and prayed, “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, prove today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant. Prove that I have done all this at your command. O Lord, answer me! Answer me so these people will know that you, O Lord, are God and that you have brought them back to yourself.”
Immediately the fire of the Lord flashed down from heaven and burned up the young bull, the wood, the stones, and the dust. It even licked up all the water in the trench! And when all the people saw it, they fell face down on the ground and cried out, “The Lord—he is God! Yes, the Lord is God!”
When the Israelites moved into the Promised Land, they met people who were already worshiping on mountain tops. Sadly, there probably isn’t a single hill in Israel that has escaped being the site of a pagan shrine, particularly a shrine devoted to a fertility cult. Worshipers headed for Jerusalem are well aware of this problem. The question is simple: If the so-called gods worshiped on mountain tops are worthless, who is the One True Living God? Where can worshipers find help?
“My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!” Hallelujah! Here’s the answer. God has not left us at the mercy of people or events. Our help comes from Eloheinu melekh ha’olam, the Ruler of the Universe, the most powerful being possible. What can God do for us?
“He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps.” Sometimes people who wish to attack others may try to curse others in various ways or invoke evil spirits that will attack in dreams. These pilgrims want God’s guidance and protection, even as they sleep. One of our friends has a sign that reads, “I’m awake 24/7 so you might as well go to sleep. Signed, God.”
“The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.
The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night.” There are many myths about the sun and the moon having maleficent effects on people. Witches and wizards may also invoke curses on anyone standing in sunlight or moonlight. But the God of the Universe will protect believers from all harm.
“The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.” Pilgrims can trust God at all times and in all places, no matter the circumstances.
As believers, we never know when someone might put curses on us, spread vicious rumors, or otherwise try to destroy us. But this psalm assures us that God will protect us, no matter the circumstances. May we worship the One True Living God who always protects us!
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to trust You, no matter what. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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