25 August 2024 // Psalm 121
SCRIPTURAL APPLICATION: Psalm121
SERMON REVIEW:
I. Look to your Helper. vv. 1-2
A. Intentionally seek help
B. Intuitively know Him.
II. Trust in your Keeper. vv. 3-8
A. Keeps your feet Firm.
B. Keeps your strength Full.
C. Keeps your life Forever.
QUESTIONS:
1. What did the message teach me about God/Jesus/Holy Spirit?
2. What did the message teach me about the human condition?
3. Is there anything I need to confess, repent, or be grateful for, because of this passage?
4. How do I need help in believing and applying this scripture to my life?
5. How can I encourage others with this passage?
Life Application:
Help from Yahweh VS. 1-2
I will lift up my eyes to the hills: The singer of this psalm looked to the hills, likely the distant hills of Jerusalem as he traveled toward the city to fulfill his pilgrimage.
i. “The singer is still far from the appointed place of worship, lifting his eyes toward the distant mountains. He is not far from Jehovah, however. In Jehovah’s keeping, even though far from the center of external worship, the pilgrim realizes his safety.” (Morgan)
ii. The point is wonderful. The singer understood that the group didn’t need to arrive at Jerusalem before they came under God’s protective care. He would watch over them on the journey. God is just as present in the journey as in the destination.
iii. There are two other suggestions of what was intended by this looking up to the hills, though they are less likely.
· Some suggest this was a consideration of the high places where idolaters set their altars (Numbers 22:41, Deuteronomy 33:29, 1 Kings 12:31).
· Some suggest this was an anxious look to the hills, looking for danger and threats from often-present robbers and gangs.
i. “The sole source of ‘help’ comes from Yahweh, who, as Creator, has unlimited power.” (VanGemeren)
ii. “What he is telling us is that his gaze did not stop when he looked upward to the hills but that he looked beyond them to God, who made the mountains.” (Boice)
iii. “The City of God, and the Temple, are to be desired and delighted in; the mountains upon which they rest are to be remembered. But not from them does help come to distressed souls; it comes from Jehovah.” (Morgan)
2. The help God Brings Vs. 3-4
For the Christian, this reminds us of the principles found in Ephesians 6:11 and 13 – that the believer is to find a place to stand, and this can only be done by looking to the Lord and trusting the One who will not allow your foot to be moved.
iv. The standing of the believer in Jesus is impressive.
· We stand in grace (Romans 5:2).
· We stand in the gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1).
· We stand in courage and strength (1 Corinthians 16:13).
· We stand in faith (2 Corinthians 1:24).
· We stand in Christian liberty (Galatians 5:1).
· We stand in Christian unity (Philippians 1:27).
· We stand in the Lord (Philippians 4:1).
· The goal: We will stand perfect and complete in the will of God (Colossians 4:12).
He who keeps you: This is the first of six times in this short psalm that the Hebrew word shamar (translated keeps and preserve) is used. The theme is that God will watch over His people as a watchman watches over the city or the party of travelers.
He who keeps you will not slumber: When we look to the LORD, we have confidence in the fact that God does not sleep. The idea is repeated in Psalm 121:4 for emphasis. God’s watchful eye is always open, looking with love and care upon His people.
The care of the Lord. vs. 5-6
The LORD is your shade at your right hand: The brutal rays of the sun in the world of the Middle East could assault the traveler, such as the pilgrim on the way to one of Israel’s feasts in Jerusalem. God promised care for the traveler, with a reference that goes back to the cloud by day that followed Israel in the wilderness from Egypt and shielded them from the sun.
i. Similar promises are made in other verses such as Isaiah 4:6 and 25:4. Psalm 91:1 is especially precious, with shade being the same word as “shadow”: He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
ii. Your shade: “…both to refresh thee and keep thee from the burning heat of the sun, as it is expressed in the next verse, and to protect thee by his power from all thine enemies; for which reason God is oft called a shadow in Scripture.” (Poole)
Nor the moon by night: Any superstitious fears they may have had from the light of the moon were of no concern to those whom God protected. He would keep and preserve His people day and night.
