I live near the blue ridge mountains.
Frequently, I enjoy a glimpse of the mountain range as I commute to work.
This glimpse always brings a smile to my face.
Yet there are days when rain, fog, or darkness hide their presence from view.
Our emotional states mirror this experience with highs and lows.
Everyone has good and tough days.
Some days are harder than others.
- Where do you turn for help when you are struggling?
Join me in looking at Psalm 121 for some encouragement.
The opening verse of Psalm 121 immediately communicates that the author has experienced struggle in their journey of life.
A Song of Ascents. I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? (Psa 121:1 ESV)
Consider the imagery in this verse.
- What does the posture of looking up show us?
- Is this author seeking to solve their own struggles? Are you?
- What types of struggles require help from beyond our own resources?
The next verse of Psalm 121 immediately answers the question asked in verse one.
My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. (Psa 121:2 ESV)
- According to this verse, what qualifies the LORD as the author’s source of help?
- Why are these qualifications significant in affirming the Lord as our greatest helper?
- Are you already gaining encouragement after only these first two verses? Why or why not?
Verse three introduces a second voice in the psalm who relates more assurance why the LORD is our best source of help.
He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. (Psa 121:3 ESV)
- What does the phrase “he will not let your foot be moved,” show?
- What does the phrase “he who keeps you” show?
- Why is the LORD able to guard and protect you according to verse three?
Now consider verse four.
Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. (Psa 121:4 ESV)
- What encouragement does this verse repeat?
- Why is it important to repeat this encouragement?
- How long are you able to function without sleep?
- When you are asleep, are you able to protect others?
- Does the fact that the LORD does not sleep encourage you? Why or why not?
Going further, consider verse five.
The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade on your right hand. (Psa 121:5 ESV)
- What does this verse repeat that was also stated in verses three and four?
- How does having a LORD who helps and keeps you encouraging when you are struggling?
- What are the benefits of shade on hot days?
- When we are struggling, how does a scorching hot day mirror how we feel?
- What does our right hand represent in verse five?
The respondent has more encouragement.
The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. (Psa 121:6 ESV)
- How can the sun harm us?
- What difficulties can the moon cause us?
- Who has power over both the sun and the moon according to verse six?
- Why is it encouraging to know the LORD is protecting you both day and night?
The LORD protects us from more than physical elements.
The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. (Psa 121:7 ESV)
- Since we all struggle, what does it mean that the LORD will keep us from all evil?
- Given some translations use the word soul instead of life at the end of verse seven, what is this verse communicating?
And now the last verse of this psalm.
The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore. (Psa 121:8 ESV)
- How far does God’s protection over us reach?
- According to verse eight, when does God’s protection over us stop?
Review the entire psalm:
A Song of Ascents. 1 I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?
2 My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.
4 Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade on your right hand.
6 The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.
8 The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore. (Psa 121:1-8 ESV)
- What is our responsibility according to verses one and two?
- How many times is the LORD described as your “keeper” in this psalm?
- How do these descriptions encourage you?
- What struggle are you facing right now that you need to seek the LORD’s help to resolve?
- Is there someone you know who is struggling that you can use this psalm to encourage today?
- What struggles has the LORD brought you through that will encourage others to seek His help?
- Why is it important for us to share this hope with each other?
Some of you know I had my debut speaking engagement this past week.
My theme was based on Joel 2:25a.
Our plan for the evening was to have recordings of me playing classical piano or flute selections as background music. But the house sound system volume was erratic. First too quiet, then escalating too loud, triggering feedback. After several attempts, we elected to not have background music.
Another technical challenge involved that items we wanted to be projected would not stay centered on the screen. Instead, they kept “walking” to the right, creating a split-screen effect.
These two technical challenges also hindered us when using a video for worship music immediately before and after my speech.
We had to rely on the speaker in the projector for the video. This meant the audience had to sing softly and remain super focused while we strained to hear the music.
Plus, the video was doing the split-screen “walking”, forcing us to rely on our memories of the song lyrics.
How did I handle this frustration?
I “looked to the hills” and asked the LORD to help me use some of these technical struggles in relation to my speech’s theme.
During the music video prior to my speech, I realized the LORD was giving me an opportunity to tie this time of extremely quiet worship to the personal story I would share when He spoke Joel 2:25a as a promise of hope.
This alone gave me a sense of peace and confidence. I knew no matter how the tech behaved the rest of the evening, the LORD was with me and wanted to speak through me to the ladies in attendance.
Have I always been this calm when dealing with struggles?
Certainly not.
Having had such an experience this week of an immediate enabling of help from the LORD made me want to share Psalm 121 with you today.
Another thing that my past week encompassed was serving as a volunteer coordinator for my church’s hosting of Andrew Peterson in concert. Thus, there were many details to organize for this while I was also preparing for the speech.
Sometimes life throws us curveballs when we least expect them. These curveballs can be positive or negative.
The key to navigating our struggles, whether good or bad, is to turn our eyes upon the LORD, the creator of heaven and earth.
Putting our trust in His power and amazing love toward us is transformative in how we handle the struggles we face as we continue our journey.
- What examples of God’s “keeping” have you experienced? Share in the comments!
Blessings,
Barbara Lynn
Barbara, thank you for slowing me down after I read through Psalm 121 with my usual speed and making me internalize each verse.
I was privileged to have been in attendance last week as you spoke. With the Lord’s help you handled the many technical surprises with a beautiful grace. This only enhanced your message.
Thank you for your ministry.
Thanks!
Sounds like your engagement speaking was stressful!
And you did super job overseeing concert event!
And yes this psalm is super comforting. As is the picture you posted. Thanks . Just wish I could seek His comfort more when I am in the midst of crisis, but often consumed by the emotions of each moment.. Hard to be in that peaceful place but reassuring to know that the Lord is there in control even if I’m not .🤪
Thanks!