Day 3 of Week 1

June 27, 2009
Stepping Up – The Psalms of Ascent
Day 3 of Week 1

The Lord is Your Keeper

Psalm 121
I lift up my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip – He who watches over you will not slumber;
Indeed, He who watches over Israel will neither slumber or sleep
The Lord watches over You – the Lord is your shade at your right hand
The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all harm – He will watch over your life;
The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

Please read this Psalm aloud.
Now look over the verses and write each reference that suggests a literal journey.
Some scholars believe that the first two Psalms of Ascent depict the pilgrimage of the dispersed Jews back to Jerusalem, either from their conclusion of captivity or the pilgrimage they would make for the feasts. Psalms 120 represents their misery of still being in a remote location, longing to be near the house of God. Psalm 121 immediately follows with the traveler on his journey home, believing in the protection of God. It is also believed they used these Psalms to sing on their journey home.
In verse 2, what did the pilgrims call the Lord?
The Maker of heaven and earth
What connection do you see between making an uncertain journey and needing to be reminded that our Lord is the Maker of heaven and earth?
Go through these verses and circle all of the references to protection from God.
Do you have any current need to have those truths hammered into your head, whether concerning your own life or another of God’s children?
What is God saying to you through this Psalm today?
What two purposes did God give man in the garden of Eden, according to Genesis 2: 15?
“The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.”

God made Adam the caretaker of the garden, but God was the caretaker of Adam. As carefully as Adam cared for the ground, God cares for the man he created with His own hands. He cares for us and watches over us. At no time does God abdicate your guardianship to an angel alone, regardless how mighty.
We are pilgrims on a journey with God. When we are afraid, we can use these verses to remind us that God is our protector.