Where my Help?

“I lift up my eyes to the hills.
    From where does my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth.

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.

The Lord is your keeper;
    the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
    nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all evil;
    he will keep your life.
The Lord will keep
    your going out and your coming in
    from this time forth and forevermore.” Psalm 121:1-8

The psalmist knows his need, and is resolved and certain where alone he can find help. He has looked to and fro, right and left, even within, and knows his only help is in looking up. Though his way is riddled with evil pelts and pulls and dreary darkness, he knows where to find relief and light and security night and day. His song is one repeated with confident assurance and for those who are unsure and shaken.

Helpless creatures need a protector, a guard, a guide, a savior. This is easily seen through redeemed eyes, but impossible with sin-stained lenses. Man’s natural problem with idols and pride and skewed spiritual vision trip him into thinking he’s self-sufficient, able to manage, strong to conquer, adequate to withstand the evil one (or not needing to at all). (Ezekiel 28:2-8; 2 Timothy 3:2-5)

The key to understanding our only and perfect help is in the Lord is that we first acknowledge our helplessness. Only when we realize we are lost, weak, pitiful, and spiritually poor will we know we must look away from self for remedy. An honest look within and without does much to rectify our vision. Humble confession of our brokenness before holy God opens us to the possibilities of His free and lavish help. (Psalm 8:3-6; 14:1-3; Romans 5:6-12; 1 Corinthians 2:14; Ephesians 2:1-9; Colossians 1:13-14; Revelation 3:17)

Once contrite and surrendered to the Almighty’s truth about us and Him, we look out of ourselves and away from our worldly props and aids to see His greatness and whole ability to save, help, and keep. We release the reins of self-trust and the cultural mantras that falsely claim our strength is within. We acknowledge our helplessness to heal ourselves, and the absolute ability of the One who has graciously revealed Himself to us. We begin to lose our taste for all crutches of the world and hunger for His power, character, and Spirit’s shelter and enabling.

Where are we in this process? In what and whom do we daily look to manage our plans, mark out our path, keep us and loved ones safe through besetting troubles? How have worldly remedies and ungrounded advice turned us awry, or failed altogether, and what have we done to change our habits? Whom do we trust to encourage us in heavenly pursuit and growing trust in the Lord?

Memorizing this psalm will fix true truths within and steady darting eyes and allegiances. Singing songs of real deliverance, reminding ourselves of who our great God is and all He does for our sake, keep hope near and confidence firm. Would we now lift our eyes?

Father, tilt my heart and eyes and trust upward, away from worldly promise and fixed on You.