Look Up to the Mountains
Psalm 121 is listed as “A song of ascents.” We may think of this as a subheading later added by translators, but it is not. It’s part of the original text.
From nonbiblical sources, we learn that these songs were sung by the people as they climbed the hill to Jerusalem—as they ascended the mountain—to worship God in the temple.
Given this, these songs of ascent are stirring, uplifting psalms that we can use to praise God.
Envision the people marching up the hill to reach Jerusalem and go into the temple to worship God. As they climb, they lift their eyes to what’s before them. They lift their eyes to the mountains, to God’s dwelling place here on earth.
He is the source of their help. Their help comes from the Lord.
We celebrate this idea, that our help comes from the Lord. We read it in Scripture, and we sing about it in our songs. But do we live it out in our lives? Do we really act as though our help comes from the Lord, and from him alone?
Too often, our actions contradict our claims.
We tend to seek other sources for our help. Often—too often—we rely on ourselves. We seek to help ourselves.
Are you familiar with the saying that “the good Lord helps them who helps themselves”? It’s not true. It sounds biblical, but it’s not. It doesn’t appear anywhere in Scripture. It’s not even good theology.
We are to depend on God and not on ourselves. Not on our bank account. Not on our God-given abilities. And not on our family and friends. We are to depend on God as our source for help.
Our help comes from the Lord.
May we never forget this. May we never seek help from other sources. They will only let us down.
God alone offers the help that we can depend on. [Read through the Bible with us this year. Today’s reading is Psalm 120-124, and today’s post is on Psalm 121:1.]
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront a status quo faith and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.
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