Thoughts for the Day

I lift up my eyes to the hills—
from where will my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
He who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is your keeper;
the Lord is your shade at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life.
The Lord will keep
your going out and your coming in
from this time on and for evermore.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

This is one of my absolute favourite psalms. In places where there are hills, I know from experience, it's often requested for funerals, because most people assume it means "I lift up my eyes to the hills from where comes my help." But it does not mean this. It might be better if we had a full-stop after the first line so that it says: "I lift my eyes to the hills. From where will my help come?" We need to notice that the opening of the psalm is actually a question!

This is a pilgrim hymn, one of the Psalms of Ascent, so perhaps the writer views the hills nervously. Will there be robbers lying in wait, or if he is thinking of the hills of Jerusalem, then there might be some other concern about his arrival. As such he is talking to himself, and he answers the original question with resounding conviction: "My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth."

But we could imagine other voices coming in to answer the pilgrim's original question. In ordinary language they might say this:

• "God doesn't sleep, so He will ensure your safety".
• "God stands beside you to shade and protect you".
• "God will keep you 'well armed' from evil".
• "God will be with you for all time."

When life is tough keep Psalm 121 beside you and re-read it again and again.

Lord God,
I come to You seeking help.
Listen to my pleas -
for a safer world;
for unity among nations;
for respect for the weak
for support for the vulnerable;
and especially for Your church,
that it may be a ray of hope
to all peoples.
Today I also pray for
................ (add your own concerns).
Amen.