Where Does Your Help Come From? The fifteen psalms ranging from Psalm 120-134 are often referred to as the Psalms of Ascent. Many scholars believe that these psalms would be sung by the pilgrims as they journeyed on the mountains to Jerusalem three times a year to celebrate the three major festivals: Passover, Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Tabernacles. The journey was long. The climb was steep.
As they traveled this difficult path and looked at the journey ahead…they realized that they needed help. On the mountain-tops surrounding them, idol worship was common. However, these pilgrims looked above the hills, not to the things created by man, but to the one and only Creator.
NOT TO THE MOUNTAIN, BUT THE MOUNTAIN MAKER
It is tempting to look at all the mountains around us and place our hope in such. Things like our jobs, health, sports, and relationships. If we’re not careful, we worship these man-made idols more than we worship God. We spend more time worrying about the things that we do or do not have. Temporal things. Earthly stuff. The things that the Bible says will one day fade away. In doing so, we forget to look for God as our Help.
We currently see God messing with our stuff, and it is interesting to see how we will respond. Will we become angry at God? Dissatisfied? Grumpy? or Discontent? As the clock ticks, what do we spend most of our time thinking about? The stock market? Our 401k? What else can we watch on tv?
NOT TO THE MOUNTAIN, BUT THE MOUNTAIN MOVER
Our help doesn’t come from the things of this world, but rather God is our Helper.
My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth. Ps. 121:2
God never sleeps nor slumbers. Nothing takes Him by surprise. He is not shocked by COVID-19 or any of the circumstances you currently walk in. You will never hear God say, “Man, I️ sure didn’t see that coming.” The God we serve is sovereign over all things. Your bank account, your job, your home, your kids, your parents, your health, your past, your present…and your future.
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. Ps. 121:3-4
God knows about everything that is going on in your life and He can help. Besides, He knows you better than you know yourself and He is in complete control of your current situation! He sees and He understands. God assumes full responsibility for the life that is surrendered to Him. And He means what He says in Romans 8:28 that He will work all things together for your good.
The Lord will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life. Ps. 121:7
Ultimately, we can put our trust and faith in God, who is the keeper of our lives. He shepherds our days…the journey ahead. He promises to always be with us, and He is all that we truly need. The days may not be easy or seem good from our vantage point, but then we must ask ourselves, “Do we truly know what is good?”
NOT TO THE MOUNTAIN, BUT THE MOUNTAIN SHAKER
Many times I️ have looked back at my life and later realized that the toughest things I’ve gone through have been for my good. It is at those times that God has peeled away the superficial yuck from me, and grown my faith to trust God with my everything. I️ truly am better today because of what I’ve journeyed through yesterday. And no matter what the future holds, I️ believe that God will somehow use it for His glory and my good.
Today’s blog is my sermon notes from Pastor Brad Thomas, March 22, 2020, Austin Ridge Bible Church. I️ encourage you to listen to the entire message by clicking HERE.
Prayer: Dear God, please help me to put my trust in You and You alone. You are the mountain maker and mountain mover. I️ confess, I️ too often fix my eyes on my current mountain. Forgive me. Help me. Amen