BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY: He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. – Psalms 121:3-4
God’s Guidance Is Sure
By Lydia Brownback
Psalms 120–134 are called Songs of Ascent, which means they were likely sung as God’s people went up to Jerusalem to participate in sacred festivals and special times of worship. Psalm 121 was composed to encourage trust in the Lord.
The journey to Jerusalem could be long and frequently dangerous, and the psalmist, pondering the path ahead, recognizes his need for divine aid. Perhaps the hills he sees in the distance were those marking his destination, Jerusalem; or they might have been the hills on which people worshiped idols. In either case, he knows he cannot get where he is going under his own strength. The God who created the path must guard his people as they travel on it (vv. 1–2).
They are set on reaching the place of God’s special presence, and the psalmist is confident that they will get there because of God’s watchful care. The travelers need sleep, but God does not, and he will protect them during the dark nights (vv. 3–4). The heat of the desert day won’t harm them either, because God provides every necessity for completing the journey (vv. 5–6). God’s provision isn’t merely physical; he also guards them from every evil snare that could derail their course (v. 7). God is with them not only as they journey but also when they get there. His care is constant (v. 8).
Determined commitment propels our path, but reaching the destination is possible only because God gets us there. Left to ourselves, we would wander off course or be taken away. Determination simply isn’t enough; Christ is our surety, and in him we are secure till the end.
“Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen” (Jude 24–25).
Application:
Consider how Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:14–21 enables you to apply Psalm 121 to your own life.
Content is taken from Sing a New Song: A Woman's Guide to the Psalms by Lydia Brownback, originally published on Crossway.org. Used with permission.
Lydia Brownback (MAR, Westminster Theological Seminary) serves as a senior editor at Crossway in Wheaton, Illinois, and an author and speaker at women’s conferences around the world. Lydia previously served as writer in residence for Alistair Begg and as a producer of the Bible Study Hour radio program with James Montgomery Boice.
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