God Preserves his People. VS. 7-8
The LORD shall preserve you from all evil: The singer had great confidence in God’s protecting power. Evil men may come and afflict the child of God, but the LORD shall preserve your soul.
The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in: The promise is comprehensive. God’s people may trust in His preserving power for all of one’s activity (going out and coming in) and at all times (from this time forth, and even forevermore).
i. “When we go out in youth to begin life, and come in at the end to die, we shall experience the same keeping. Our exits and our entrances are under one protection.” (Spurgeon)
ii. “Your going out and your coming in is not only a way of saying ‘everything’…in closer detail it draws attention to one’s ventures and enterprises (cf. Ps. 126:6), and to the home which remains one’s base; again, to pilgrimage and return.” (Kidner)
iii. “He has not led me so tenderly thus far to forsake me at the very gate of heaven.” (Adoniram Judson, cited in Spurgeon)
Discussion Questions:
Here are some questions that can be used for a Bible study on Psalm 121:
1. How does the imagery of the hills resonate with challenges you've encountered in your life?
2. In what ways has God shown Himself to be your Helper?
3. How does the concept of God's constant watchfulness bring comfort to you in your daily life?
4. The place where we experience fear and anxiety might suggest what our modern idols are. How can we pray for God’s help in these areas?
5. How does God’s role as Creator make Him more qualified to be our help?
6. How does the psalmist describe the protection God provides?
7. To what mountain or mountains does Ps. 121:1 refer?
8. Why is God as creator mentioned in this Psalm?
9. Explain the OT imagery of Ps. 121:3 a.
10. Why is Israel brought into this Psalm in Ps. 121:4?
11. Explain the imagery of "shade" in Ps. 121:5 b.
12. To what does "all evil" of Ps. 121:7a, refer?
13. How secure do you feel in an insecure world? Why?
PRAYER:
SERMON REVIEW:
I. Look to your Helper. vv. 1-2
A. Intentionally seek help
B. Intuitively know Him.
II. Trust in your Keeper. vv. 3-8
A. Keeps your feet Firm.
B. Keeps your strength Full.
C. Keeps your life Forever.
QUESTIONS:
1. What did the message teach me about God/Jesus/Holy Spirit?
2. What did the message teach me about the human condition?
3. Is there anything I need to confess, repent, or be grateful for, because of this passage?
4. How do I need help in believing and applying this scripture to my life?
5. How can I encourage others with this passage?
Life Application:
Help from Yahweh VS. 1-2
I will lift up my eyes to the hills: The singer of this psalm looked to the hills, likely the distant hills of Jerusalem as he traveled toward the city to fulfill his pilgrimage.
i. “The singer is still far from the appointed place of worship, lifting his eyes toward the distant mountains. He is not far from Jehovah, however. In Jehovah’s keeping, even though far from the center of external worship, the pilgrim realizes his safety.” (Morgan)
ii. The point is wonderful. The singer understood that the group didn’t need to arrive at Jerusalem before they came under God’s protective care. He would watch over them on the journey. God is just as present in the journey as in the destination.
iii. There are two other suggestions of what was intended by this looking up to the hills, though they are less likely.
· Some suggest this was a consideration of the high places where idolaters set their altars (Numbers 22:41, Deuteronomy 33:29, 1 Kings 12:31).
· Some suggest this was an anxious look to the hills, looking for danger and threats from often-present robbers and gangs.
i. “The sole source of ‘help’ comes from Yahweh, who, as Creator, has unlimited power.” (VanGemeren)
ii. “What he is telling us is that his gaze did not stop when he looked upward to the hills but that he looked beyond them to God, who made the mountains.” (Boice)
iii. “The City of God, and the Temple, are to be desired and delighted in; the mountains upon which they rest are to be remembered. But not from them does help come to distressed souls; it comes from Jehovah.” (Morgan)
2. The help God Brings Vs. 3-4
For the Christian, this reminds us of the principles found in Ephesians 6:11 and 13 – that the believer is to find a place to stand, and this can only be done by looking to the Lord and trusting the One who will not allow your foot to be moved.
iv. The standing of the believer in Jesus is impressive.
