Life often feels like an uphill climb, filled with uncertainties, challenges, and moments that remind us we are not in control. Psalm 121, a beloved pilgrimage song, offers a powerful reminder that we are never alone on this journey. Written for travelers heading to Jerusalem, this psalm speaks to every heart seeking hope and assurance. In this sermon, we delve into the truths of Psalm 121, discovering how God is our help, our keeper, and our ever-present companion. Let these verses guide us to look up, rest easy, and walk confidently, knowing the Creator watches over us.
Look Up: Our Help Comes from the Creator (Psalm 121:1-2)
Psalm 121 begins with a pilgrim’s cry: “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help? My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:1-2, KJV). As pilgrims journeyed to Jerusalem, they faced steep hills, treacherous paths, and potential dangers like robbers or scorching heat. These hills could symbolize obstacles or even spiritual temptations, but the psalmist’s focus is clear: help does not come from the hills themselves but from the Lord who created them. This is a bold confession of faith. Our help is not found in human resources, jobs, doctors, or systems, but in the Creator of heaven and earth. Too often, we look too low, pinning our hopes on temporary solutions that disappoint. The psalm calls us to lift our eyes higher, to the God who is above all, trusting Him as the source of life-sustaining support. When we fix our gaze on Him, we find a help that never fails.
Rest Easy: Our Keeper Never Sleeps (Psalm 121:3-4)
The psalm continues, assuring us of God’s unwavering vigilance: “He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep” (Psalm 121:3-4, KJV). For pilgrims on rocky, uneven roads, the promise that God would not let their foot slip offered stability in a literal and spiritual sense. God does not promise a smooth path, but He guarantees a secure step. Unlike human protectors who tire or lose focus, God never slumbers nor sleeps. This divine wakefulness means there is not a single moment when He is unaware of our needs. The word “behold” in verse 4 urges us to pause and consider this truth: God is always watching, always caring. Stories like John Patton’s, surrounded by unseen angels, or Brother Andrew’s, passing through a checkpoint with Bibles undetected, remind us that God’s attentiveness never falters. When anxiety keeps us awake, we can rest easy, knowing our Keeper is always alert, working on our tomorrow.
Walk Confidently: Our Keeper is Close (Psalm 121:5-8)
Finally, Psalm 121 assures us of God’s nearness: “The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore” (Psalm 121:5-8, KJV). God is not a distant observer but a close companion, described as our “shade upon thy right hand.” For pilgrims, shade was a matter of survival against the sun’s heat, symbolizing protection from visible trials. The mention of the moon by night points to internal struggles, like anxiety or emotional turmoil, that others may not see. God is present in both, shielding us from public pressures and private pains. Corrie ten Boom’s father illustrated this beautifully, comparing God’s provision to a train ticket given just when needed. Whether facing criticism, exhaustion, or silent sorrows, we can walk confidently, knowing God is near, preserving us in every step. However, these promises are for God’s children, those who have trusted Christ as Savior. To know Him as Father, we must confess our sin and receive His salvation, becoming heirs to His promises.
Conclusion
Psalm 121 invites us to shift our focus from the hills of life’s challenges to the God who made them. He is our help, never sleeping, always near. If you have not trusted Christ as your Saviour, today is the day to become His child, receiving the comfort of His care. For those who know Him, let every anxiety or trial drive you to look up, rest in His vigilance, and walk confidently in His presence. Our Keeper is faithful, and we are never out of His care. Let us pray that we trust Him fully, knowing our help comes from the Lord, who loves us and walks with us forevermore.
