Psalm 121: 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 (Read)
“Our help is from the Lord.”
The Psalm is a prayer for believers
when we are uncertain, when we face
the dangers of this world, or when we
encounter obstacles on our journey of
faith and works.
Where does our help come from?
As our psalmist says, it comes from
the Lord. Just as Moses raised up
his hands and obtained God's intervention
on the side of Israel (Exodus 17:11-12),
so too the Psalm calls for us to look upward
for God’s help, “I lift up my eyes toward the
mountains.”
And our psalmist reminds us, “The Lord is your
guardian.” We are obliged to pray, “May He not
suffer our foot to slip.”
We may rest assured that our Lord sends us the Holy
Spirit to safeguard us, and we give thanks that our
protector is a guard who never falls asleep at his post,
nor is He ever off duty. “May He slumber not who
guards you, indeed He neither slumbers nor sleeps.”
When we do battle with evil or injustice
who can we turn to? Are we likely to overcome
the powers and principalities that threaten us
along the road by depending on our puny defenses?
Not so, the Psalm reminds us. Without the Lord as our
shade we are subject to the sun's harmful rays
and the moon's evil influences. But if we trust
in the Lord, “The Lord will guard you from all evil.”
But how do we get God’s attention when we need
His help? Jesus tells us how in the Gospel –
we are to pray with persistence, without becoming
weary, like the widow who obtains a just decision
from the unwilling judge. (Luke 18:1-5)
And as the Psalm concludes, if our faith is strong,
and we trust in the Lord,
“The Lord will guard our coming and going,
both now and forever.”
Amen
Discussion Questions for Reflection
1. Our psalmist says that the Lord is beside you at your right hand.
Speak of what it is that reassures you of the Lord's protection on your
journey.
2. The Psalm is about the power of prayer and of trust in the Lord.
Give an example of how you have persisted in prayer and obtained
the Lord's help in overcoming difficulty.
This week's Gospel reading, of the parable of the persistent widow, is a favorite of mine. I have aligned my answer-seeking soul with hers many a time, in my desperate cries to the Lord.
ReplyDeleteI can detail instances when persevering prayers were answered in the way I desired. The healing of a friend... the success of my children's exams or job interviews... a relationship restored. These are examples that come to mind easily.
What is not so easy, are the equally important and emotional petitions that remain on my prayer list, day in and day out. Am I called to be resilient and continue in prayer, even if God seems silent? Or when it appears the answer is NOT what I desire?
YES! Each of us is called to do so.
As Protestant sister Beth Moore writes, "We must simply keep believing Him, because unbelief is crippling, casting huge obstacles in the way of a victorious life. The steps we take forward with God, we take through faith. This doesn't mean He asks us to believe in our ability to exercise unwavering faith. He merely asks us to believe that He is able." ("Breaking Free, Day by Day".)
The above sentiment brings huge relief to me as I glance at my journal of ongoing prayers -- those that are STILL on my list, from even years ago. I do not, cannot, and am not expected to exhibit faith beyond my capability, but rather to put all of the miracle-power in HIS ability. We PUSH -- Pray Until Something Happens; either God will work in His perfect timing OR, he will change my heart to align with His will, so that I am in peaceful agreement with Him.
Part of my journey is remembering to look up. In the first reading, we see that Moses lifted his hands upward to win the battle and when he tired, he depended on the help of those near him to keep his arms extended. When we are tired, the intercessory prayers of others sustain us.
The Psalm begins with, "I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?" (V.1). Throughout Biblical history, we see that there is importance in posture of prayer and seeking what is physically and figuratively ABOVE us.
The Lord is indeed "my keeper" (v.5) on High, and I trust in Him all of my days.
What a powerful blogspost! When God is with us, who can be against us? As the psalmist says "The Psalm is a prayer for believers when we are uncertain, when we face the dangers of the world, or when we encounter obstacles on our journey of faith and works." This interprets that our God is the ultimate source of all of the assistance that we need, because He has unlimited power and the capability to provide help in any situation whatsoever. This Psalm 121 was written to encourage God's people that they are not alone, that help is always available from our Lord. We should all start the day by "looking up" , before reaching for our cell phones, before looking at the News....
ReplyDeleteGod provides constant, vigilant protection for those who trust Him. He will not let your foot be moved..
This assures stability and perseverance in life's journey. God provides the sure footing and foundation so that believers do not completely and finally fall away from Him, and emphasizes God's constant, non-stop care..
God is always awake and watching! This means our God is a constant, close and strong source of protection against all harm, both day and night. I particularly love the feeling that God guards us from every evil...He guards our very lives, providing divine protection from all evil, providing a constant, watchful presence over every aspect of life. This is much like we all keep a watchful eye on our children, guarding them as best we can from all evil, and of course with God's help..
Thank you for sharing this very meaningful Psalm, I found it very comforting!