Psalm121 is a “song of degrees” or a “song of ascent.” It is the second of fifteensuch psalms. The Jews of old would sing these psalms whenever they ascended to Jerusalem on theirpilgrimage for the annual feast. For this reason they are also known as“Pilgrim Psalms.”

Butlet us understand that these Pilgrim Psalms were not written for the purpose ofthe annual ascent to Jerusalem.There are songs that are written for special occasions such as birthdays andChristmas. These songs would be somewhat out of place on other occasions. Butthe Pilgrim Psalms are actually psalms that are useful for all occasionsbecause they are really about the pilgrimage of the saints in their journeytowards the Celestial City. They are suitablefor use by the Jews during their annual pilgrimage because the climb to Jerusalem and theexpected joy at the end provides a very fitting picture of the strangers’ andpilgrims’ heavenward journey.

Psalm121, is a prominent example. We may entitle it “The LORD’s Pilgrim FindingStrength and Help in Him.” Our Lord, no doubt, also found encouragement in thispsalm during His own pilgrim journey. Indeed, we can sing this psalm withconfidence only because of our union with Christ. This psalm is no doubtwritten in the Spirit of Christ, and it is not difficult for us to see how theSpirit would intend for us to understand that Christ is the principal speakerin this psalm.

We can dividethis psalm into four parts, of two verses each, to study it.

·        Fromverses 1-2, we have an expression of confidence of the LORD’s power and abilityto help.

·        Inverses 3-4, we are assured of the LORD’s watchfulness.

·        Inverses 5-6, we are reminded of the LORD’s protection.

·        Andin verses 7-8, we are encouraged with an affirmation of the LORD’spreservation.

1. The LORD’s Power

¹ I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whencecometh my help.  ² My helpcometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.

Jerusalem is on amountain, about 750 metres above sea level. Our highest hill, Bukit Timah isonly 163.63 metres and Mount Faber is only 105 metresin height.

In those days when people did not get to Jerusalem by car, the trek on foot can bequite exhausting. Now, if you are on a journey to Jerusalem, you are not going to see Jerusalem straight away.Instead, you will be walking through undulating terrain for a few days. Then asyou come near Jerusalem,you will no doubt begin looking up to the hills to see if you have arrived. Abrahamand his son were heading to Mount Moriah where Jerusalem is. It was on“the third day [that he] lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off” (Gen22:4).

Now,this is the scene that the first verse of this psalm is painting. Mostcommentators and Hebrew scholars today will translate verse 1 in theinterogative, as a question: “I will liftup mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help?” This is how thesame construct in the Old Testament is translated most of the 17 times itoccurs. Translated this way, it is a rhetoric or poetic question answered inverse 2.

Butit is also possible that the pilgrim is looking not to just any hill (cf. Jer 3:23), but towards the hills of Jerusalem knowing thatGod’s presence is manifested there. 

Eitherway, these encouraging words reminds us that the Maker of heaven and earth isthe only one who can help us in all the trials that we may encounter throughthe changing scenes of life.

Solook to Him, beloved brethren and children. When you are sorely tried, don’thang down your head. Chin up and lift up your head. As our Lord lifted up Hishead unto His Father for help in the moments of His greatest need, so we mustdo the same. Look not to man or to the devices of man. Neither, look to thehills for help. Look beyond the hills. Look to Him who is the maker of heavenand earth. The LORD is powerful to help. You are not climbing the mountainalone. The Lord is ever willing to be give you strength and help. Thereforestruggle not alone. Go to Him.

Heknows all that is going on in your life and in your heart. For secondly,consider…

2. The LORD’s Watchfulness

³ He will not sufferthy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. ⁴Behold, He that keepeth Israelshall neither slumber nor sleep.

TheLord is not only powerful to help; He has a special interest to help Hischildren. He has an infinite love for His only begotten Son and therefore Hehas an infinite love for His adoptive sons and daughters purchased with theblood of His Son. Behold, He is the keeper of Israel for Christ’s sake.

Forthis reason, if you are united to Christ, He will not suffer your foot to bemoved or to slip. This is the assurance we can have through Christ Jesus ourcompassionate great high priest.

TheFather of our Lord Jesus Christ is our heavenly Father. He never slumbers norsleeps unlike man. He know what is going on with your life. He is constantlywatching over you.

