“I will lift up my eyes to the hills – from whence comes my help? 2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. 3 He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. 4 Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand. 6 The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. 7 The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. 8 The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore.”
As God’s children would…
Journey up to Jerusalem, they would sing a collection of songs known as the Songs of Ascent.
These songs are found in the book of Psalms from chapter 120 through chapter 134.
Each song was a reminder of God’s everlasting faithfulness among God’s chosen people, Israel.
The songs would help those traveling to Jerusalem prepare their hearts & minds to worship God.
The answer to the psalmist’s question in v.1 “From whence comes my help?” is a divine declaration!
“My help comes from the LORD” and the word, “LORD” is God’s sacred yet personal name (YHWH).
The psalmist was communicating that the LORD was his Helper.
And in the 7 verses that follow, he goes on to share even more about his Heavenly Helper!
Describing the “LORD” with the following 5 attributes:
1. My Helper is my Creator. (v.2)
“who made heaven & earth” (also formed us & made us in His image)
2. My Helper is my Anchor. (v.3a)
“He will not allow your foot to be moved” (literally slip)
3. My Helper is my Keeper. (v.3b-4)
“He who keeps you will not slumber”
“He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber or sleep” (attentive to our every need at all times)
4. My Helper is my Protector. (v.5-6)
“The LORD is my keeper” (literally protector)
“The LORD is your shade”
“The sun . . . by day . . . the moon by night” (24/7 protection)
5. My Helper is my Sanctifier. (v.7-8)
“The LORD shall preserve you from all evil”
“The LORD shall preserve your going out and coming in . . . forevermore”
(here on earth & throughout all of eternity)