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. —Psalm 121:1-2
This Psalm is a Psalm that is identified as a “Song of Ascents.” Songs of Ascent were sung by pilgrims making their way to Jerusalem which was located in a mountainous area. The purpose of the pilgrim making this journey was to go to Jerusalem to attend its annual festivals, to worship God.
As we look at Psalm 121 and specifically verses 1 and 2 this week, imagine yourself as a pilgrim. You are at the bottom of the hills looking up. You lift your eyes to the hills. Many thoughts could be going through your mind as we are considering the journey in front of us. You could be looking at the hills before you and actually be afraid of what is before you. In the hills there could be a group of robbers in wait. There could be some mean people we will encounter on this road. There is also the possibility of wild animals that could be around the next bend.
So as this pilgrim in Psalm 121 is lifting his eyes to the hills, we do not fully know what is going on in his heart. He asks the excellent question, “From where does my help come?” He is at a critical point in this journey and this question is a pivotal one to be asked. He could continue to gaze at the hills and all the possibilities of what could go wrong in this journey. He could become overwhelmed and even turn back and go home. But instead he tells himself the truth!
“My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.” In what do I fear when the Sovereign Lord of Creation is my help? In whom or what do I need to fear? This pilgrim starts with stating who our God is and then builds on this truth in the verses that follow. He can fully put his trust in his God. His hope is not in who is on this journey with him, or his strength, or in his ability to run from danger, but completely on the Maker of heaven and earth. Fellow Pilgrim, where are you putting your hope in these difficult days?
Gaze or Glance . . .
Many years ago I attended a prayer seminar and was taught the gaze and glance principle. What we set our gaze on grows bigger and bigger and what we glance at becomes smaller and smaller. When I have a problem come up in my life and start to focus or gaze on the problem and begin to think of all the circumstances around the problem, it continues to grow and grow. And at the same time I glance at God, in my mind, God starts to shrink and becomes smaller and smaller and insignificant. But if I gaze at God and bring Him everything and glance at the problem then, in my mind, God starts to become who He truly is as all powerful and mighty and able to change any circumstance for His glory. The problem becomes smaller and smaller because of who God is. The truth of Psalm 121 comes to life in this principle.
One last thought for you to consider. We all need help and should ask ourselves, “Where does our help come from?” I pray that it is from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. Who is this Lord? He is Jesus Christ, who is still our help. 1 John 2:1-2 “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.”
For Reflection
What kind of journey does God have you on right now?
What areas does God want you to become more fully dependent on Him?
As we look at our God as the Maker of heaven and earth (v. 2), read Psalm 124:8, Psalm 134:3, Psalm 146:6 and Hebrews 1:1-3. Why is this truth important for us to meditate on?