Areyou in the situation in your life which feels miserable and appears to behopeless. Do you feel like you are walking along a narrow cliff and any momentyour feet will slip and you will shatter into a thousand pieces? How did youget yourself in that situation? Was it by accident? Was it because the LORD wasnot watching over you and allowed you to make one wrong turn after another sothat you are now in this precarious situation?

Believe,oh brethren, youth and children, that you did not appear on the ledge of thecliff by accident. Neither did the Lord, the keeper of Israel fallasleep momentarily and so allowed you to get cornered in this terriblesituation that you are in.

No,no; He neither slumbered nor slept; and He is not sleeping nor slumbering now.He is watching over you. He is watching your every step, and He is making surethat whatever pain and sorrow you have to experience, all things will work outtogether for your good as you continue to walk in His love. For consider…

3. The LORD’s Protection

⁵ The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. ⁶The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.

Thesun can be merciless in the near semi-arid desert conditions of Palestine. Everyone whomade a trek to Jerusalemfrom the surrounding cities would know the danger of heat-stroke.

Whatabout the moon at night? Well, it was commonly thought that moonlight can causeinsanity. Insanity is called lunacy because it is thought to be caused byphases of the moon. ‘Lunar’ means ‘of the moon.’ Well, I do not think there isany basis for this belief.

Butwhatever the case may be, it is clear that the LORD, the keeper of Israel doesprotect His people for all harm and dangers.

Ofcourse, we must not take these words over-literally. Today we will protectourselves from the sun by appropriate clothing, sunshades and sunscreens; andwe will hardly ever get moonstruck because we don’t normally travel in the openby night!

Butit remains true that the LORD protects us from known and understood dangerslike the sun, and also from unknown fears and causes of danger as moonlightmight be perceived to be.

AsGod’s children, we need not live in fear. We need not fear man. We need notfear nature. We need not fear circumstances. We need not fear the future. Weneed not fear death.

“The LORD is my light and my salvation; whomshall I fear?  the LORD is the strengthof my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Ps 27:1).

Onthe other hand some of us are simply filled with too many fears in life that weare crippled and unable to move forward in life.

Belovedbrethren and children, I will to urge you to trust the Lord. Do not fear to dowhat is right if what you are seeking to do is based on sound biblical reasons.If you are doing anything out of sinful or selfish reasons, naturally youcannot claim the Lord’s protection. But if you are seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, then know fora fact that the Lord will be a shade upon your right hand . No danger will comeupon you that will ultimately harm you and your love ones or bring shame toyou.

Butfinally, consider…

4. The LORD’s Preservation

⁷ The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.⁸ The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from thistime forth, and even for evermore.

TheLORD not only protects, He preserves too. He will preserve you in His love. Hewill preserve you from being destroyed by evil. He will preserve you fromapostasy. He will preserve you through every trial and temptation so that itmay be truly said:

“Therehath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful,who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with thetemptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1Cor 10:13).

Are you a believer? Are you a child of God? Areyou of the Israel of God? Do you love the Lord Jesus Christ? Do you fear God?Then you may sing these words with confidence. And you may testify with the ApostlePaul:

“And the Lord shall deliver me from every evilwork, and will preserve me unto His heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for everand ever. Amen” (2 Tim 4:18).

Ofcourse, you must not forget to pray. The Lord Jesus teaches us to pray: “Leadus not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” What the Lord promises inPsalm 121 has already been procured for us by the Lord Jesus Christ. But God ispleased to withhold them from whomsoever will not ask and to give them towhomsoever will ask.

Sothen, allow me to say: If you would pray daily, you will know the Lord’spreservation in your coming in and going out from this time and forever more.

Conclusion

This,beloved brethren, youths and children, is Psalm 121. I trust that you can seehow comforting and encouraging this psalm is in all situations of life. Do notuse this psalm only when you are going on a hike or mountain-climbing. It willbe a shame if you do not know this psalm by heart and cannot sing it togetherit while hiking up a hill. But do not just use it for such times. Rather, useit often to encourage yourself especially when you find your Christian walk tobe an uphill climb.

Indeed, let us use it often toencourage one another as we journey on together towards the Celestial City.Amen. Ω