Psalm 121 and the Great Outdoors
There is something about being outdoors. The cool breeze blowing through my hair compels me to breathe just a little more deeply. The beauty of the surroundings grips my heart with a sense of awe and wonder. As the sun beats down, I am warmed, and the Vitamin D permeates my skin. The birds sing their songs and smells waft from a nearby field. Being outdoors is a robust, sensual experience, with the sights, sounds, smells, and “feels.” It is good for us as embodied souls to experience God’s creation, His common grace to all, His general revelation to mankind. But to the child of God, it is so much more than “common grace.” It is anything but ordinary. God’s creation is a tangible gift from our heavenly Father, pointing us to Him, eliciting worship and reminding us that He is our Help in times of trouble.
Psalm 121 beckons us to the great outdoors. “I raise my eyes toward the mountains...”[1] In this Psalm of ascent, the Israelite pilgrims would have sung Psalm 121, as they took the journey up the mountain to Jerusalem to keep the great feasts of the Lord.[2] “The successful journey becomes a parable for the whole of one’s life, in which the faithful can be confident of God’s tireless care.”[3] The psalmist raises his eyes toward the mountains. There is something about the physicality of raising our eyes, which has a way of transporting our heart away from the troubles of this life, straight into the presence of the Lord. “Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in his wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.”[4]
In the company of other pilgrims, the psalmist did just that. As he ascended the hill to Jerusalem, he raised his eyes toward the mountains, to the Lord, past his troubles, reminding himself that his “help comes from the Lord, maker of heaven and earth” (Ps. 121:2). This is not any trite reminder. The psalmist is telling his heart that the Lord, who made heaven and earth, is the One who is his help. This is not just anyone. This is the Maker of all creation! By implication, what is too hard for Him? Does He not know our troubles, and will He not take care of them all? Of course, He will! He is the Maker of heaven and earth! He does not always help us in the ways that we think He should help. But He is God, and we are not. We can remember that “His ways are not our ways, nor his thoughts our thoughts...” (Is. 55:8-9) We can trust him with our cares. We can rely on Him to be our Helper and our Protector in the ways that He considers best. In the timeless words of Spurgeon, “Let us lift up our eyes with hope, expectancy, desire and confidence. Satan will try to keep our eyes upon our sorrows that we may be disquieted and discouraged; be it ours firmly to resolve to look out and to look up...”[5] So, physically raise your eyes to the mountains. In doing so, lift your eyes to the Lord. Your Helper will protect you and keep you.
As we raise our eyes to the mountains, we must remember that our God is not a ‘god’ far off. We may be confident that He is the God who has made all things and that He is our help. But in our weakness, we may be tempted to think that He is far off and removed from our suffering. No! “The Lord protects you; the Lord is a shelter right by your side” (Ps. 121:5).[6] What a comfort it is to know that our Helper is not far off but is right by our side! Matthew Henry states that God is “always near to his people for their protection and refreshment, and never far at a distance.”[7] He is near to the brokenhearted (Ps. 34:18). He is “an ever-present Help in trouble...” (Ps. 46:1). Over three hundred times, the Lord declares in His Word, “Do not fear...,” and often it is followed by “for I am with you...” He is with us. Jesus is the God-man, the embodiment of this reality. Jesus, “Immanuel – God with us.” He will never leave you, and He will never forsake you. He is a “shelter right by your side.”
I encourage you to venture outdoors today. Take in all that God has for you in His wonderful creation. Take a deep breath. Lift your eyes to the mountains, to the Lord, past your many cares, remembering that He is your Helper, your Protector, and He is right by your side. You can trust Him with all that you face.
At Burke Care, we long to walk with you, to lift our eyes together to the One who can help, remembering that He is near. Please reach out if we can help you on this journey
[1] Holman Christian Standard Bible.
[2] Charles H. Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. VI, (Pasadena, TX: Pilgrim Publications, 1983), p. 401.
[3] ESV Study Bible, (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), pg. 1103.
[4] Helen H. Lemmel, “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus,” 1922.
[5] Charles H. Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. VI, (Pasadena, TX: Pilgrim Publications, 1983), p. 414.
[6] Holman Christian Standard Bible.
[7] Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible, Vol. 3, (Hendrickson Publishers, 1991.), p. 594.
My worship is rich and full as I gaze on the beauty of Your creation. You are a good God, full of loving-kindness to have granted so many blessings to me. You are steadfast in your love and always perfect in your provision. Give me today all that is needful for me, since You know me better than I know myself. I look to the mountains, and You are there. You are also right by my side. Amen!
Application Questions:
Where do you tend to turn for help when facing difficulty?
What keeps your eyes from looking to the Lord for help in troubling times?
How would you walk differently in your situation if your eyes were set on your infinite Savior?
What can help you practice resting in the Lord’s constant presence and provision?