A Psalm for the Journey Ahead
Reading for Saturday 2.25–Monday 2.27
The Psalms of Ascent are pilgrimage songs, traveling songs. They envision a traveler traversing distant, barren, and dangerous lands to make their way into God's presence in Jerusalem. So much of this parallels the spiritual life. Jesus did not invite us into a safe or comfortable way of life. We were invited into a life filled with faith.
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Psalm 121 (NET)
A Song of Trust
1 look up toward the hills.
From where does my help come?
2 My help comes from the LORD,
the Creator of heaven and earth!
3 May he not allow your foot to slip!
May your protector not sleep!
4 Look! Israel’s protector does not sleep or slumber!
5 The LORD is your protector;
the LORD is the shade at your right hand.
6 The sun will not harm you by day, or the moon by night.
7 The LORD will protect you from all harm; he will protect your life.
8 The LORD will protect you in all you do, now and forevermore.
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A Psalm for the Journey Ahead
Psalm 121 is a liturgical psalm. Note the shift from the first-person confession of the pilgrim in vv. 1-2 to the second-person blessing of the pilgrim in vv. 3-8. A song like this was likely used in worship as a call and response by journeying pilgrims preparing to face dangerous roads ahead filled with wild animals, robbers, and treacherous terrain.
Yet, the song beautifully roots its trust in the character of God. The maker of heaven and earth and all they contain joins the pilgrim on their journey, providing all they will need to arrive safely in Jerusalem for worship.
There is a relentless and beautiful faith here, a poetic picture of a God who is behind all things good and life-giving. It is the LORD who protects, provides, and causes us to flourish both in gentle mercies and relentless watchfulness.
It is striking that at the height of the blessings spoken over the traveler, the lines between God's provision and God's presence begin to blur (v.5). The blessings of God cannot be separated from God's presence.
We are travelers. You and I have set out across hostile terrain. A life of faith is not an easy life. Jesus makes no qualms about that. And if we are going to reach our destination safely, it will be because He carried us there.
Jesus did not promise an easy journey, nor a safe one. He did promise to accompany us along the way. He's there, by your side, awake, vigilant, bringing life and goodness in ways you're not even aware.
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Reflect with a friend
How do the first two verses challenge your faith?
The blessing of another is a prayer for God’s flourishing. Why do you think it is uncommon for us to practice praying God’s flourishing on one another today? How might you be able to recapture this helpful form of prayer in your daily life?
Does the picture of the LORD’s presence with the traveler change the way you see your daily life in any way? How might your faith change if you began to embrace the active, vigilant, protective presence of God the way the psalm does? In what ways could you begin to do this?
