Introduction

All of us encounter times of difficulty when we need help. When this happens, some of us moan and groan and complain and feel sorry for ourselves. Others worry and fret as they attempt to solve the problems themselves. And still others bounce from persons to places looking for answers. Psalm 121 teaches us that when we need help, we need to look to the Lord. God is there for us and is willing to assist us.

When my son became involved in drum majoring with the High School Band, it was essential that repairs to his long mace could be made quickly and promptly so that he wouldn’t lose points in the competition. So I got in the habit of carrying along a tool belt with extra chains, screws, and other equipment. He loved to do risky moves – fast twirls, behind the back maneuvers, and high tosses – while leading the band. The only problem is that whenever he missed a catch, if the mace hit the asphalt just right, it broke or was damaged. So I also started carrying a spare mace for such emergencies which did occasionally happen. We often get involved helping our children in their different activities.

We need to realize that God cares about his children just as much, if not more, as we do about ours. God wants to help us. He is ready to be there when we look to him. As we examine Psalm 121, we will see how the psalmist shows us to look to God when we need help. Delitzsch titles this psalm, "The Consolation of Divine Protection."

The psalmist lifts his eyes to the hills. When we need help, let us look up. Have you ever asked the question asked here in this verse – where does my help come from? Whenever you feel that way, lift your eyes to the Lord.

As Spurgeon comments, "Help comes to saints only from above, they look elsewhere in vain: let us lift up our eyes with hope, expectancy, desire and confidence. Satan will endeavour to keep our eyes upon our sorrows that we may be disquieted and discouraged; be it ours firmly to resolve that we will look out and look up for there is good cheer for the eyes, and they that lift up their eyes to the eternal hills shall soon have their hearts lifted up also."

Matthew Henry gives us the assurance, "We must see all our help laid up in God, in his power and goodness, his providence and grace; and from him we must expect it to come: My help comes from the Lord; the help I desire is what he sends, and from him I expect it in his own way and time."

Sometimes we feel like we’re on slippery ground, that we might skid and fall into further crisis. But God will not let our foot be moved. He will hold us firm. When my son was about 8 years old playing Little Guys Baseball, he developed a bad habit of stepping his rear foot out of the batter’s box as the pitch crossed the plate. He had been smacked with a hard pitch and was afraid that another might come his way. So for one practice, I sprawled on the ground beside him holding both his feet firm. He had no choice but to stay in the batter’s box. When he hit a ball out of the outfield, he was fine as he regained his old form. But there for a while he needed someone to hold his feet so he wouldn’t slip into a permanent bad habit. That’s what God does for us. We may feel like we are slipping, or maybe we’re afraid and want to move away from what life is pitching at us, but God will hold our feet firm so we won’t be moved.

The Treasury of David points out, "...he keeps us as a rich man keeps his treasures, as a captain keeps a city with a garrison, as a royal guard keeps his monarch’s head."

As God promises in Psalm 37:28, "For the Lord loves justice; he will not forsake his saints. The righteous shall be preserved for ever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off."

Brandt wrote this modern paraphrase of Psalm 121:

Where should I look for help in my need?

To majestic mountain peaks that probe our skies

or to giants of industry that hem in our cities?

To satellites that circle our world

or to computers that store up our knowledge?

The answer to my problems

and the fulfillment of my needs

must come from God Himself,

from Him who created skies and mountains

and man to dwell in their midst.

He is a great God who knows our every desire,

whose watchful eye is upon us night and day.

We can make no move without His knowledge.

His concern for His children is constant;

His love for them is eternal.

And thus the Lord will keep you,

Shielding you from the forces of evil

as a shade tree shields you

from the rays of the blazing sun.

He does care for you,

and He will fight with you

against the enemies of your soul.

Whether you be coming or going,

He knows the course you take,

and He will go before you.

Did you know that God will shade you from adversity? The psalmist tells us that the Lord is our shade. We live under his protective shadow. Nothing can harm us.

Matthew Henry comments, "God himself has undertaken to be our protector: The Lord is thy keeper, v. 5. Whatever charge he gives his angels to keep his people, he has not thereby discharged himself, so that, whether every particular saint has an angel for his guardian or no, we are sure he has God himself for his guardian. It is infinite wisdom that contrives, and infinite power that works, the safety of those that have put themselves under God's protection."

Spurgeon suggests that this verse means God will keep us "from excessive heat and from baneful chills." Certainly this could be the meaning of this verse. But we know how the heat of the sun can smite us during the day, and it has been shown that the full moon seems to adversely affect some people’s behavior. In fact the word lunatic comes from the supposed lunar effect on some people’s minds. But God has promised that even this will not affect us. Whether you are facing heat or chill, whether you are facing scorching pain in your body or cold despair in your mind, whether you are facing difficulties at work during the day or trouble at home at night – no matter what hardship you may encounter, God will protect you. He will be there for you.

McGee remarks, "Notice He keeps us both day and night. he doesn’t slumber or sleep. When they camped for the night and were sleeping in a strange country, God didn’t sleep – He was still watching over them."

Some days I’m not sure if I’m coming or going. Do you feel that way? This verse promises that when you go out to begin your day, the Lord is there. When you come home at the end of a long day, God is still there. In fact this verse tells us that God is with us from this time forth and forevermore. What a wonderful promise of God’s keeping power over our life. He is always there for us. He will not abandon us. No matter what we are doing or where we are going, God is with us.

Delitzsch remarks, "He will keep thy going out and coming in, i.e. all thy business and intercourse of life ... everywhere and at all times; and that from this time forth even for ever. In connection with this the thought is natural, that the life of him who stands under the so universal and unbounded protection of eternal love can suffer no injury."