Psalm 121

"Psalm 121"

It is good for God's children to know that He is on our side. Because of sin, human beings have become imperfect,
even weak, creatures. Most of us rarely ever "get it right." It seems that heartache is on every hand, and that our
distresses multiply as the days pass by. The good news for Christians is that God is on our side, and that he is our
helper and keeper. We are all in need of divine aid, yet most don't realize it. Let us take comfort that God will help us in
our distresses, and keep us in His care for eternity.

I. The Lord is our Helper (v.1-4)
1. The word help ('ezrah) means to aid, Yahweh is our aid from heaven
2. Verse 1 - The Psalmist looked beyond the circumstances in front of him, searching for an aid in his distress. We
should not primarily look for help from the world, but we should seek divine aid. Verse 1 may actually be a question:
From where shall my help come? Verse 2 demonstrates an answer to the question. (Read Acts 7:54-60)

"When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. But he, being full
of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of
God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. Then they
cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, And cast him out of the city, and
stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned
Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud
voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep." - Acts 7:54-60

3. Verse 2 - The answer to the question posed is Yahweh, my help comes from Him alone. I do not seek aid from some
other source, but from Him. Is he able? He must be, for he was able to create the heaven and the earth! Why would the
Psalmist direct our attention to his creative power? Is this not the hinge upon which our entire faith swings? God
created all that we see, and thus has power to do anything in His pleasure. (Read Colossians 1:16-19)

"For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be
thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all
things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn
from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness
dwell;" - Colossians 1:16-19

4. Verse 3 - The psalmist goes beyond the statement that Yahweh will be our helper and lets us know in what way He
will help us: He will keep us from slipping. Are we not prone to slipping? I would say that we all are, and it is our Divine
Aid that keeps us from falling. Let's face it, all of us would have fallen by now if it were up to us. We would all go astray,
but God helps us and keeps our feet from slipping. God helps us all the time, he will not be negligent in any way.
5. Verse 4 - God will not slumber (be in a tired state, sleep lightly, or be negligent) or sleep (be restored to strength
through rest). It is a great comfort that when you lie down God is watching over you, when you arise in the morning He
is watching you, and when you were in your most helpless state, in the middle of the night, He watched over you! God
does not weary, His strength endures forever!

"The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens. By his knowledge
the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew. My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound
wisdom and discretion: So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck. Then shalt thou walk in thy way
safely, and thy foot shall not stumble. When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy
sleep shall be sweet." - Proverbs 3:19-24

II. The Lord is our Keeper (v.5-8)
1. The original word for keeper (shamar) means to hedge about (like thorns) to guard, protect and attend to. He is like
the thorns that protect us, and He keeps us in His hand.

"And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live. And the Lord said, Behold, there is
a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put
thee in a Clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by:" - Exodus 33:20-22

2. Verse 5 & 6 - The stinging of the sun can cause burns and cancer, but God is like the shade on a bright sunny day.
He protects from the sting of the sun and the cold of the night. The same God who keeps Israel, and His church, keeps
Christians as individuals. The sun and moon are for our benefit, yet also cause much harm. God will be near us and
protect us from the damage they are prone to do unto us.

3. Verse 7 - Are you afraid Christian? Did you know that God will protect you from all evil, and all harm? Take hold of his
promise. There is no evil that God will not be your keeper and protector while in the midst. The word "preserve" is the
same word used "keep" earlier. He is still our hedge, our mighty protector in the midst of all evil. Not only this, but we
find that He will keep our soul. He protects us in a physical sense, but also in a spiritual sense. We cannot lose our soul
if it is in Christ because he protects it.

4. Verse 8 - God will be our guide and keeper in all of our endeavors, whether in-bound or out-bound. Our biggest
journey is the journey of life itself, and if we are in Him then we are protected. We also know that God will never cease to
protect us, as the manner of some is, but will continue to protect us for evermore. He continues with us when others
may not, He truly is our Divine Aid, and our Great Protector.

"Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will
never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall
do unto me." - Hebrews 13:5-6