It is possible the psalmist was addressing himself and reassuring himself of the Lord’s help in time of need. But more probably, the Psalm was recited by pilgrims on their way to Mount Zion where the temple was located. The pilgrims would ask the question “from whence comes my help?” Then there would be a response, probably from the priests, that Israel’s help came from the Lord. This response would assure the pilgrims that the Lord would come to their aid and protect them.

Consider the flow of Psalm 121. It begins with a statement and question (v.1). The statement says “I will lift up my eyes to the hills.” In looking to the hills the Israelites were actually looking to the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. We know from the New Testament that the Lord is Jesus Christ. The God of the Israelites “made heaven and earth”. This God is none other than Jesus Christ the maker of all things. Without him there was nothing made that was made.

The Israelites looked to a certain location. In the Old Testament there is prescribed religion. The Lord resided in the temple on a hill and it was to this hill that the Israelites looked. Today we are in a different situation. We are not required to look to a certain physical location. Instead we look to the throne of God in heaven where our Lord Jesus intercedes for us. He is at the right hand of God and we are exhorted to come to him at all times and in any place.

The Israelites looked for help from the Lord. It is not wrong or weak to seek the Lord’s help. I know some people who seem to think that looking to the Lord for help is a sign of weakness. But looking to the Lord for help is not a sign of weakness - it is a sign of wisdom. There is perfect balance in looking to the Lord for help and also helping oneself. We must work hard, as the Israelites did, but we must look to the Lord for his help - even as the Israelites did on the occasion of Psalm 121.

The response to the Israelites’ question is clear and comes in several responses (v.3-8).

The Lord “will not allow your foot to be moved” (v.3). The terrain of the promised land is rough and rugged. It is not as green as our New Zealand. It was always possible that travellers would kick a stone and suffer injury. The imagery here is that of a traveller who is protected from such injury. So it is that in life our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ protects us from life’s injury. No hurt shall befall else without the consent of our all-wise God.

The Lord who keeps his people neither slumbers nor sleeps (v.3-4). Our God is always awake and he is omnipresent. This is to be contrasted with the ideas of idolaters who believed their gods sometimes slept or even died and rose again. Recall how Elijah taunted the worshippers of Baal with the comment that perhaps their idol Baal was asleep and needed to be awakened (1 Kings 18:27).

The Lord is his peoples’ keeper (v.5). He is a shade at their right hand. Imagine pilgrims in the hot sun. There was danger they could be affected by the heat. The Lord is their shade. As a shadow never leaves its substance so the Lord never leaves his people. He is at their right hand (v.5). The right hand was the place of all authority. Jesus is at the place of authority next to you. No harm can befall you. Jesus is your protector.

The Lord preserves the soul from all evil (v.7). Not only is there protection from physical harm but equally as important there is protection from emotional and spiritual harm. We pray much that our children will be protected not just from physical harm but also from the evil ideas that pervade our society. Thankfully we have the Lord Jesus who is able to protect us from the evil that may inwardly affect us. He keeps our souls.

The Lord preserves travellers (v.8). If, as most likely, Psalm 121 was recited by pilgrims, we can understand the immense comfort they derived in the knowledge that as they travelled about, the Lord would be with them, in their going out and coming in. This truth should not be restricted to people in pilgrimage but it refers also to our daily travels from the time we rise to the time we rest our heads. The Lord preserves us with around the clock care.

Our conclusion from a study of Psalm 121 is that all who seek help from the Lord can be assured they will get it. Let us rest in the protection he gives. He will never fail us. All praise to him. Amen.

(Summary of Sermon by David Yan 22 Jan 2006)