We All Need Help

Considering the first two verses of Psalm 121 last week, we noticed how the psalmist located his source of help in "the LORD". Did you notice that the first letter in the word "Maker" is capitalised in verse 2 of psalm 121 in your NIV Bible? I am not sure why this is, but I know that when all the letters of the word LORD are written in upper-case, it signifies the name of God. The psalmist is not an evolutionist, he believes in Intelligent Design, that the LORD God made "heaven and earth". They did not just all randomly appear. Hence, his proclamation, "My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth."

The psalmist then quickly turns his focus to exhortation. Having told us who he turns to for help, he is now encouraging us to do the same: "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." (Psalm 121:3,NIV). That God watches over us might to some be a frightening thought. If He watches over us, it means He sees all we do. In fact the Bible says: "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable." (Hebrews 4:13,NLT). To me, this makes His mercy appear even more merciful. That in spite of our sin, evil and unfaithfulness, He still watches over us. Such is the goodness and kindness of God, "He does not treat us as our sins deserve, or repay us according to our iniquities" (Psalm 103:10, NIV).

The first part of verse three may suggest that God won't let anything bad happen to us, but we know Christians do go through trials and temptations. Our foot does slip from time to time and there are times we even fall altogether. However, the sense the psalmist is conveying here is that God is always watching. When we slip, it's not because He stopped watching over us, or that He was caught off guard. Like the psalmist said in Psalm 23, Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. It means there are times God allows things to happen to us that hurt or challenge us, yet the psalmist is correct in saying "I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." (Psalm 23:4, NIV).

He truly makes all things work together for our good. (Romans 8:28). The other issue with the verses that follow in Psalm 121 is that, some read it as if God is a personal bodyguard we employ to look after us. The sense they get from this psalm and others like it is that God is an errand boy who's job it is to keep them safe. Far from it!  We are dealing here with the "Maker of heaven and earth".

Therefore, when we read "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" (Psalm 121:3-8, NIV), we must not think of it as a sales pitch, intended to sell God's services to us. No! If we do, we will have a warped idea about our relationship with God, and who He is. 

It is rather an invitation to consider this great God. The LORD God. The Maker of heaven and earth. It is an invitation to trust Him. It is a description of His great power and awesome goodness. We must not think God needs us, no, we need Him. That's why the psalmist started by describing who He is, before telling us that he (the psalmist) trusts God, and then describing His faithfulness in looking after us, out of His care and love, not because we deserve it or can ever afford to pay for His services. He is God, we are His creation. In a manner of speaking, His services are not for sale, He gives freely to those who acknowledge Him. He is God!

Lastly, let's notice the firm and assured language the psalmist uses when he said "The LORD will keep you from all harm - he will watch over your life..." Not that He may, but that He will! He is not just going to do it for a few days, months or years. No, He will watch over your entire life. That's an amazing promise, coming from an amazing God who says what He means and does what He says. Wow folks, we have an amazingly generous God. A lovingly gracious God. We all need help. I know who I will put my trust in, do you?