+ Psalm 121 +
A song of ascents
I lift up my eyes to the hills–where does my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip–he who watches over you will not slumber;
Indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD watches over you–the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
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.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Is there a section of Scripture that makes memories flood back when you read it? Perhaps it’s your confirmation or class verse, your wedding sermon text, a verse you’ve used with shut-ins, a text you read when life seemed darkest. Whatever the text, that section of Scripture always brings back a lifetime of memories. It has essentially become part of the fabric of your life.
This particular psalm is one of those texts for me. My first memory of it comes from a devotion my dad did with our family at a campground at the foot of the Grand Teton mountain range in Wyoming. Those mountains were so big and strong and beautiful–surely nothing could destroy them, but how much stronger is the One who created them!
How much more does our almighty Lord of free and faithful grace care for his faithful people as he watches over them even in the darkest times of life! The Lord showed that care when he sent his Son to save us from the source of all that darkness–sin. For us he overcame that darkness to bring us the light of life. These words take away the fears of God’s people and fills them with peace. Jesus himself summarized this psalm for his own fear-filled disciples, “Surely I am with you always to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20b)
Looking back the Lord has used this psalm to take away my fears and the fears of loved ones and members alike. The memories come flooding back–comforting my future wife over the phone with Psalm 121 after terrorists attacked on 11 September 2001; listening to its words in our wedding sermon; sharing those words during my first solo shut-in call with my grandfather who entered glory a week later, then reading those words at his Christian Victory service.
This psalm has brought Christ’s peace to shut-ins and hospitalized members, young soldiers days before they deploy for war and fellow Christians needing the safety of the gospel. With the healing comfort of Christ, this psalm has dried the tears of families who had lost a sibling or a parent or a child. Every morning when I wake up and when I go to sleep I see those words outside my door. Like so many before, Psalm 121 has brought encouragement or comfort when ministry seems too difficult or the worries of life too much.
“My help comes from the Lord of free and faithful grace, the Maker of heaven and earth…The Lord of free and faithful grace will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore!”
Are there sections of Scripture that have had a similar impact on you? Which ones have become part of the fabric of your life and service to the Lord? Please share those memories in the comment section below!
