Psalm 121 (NIV)
I lift up my eyes to the hills—
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
The maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber.
Indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord watches over you—
the Lord is your shade at your right hand:
the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life:
the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.
Devotion
When I was a child, I was asked to memorize Psalm 121 and so it has always been special to me. I’m not sure if it was a church school activity or a family request, but I did memorize it and it became a part of my spiritual foundation. I believe it provided a solid footing for further growth of my faith.
The NIV Bible shares that this psalm is part of “A Song of Ascents” group encompassing Psalms120-134. These psalms were perhaps recited while ascending the stairs to the temple or used in temple liturgy. They may have been read during annual pilgrimages to Jerusalem using confession and assurance dialogue back and forth between those on the pilgrimage. They also are perhaps used “for the pilgrimage of life to the ‘glory’ into which the faithful will be received” by providing assurances of our Lord watching over us and providing guidance and help as needed.
The assurances to the reader/believer are for protection from the Lord, who does not sleep, during our activities as well as “watching over your life” and providing safety from evil.
Currently our world and even our country are not safe and many feel anxious about their lives and their safety. Others in less precarious situations have been helping those whose safety, housing, and food is at risk. Those assisting others in dire straits have been showing how to live the “spirit of the kingdom of God” which many of us can consider as ways we can “renew a right spirit” and provide important assistance.
In watching/listening to the venerable monks on their 108-day trek of over 2,300 miles from Texas to Washington, DC, I was struck by their simple, core message of peace, mindfulness, and calmness. Their encouragement was for less dependence on technology and more focus on being out in the world reaching out to others. Their urging us to keep ourselves peaceful and calm seemed to resonate with many, though it upset others not sure what to make of the monks and their approach.
These are several current examples of how we can renew our spirit and assist others as Jesus taught.
Prayer
Dear Lord, please be with us each day, watch over us and help those in difficult situations to find peace, calm, and safety. Guide those leading countries to find inner peace and calm such that they see the evil in their attacks on the vulnerable.
Please bring your calm and peace to all on this earth and give each of us ways to help and provide assistance to others in more need. Helps us all to spread your love across the world and to be good neighbors and friends.
Eve Jelstrom
- https://youtu.be/M9shuiGm_kM Create in Me a Clean Heart, Oh God, Mary Rice Hopkins, female singer with children signing.
- https://youtu.be/4ojTFfFZEtQ Create in Me a Clean Heart, Oh God, Nederland Zingt, newer version of the song, female and male singer.
- https://youtu.be/vQl8DBUbEoU?si=0AIhA28H9aSwjI1- Create in Me a Clean Heart, Donnie Mcclurkin, black male singer and gospel choir support.
- https://youtu.be/2fVliokreqE Create in Me a Clean Heart, Oh God, Maranatha Singers