“Behold, He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep” (Psalm 121:4).
The Christian today is on a pilgrimage to the heavenly Jerusalem. As he travels, he can rely upon three unshakeable truths about God found in Psalm 121: God provides His constant helping power: “My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth” (v.2). Of what possible value would looking to the hills for help be (v.1), when we can look to the Maker of the hills, God Himself? “Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth” (Psalm 124:8). “Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, and from the multitude of mountains: truly in the LORD our God is the salvation of Israel” (Jeremiah 3:23). God provides His constant keeping power: “The LORD is thy keeper” (v.5). Therefore, we are assured of tremendous stability: “He will not suffer thy foot to be moved” (v.3); of ever present watchfulness: “He that keepeth thee will not slumber” (v.3), and of powerful protection from the dangers associated with the day or night. “The LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night” (vv.5,6). God never sleeps! His eye is ever upon us! God provides His constant preserving power: “The LORD shall preserve thee” (v.7); He has the power to preserve us from all harm: “evil” (v.7); preserve our very life: “soul” (v.7); preserve us in all of the activities of life: “thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth” (v.8); even preserving us for eternity: “even for evermore” (v.8).
In the Psalm, the word “help” is found twice; “keep” is found three times, and “preserve” three times. God has assured us that He will do all three, for the fulfillment of these things. May we daily trust His word. NPS
