One of the things I love best about living in Boise are the surrounding mountains and foothills. They are beautiful year-round, but I especially love them in the winter when the snow covers them. There are certain roads where I drive that present a clear view and I always have the sense of being up high, even though our elevation is just a little under 3000 feet. My favorite place is by the ocean, but I do love living amid the mountains.
The psalmist asks a question in Psalm 121. “I lift up my eyes to the hills — where does my help come from?”
Then he answers his own question. “My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” [Ps 121:1-2 NIV]
Psalm 121 is labeled as “A Song of Ascent.” This group of psalms (120-134) are also called “Pilgrim Songs.” Jerusalem is situated on a hill. Several times a year the pilgrims traveling to the city for one of the Jewish Festivals would sing these songs as they ascended the uphill road.
Where does our help come from? As much as I love the mountains and the hills around the Treasure Valley, I know that our help doesn’t come from them. Our help doesn’t come from the government nor society. Our help comes from the LORD God Almighty. The psalmist reminds us in this song that the One who watches over us does not slumber nor sleep. He reminds us that the LORD is our shade in the heat of the battle. He reminds us that the LORD will watch over our lives … when we come in and when we go out … both in the present and for all eternity.
Take a moment today and use this lovely song to praise God for all He is to us, Creator, Sustainer, Protector.
