From Where Does Our Help Come?
Psalm 121
Martin B. Copenhaver
This beloved psalm is a psalm of pilgrimage. It reflects the thoughts of the pilgrim as he travels to a holy place. At the time it was written, pilgrimages were often dangerous journeys. It was not uncommon for pilgrims to be attacked or robbed along the road, so the pilgrims often would be accompanied by sentries who would perch in the high ground and give warning of any approaching danger. Perhaps the pilgrim who wrote this psalm is looking up into the hills and sees one of the sentries, which prompts the question, "From where will my help come?" And the answer is a resounding statement of faith: "My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth." Contrary to what politicians might claim or what the recruiting ads for the military might promise, ultimately we cannot be safeguarded by any human force. So our ultimate confidence cannot be placed in what other human beings might do to help and protect us. Rather, our help comes from the God who "will neither slumber nor sleep," the God who stands in faithful vigil over our lives, watching over us in every circumstance.
Prayer: Dear God, please stand vigil over my life. Watch over me in ways that only you can, particularly as I face danger or uncertainty. Amen
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