Psalm 121: God as Our Shelter and Keeper

How do I find the words to offer hopeful inspiration for another year?

In searching for words to convey what is on my heart, I do what I often do. I ask God to help me to share the words readers need to hear.

Then, in my daily quiet time, I find myself in Psalm 121. Almost immediately, I recognize this holds the hopeful inspiration I long to share as we launch into another year.

Of the psalms, Eugene Peterson said, “There is no literature in all the world that is more true to life and more honest than Psalms…”¹ Within its pages we find life’s disappointments, pain, struggle, and sin. We also discover in Psalms the joy and blessing of a life spent praising God in the middle of it all.

This psalm of ascent has been described as “The Traveler’s Psalm—one to read before setting out on a journey…[but] also suited for the journey of a lifetime!”² As we set out on the coming year’s journey, what better resource than the hopeful inspiration of ancient Scripture?

“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.” (Psalm 121.1-2 ESV)

This psalm is liturgy, with verses 1-2 spoken by one setting out on a journey. The remainder of the psalm is expressed by those who are remaining behind. It begins with the question, “From where does my help come?” This is a leading question, for the answer immediately follows: “My help comes from the Lord…”

As you begin this journey of another year, you may have questions. Friend, it is okay to ask questions, but I want to encourage you to preach the gospel to yourself, as well. Go to the Scriptures, and be reminded of God’s promises. Our help for every situation comes from the Lord.

In verses 3-8 of Psalm 121, there are two lessons of hopeful inspiration to take with you into the coming months.

#1 – God is our Keeper—hopeful inspiration.

“3 …He who keeps you will not slumber. 4 Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The Lord is your keeper. 7 The Lord will keep you from all evil; He will keep your life. 8 The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in…” (Psalm 121.3-8 ESV)

Notice the words keep(s) or keeper appear six times in this psalm. For a passage with only eight verses, this is a lot of repetition. Another short passage of Scripture which emphasizes the keeping power of God is the book of Jude.

“To those who are the called, loved by God the Father and kept by Jesus Christ. May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.” (Jude 1-2 (HCSB)

See how this New Testament reference in Jude acknowledges the role of Jesus Christ, in whom believers are kept safe. Furthermore, because of God’s keeping power, we are the recipients of multiplied mercy, peace, and love.

Take heart, friend. You have a Keeper. He is the Lord of heaven and earth. His promises are for you. Take heart and be encouraged with hope for the new year. There is nothing to fear, for He is on your side and has promised to never leave you.

#2 – He is your Shelter—hopeful inspiration.

“The Lord protects you; the Lord is a shelter right by your side.” (Psalm 121.5 HCSB)

In my home state, we know what it means to seek shelter by taking cover from tornadoes and the potential devastation they can bring. They call them tornado shelters for a reason.

The past couple of years, many of us have felt the need to take shelter more than once. We will not soon forget the days of sheltering-in due to a mysterious virus sweeping the world. Around the same time, we watched on our screens as protests and violence took place. We felt concerned for those being forced to take shelter for an entirely different reason.

“…He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.” (Psalm 91.4 NLT)

In trying times, whether due to natural disaster, violent uprising, crumbling economy, or other abusive forces—friend, you have a Shelter and Keeper on whom you can call. His name is Jesus.

“Yahweh himself will watch over you; he’s always at your side to shelter you…” (Psalm 121.5, TPT)

What if you had prayed Psalm 121 at the beginning of the hardest year of your life? The year of that cancer diagnosis. The season you buried a dear loved one. The year you thought you had lost it all and could not go on.

What if we pray it as we begin this new year?

How about we pray it now? We may decide to make this an annual tradition, declaring the hopeful inspiration of Psalm 121, as well as the wealth of promises found throughout Scripture.

Here we go, into another year, with the hopeful inspiration of faith in the God of heaven and earth, our keeper and shelter!