Keep, not Sleep

“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

The yawn of cares and stress of need do not keep the psalmist from looking to the hills for his Lord. He knows His abode, and finds there His vigilant care. He knows His strength, and His constancy. He knows He is ever alert, actively at watch, and so he will state for all who are needy, ‘He is Your keeper too. He is nigh, a shade and shield. He is attentive, on guard. So you too lift your eyes and find in Him present help and safety of soul.’ This proclamation, this invitation, is for all.

In our flesh, diligence can wane at the hint of fatigue or lure of distraction. We keep steady well, until we don’t. We are concerned with many things, eyes shifting here and there, and our keeping of what matters gets knocked awry. Sometimes we do not even know what help we need.

But our attention is far different from the Lord’s, whose watchful eye and strong arm are not only able but consistent. What uplifting and enduring promises He gives! He never takes off, never sleeps, but night and day, in and out, publicly and privately, loudly and silently, cares for His own. Are we at rest in His keeping? Are we determined to emulate it?

With what keeping has the Lord entrusted us- at home, work, in relationships and personal choices? How can we imitate His watchful care with compassion and wisdom? How are we guarding our hearts for holiness, and keeping watch over our souls and those over whom we have responsibility? We need only look up to learn His keeping ways! (Proverbs 4:32)

“Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise him, for he is your health and salvation!
Come, all who hear; now to his temple draw near,
join me in glad adoration.

Praise to the Lord, above all things so wondrously reigning;
sheltering you under his wings, and so gently sustaining!
Have you not seen all that is needful has been
sent by his gracious ordaining?

Praise to the Lord, who will prosper your work and defend you;
surely his goodness and mercy shall daily attend you.
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do,
if with his love he befriends you.

Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore him!
All that has life and breath, come now with praises before him.
Let the Amen sound from his people again;
gladly forever adore him.” ~Joachim Neander (1680)

Lord, help me keep my life with diligence as You keep me, and so reflect Your grace and glory.