I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? ²My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. —Psalm 121:1-2
Psalm 121 is identified as a “Song of Ascents.” Such psalms were sung by pilgrims making their way to Jerusalem, a city located in a mountainous area. The purpose of the pilgrimage was to attend the 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. As you lift your eyes to the hills, many thoughts could be going through your mind. You could be looking at the hills in fear of what looms before you. Robbers might be lying in wait. You could encounter cruel people along the road. There is also the possibility of wild animals around the next bend.
As this pilgrim in Psalm 121 lifts 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 his 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.”
What do I fear when the Sovereign Lord of Creation is my help? This pilgrim starts by stating who God is and then builds on this truth in the verses that follow. He can put his trust fully in God. His hope rests not in the other people journeying with him, or his strength, or his ability to run from danger. His hope rests completely on the Maker of heaven and earth. Fellow Pilgrim, where are you putting your hope when you face difficult days?
Gaze or Glance
Many years ago I attended a prayer seminar where I learned the "gaze and glance" principle. What we set our gaze on grows bigger and what we glance at becomes smaller. When I encounter a problem in my life and start to gaze on it, thinking of all the circumstances surrounding it, it grows and grows. At the same time I glance at God. In my mind, God starts to shrink and becomes smaller and insignificant. But if I gaze at God, bringing my troubles to Him, and glance at the problem, then God starts to become, in my mind, who He truly is: all powerful and mighty, 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.
Consider, we all need help. We should ask ourselves, “Where does my help come from?” I pray we will answer "from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth." Who is this Lord? He is Jesus Christ, who is our help. When you are troubled, remember His words:
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. 1 John 2:1-2
For Reflection
What kind of journey does God have you on right now?
Where does God want you to become more fully dependent on Him?
As you meditate on 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 so important to ponder?