God's promise to keep those who seek Him. Psalm 121
Psalm 121 is very inspiring and centers its message on God's promise to keep those who seek him with all their hearts. God descends from the heights of his holy mountain to care for and sustain those who call upon his name in search of salvation. The promise of this psalm does not apply to every creature, but exclusively to the people of God. The Church of Jesus Christ is very privileged in God's love and care for her. The psalmist wrote:
I will lift up my eyes to the mountains;
From where will my help come?
2 My help comes from the Lord
who made the heavens and the earth.
3 Your foot will not yield to the slippery slope
Nor shall he that keepeth thee slumber.
4 Behold, he shall not slumber nor sleep, nor slumber
he that keepeth Israel.
5 The LORD is thy keeper
the LORD is thy shade on thy right hand.
6 The sun shall not wear you out by day
nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD will keep thee from all evil
he will keep thy soul.
8 The LORD shall keep thy going out and thy coming in.
From this time forth and for evermore. Psalms 121 Reina-Valera 1960 (RVR1960).
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Psalm 121 begins by teaching the need to look up to the only place where God's children can receive help from the heavenly Father. In the Old Testament the hills of Zion and Jerusalem symbolized God's presence, so looking to the hills of Jerusalem implied seeking God's help and protection. The prompt help of God's children comes from the heights where God has established his throne. God hears the cry of those who call upon him and descends from his holy mountain to protect and provide timely help to those who cry out to him. God is an excellent and very loving Father who is attentive to his children. The Lord likes us to seek him and to lift our eyes to the right place where we know our help is. It is not about seeking help in images or anything else of idolatry, it is about setting our eyes on God and focusing on his holy mountain, which is in the heavens. The psalmist said:
I will lift up my eyes to the mountains;
Where will my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
who made the heavens and the earth. Psalm 121: 1-2
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If we look in the right place for the Lord's help, He promises us firmness in our feet, that is, He will not allow us to slip in problems or difficulties, the Lord will make sure that we stand firm even if the storm that we may be living through rages. God watches over our lives 24 hours a day, the Lord does not sleep or give his eyes to sleep, our God is faithful and true to keep and give timely protection to his people. The composer of Psalm 121 said:
3 Your foot shall not give way to slumber,
neither shall he that keepeth thee slumber.
4 Behold, he shall neither slumber nor sleep
He who guards Israel. Psalm 121: 3-4
Do not forget that spiritual Israel is the Lord's church itself, therefore, the promises of Abraham also apply to the Lord's church, which is a product of Abraham's holy seed, which is Jesus Christ.
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The psalmist stresses that God is our guardian. There is no reason to doubt. God always encamps around his people to give them the necessary protection. Just as he cared for Israel in the wilderness, he will also care for the Christian people in the desolate and abandoned places. God is our guardian and our shadow to avoid any fatigue that could discourage us on the road to salvation. As the Lord was with Israel, a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, so the Lord goes before the church by the mighty fire of the Holy Spirit. Let us trust that God is with us, as the psalmist said:
The Lord is your guardian;
The Lord is your shade at your right hand.
6 The sun will not wear you down by day
nor the moon by night. Psalm 121:5-6
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In an extraordinary and glorious way, the author of Psalm 121 culminates by reminding God's children of his promise to keep his people, saying:
7 The Lord will keep you from all evil;
He will keep your soul.
8 The LORD will guard your going out and your coming in.
From this time forth and forevermore. Psalm 121: 7-8
That God will keep us from all evil, implies that nothing can touch our home, family, children and all that we possess. God is with us and will always keep your going out and your coming in prosperous. God is in the midst of his people to fulfill what he has promised us, it is up to us to obey and love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.
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