· We stand in grace (Romans 5:2).
· We stand in the gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1).
· We stand in courage and strength (1 Corinthians 16:13).
· We stand in faith (2 Corinthians 1:24).
· We stand in Christian liberty (Galatians 5:1).
· We stand in Christian unity (Philippians 1:27).
· We stand in the Lord (Philippians 4:1).
· The goal: We will stand perfect and complete in the will of God (Colossians 4:12).
He who keeps you: This is the first of six times in this short psalm that the Hebrew word shamar (translated keeps and preserve) is used. The theme is that God will watch over His people as a watchman watches over the city or the party of travelers.
He who keeps you will not slumber: When we look to the LORD, we have confidence in the fact that God does not sleep. The idea is repeated in Psalm 121:4 for emphasis. God’s watchful eye is always open, looking with love and care upon His people.
The care of the Lord. vs. 5-6
The LORD is your shade at your right hand: The brutal rays of the sun in the world of the Middle East could assault the traveler, such as the pilgrim on the way to one of Israel’s feasts in Jerusalem. God promised care for the traveler, with a reference that goes back to the cloud by day that followed Israel in the wilderness from Egypt and shielded them from the sun.
i. Similar promises are made in other verses such as Isaiah 4:6 and 25:4. Psalm 91:1 is especially precious, with shade being the same word as “shadow”: He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
ii. Your shade: “…both to refresh thee and keep thee from the burning heat of the sun, as it is expressed in the next verse, and to protect thee by his power from all thine enemies; for which reason God is oft called a shadow in Scripture.” (Poole)
Nor the moon by night: Any superstitious fears they may have had from the light of the moon were of no concern to those whom God protected. He would keep and preserve His people day and night.
God Preserves his People. VS. 7-8
The LORD shall preserve you from all evil: The singer had great confidence in God’s protecting power. Evil men may come and afflict the child of God, but the LORD shall preserve your soul.
The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in: The promise is comprehensive. God’s people may trust in His preserving power for all of one’s activity (going out and coming in) and at all times (from this time forth, and even forevermore).
i. “When we go out in youth to begin life, and come in at the end to die, we shall experience the same keeping. Our exits and our entrances are under one protection.” (Spurgeon)
ii. “Your going out and your coming in is not only a way of saying ‘everything’…in closer detail it draws attention to one’s ventures and enterprises (cf. Ps. 126:6), and to the home which remains one’s base; again, to pilgrimage and return.” (Kidner)
iii. “He has not led me so tenderly thus far to forsake me at the very gate of heaven.” (Adoniram Judson, cited in Spurgeon)
Discussion Questions:
Here are some questions that can be used for a Bible study on Psalm 121:
1. How does the imagery of the hills resonate with challenges you've encountered in your life?
2. In what ways has God shown Himself to be your Helper?
3. How does the concept of God's constant watchfulness bring comfort to you in your daily life?
4. The place where we experience fear and anxiety might suggest what our modern idols are. How can we pray for God’s help in these areas?
5. How does God’s role as Creator make Him more qualified to be our help?
6. How does the psalmist describe the protection God provides?
7. To what mountain or mountains does Ps. 121:1 refer?
8. Why is God as creator mentioned in this Psalm?
9. Explain the OT imagery of Ps. 121:3 a.
10. Why is Israel brought into this Psalm in Ps. 121:4?
11. Explain the imagery of "shade" in Ps. 121:5 b.
12. To what does "all evil" of Ps. 121:7a, refer?
13. How secure do you feel in an insecure world? Why?
PRAYER: