ICS Daily Devotions
Lift Up Your Eyes!
Psalm 121:1-8 (NKJV) I will lift up my eyes to the hills—From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; The Lord is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore.
On a recent visit to Israel, I had the opportunity of sitting at the spot where this Psalm was written—a low spot in Jerusalem surrounded by towering hills. It was a reflective moment! While there is no record of what the Psalmist was going through, we can sense that he was probably anxious and in distress. In the natural, the hills are the vantage points while the valley is the most vulnerable position.
All of us have either experienced or are going through times when we are weak and desperate for help. In our valleys of life, sometimes it is difficult to see where our help will come from and who can help us. This Psalm is a progression from a low point in life to being encouraged and refocused with hope, love, and faith in a faithful God. The good news is that compared to the Psalmist, we are now living in New Testament times; we are in a better covenant established on better promises, and we have a restored relationship and a right standing with God.
I am always in awe when I look at the mountain range and the vast ocean. In fact, creation, especially the hills mentioned in this passage, is one of the many ways that God reveals His existence to us, which is why one of my favourite things to do is taking a walk amongst nature and talking to God at the same time. Similarly, it is always calming to take a walk in the woods, the mountains or on the beach whenever we are feeling stressed. Looking at creation helps us to meditate on God’s greatness and His majesty, and to remember that whatever we are facing in life is dwarfed in comparison to the awesome God whom we worship!
Therefore, when you are in the valley, don’t let self-pity, pride or resentment against God prevent you from lifting up your eyes to God.
Sermon Series: We Have an Unwavering Help and Support from the Lord
