Psalm 121 is probably one of the most well known and best loved psalms in the whole of the Bible, dealing with the topic of God’s providence and protection, how God helps us and leads us and guards us. We may well feel that life as a Christian should be problem-free, but the psalm reminds us that there are many hazards on this pilgrim journey (three in particular are mentioned). Jesus too warned us not to expect a problem-free life (John 16:33) and Paul reminded us that ‘everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.’ (2 Tim 3:12) Nonetheless, the psalm is more concerned with the help God provides than the hazards we face en route.
The three pitfalls mentioned in the psalm are particularly relevant for travellers: slipping on stones during the journey, facing sunstroke from the hot midday sun or ‘moonstroke’ (pressures from fatigue or emotional stress). Whatever the problem, however, our help comes from God, the Maker of heaven and earth. That doesn’t mean we won’t ever face problems, but it does mean we don’t have to face the problems on our own. The mountains – with their idolatrous shrines – were reminders that it’s always easier to seek refuge and help from God-substitutes, but no amount of temporary relief in the form of plasters to cover our wounds or therapy for our worn emotions or strategies for finding happiness and health that fail to deal with God will ultimately help us. We need to be convinced of God’s ability and willingness to help us, something that we tend to doubt all too easily when difficult times come.
God was with the travellers as they set out on their pilgrimage; He accompanied them every step of the way and would still be with them when they arrived in Jerusalem. The same is true for us on our journey through life. Ps 139:1-3 tells us ‘You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways’ and goes on to remind us that there is nowhere we can go to flee from God’s presence. (Ps 139:7-12) Jesus promised His disciples ‘I am with you always, to the very end of the age’ (Matt 28:20) and that He would never leave us or forsake us. (Heb 13:5)As Eugene Peterson says, ‘no injury, no illness, no accident, no distress will have evil power over us, that is, will be able to separate us from God’s purpose in us.’ (Eugene Peterson, ‘The Journey’, P 28) God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. (Ps 46:1)