Temple Baptist Church - 8-18-2024
Psalm 121:1-2
Introduction:
A. I want to divide this Psalm over the next couple of weeks to look at something that is generally missed. There are two things that are seen here, and both are equally important and inseparably tied together. But normally, only one aspect of the Psalm is preached.
B. Psalm 121 is one of the Psalms that are used many times at funerals. It is a good one to read as the bereaved family and friends are suffering great loss. It is Psalm that will cause them to get the right help from both the right Place and the right Person at the right time.
C. I will begin to dissect this Psalm tonight as it is also go great importance to God’s people in both good and bad times. Without any further introduction, let us look at this Psalm.
D. Psalm 121 is another of the “Songs of Degrees” related to travel. It was one of the Psalms that the pilgrims sang as they went back to Jerusalem on one of the three feast days where all males were required to attend.
E. In the first 2 verses we find the answers to two questions:
1. The question of Where they intend to go and
2. Who they intended to see when they got there.
3. Hills in themselves are of no help so the implications of the Psalm are that there is some place in the hills where their help will be available.
F. Topography of Israel holds a very important key to the Psalm. Any direction from which one approaches Jerusalem is an upward journey physically as Jerusalem is surrounded by hills.
1. Jerusalem is 2,474 feet above sea level.
2. The Valley of Megiddo (also called Jezreel) is to the north of Jerusalem.
3. The plains of Sharon and coastal plains are to the west of Jerusalem.
4. The trans-Jordan Valley to the east of Jerusalem.
5. And the desert of Juday and the Dead Sea (the lowest place on earth) to the south of Jerusalem!
6. Every way they approached Jerusalem was an upward journey or “Journey of Degrees.”
G. Therefore, the approach of the traveler was degrees upward, not downward. It is the same for us today. Our journey should be an upward one so as to encourage each of us in this world of sin, sickness, and sadness. Degrees means slow but steady progress which is a beautiful picture of the life of a child of God.
1. First of all, this Psalm is not like most which are prayer oriented. “I will lift up mine eyes” This is a continuing attitude of the Psalmist.
2. “Lift” is used instead of “lifted.” Lifted carries with it the thought that he had been looking down, lifted up his eyes, and probably look back down as “Lifted” is in the past tense
3. To the contrary, the word “lift” is in the present tense. Something common, something lasting, something expectant.
4. His eyes were taking him to Jerusalem on a feast day thus he was headed for the Temple, the house of God. In the house of God, we fine encouragement to help us in these wicked later days to:
H. Verses 1-2. Here we find three things: the Place of help, the Person of help, and the Power of help.
1. The Place of our Help. “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.” They were headed for Jerusalem and the Temple to worship. We continue to emphasize the importance of what we are doing tonight, being faithful to our church! Hebrews 10:25 will never be a verse that wears out. God designed the local church to be a place of peace, learning, worship, giving, fellowship, and encouragement.
a. Encouragement to continue a walk of holiness with God.
b. To withstand the onslaught of Satan and the world.
c. To be steadfast and immovable in the way.
d. To help us to follow the “Old Paths” in decaying religious surroundings.
e. To finish our Course in a way that is pleasing to the Lord.
f. To keep the faith once delivered.
g. To all of the above with joy!
2. The Person of our Help. “My help cometh from the LORD” The local church is the House of God and as Abraham returned to Bethel and named it El-Bethel (El – God and Bethel – the House of God) because he continued to find the Lord there!
Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
John 20:19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
Psalms 46:1 To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
a. God is our Refuge. Our hiding place! We are hid with Christ in God. He is our protector, peace and comfort. “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)
b. God is our Strength. “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:13)
c. God is our Help. “A very present help in trouble.” “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31)
3. The Power of our Help. “which made heaven and earth.” What a statement!
a. Power belongeth unto God. “God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.” (Psalms 62:11)
b. All power belongeth to Christ Jesus. “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” (Matthew 28:18)
c. God’s Power manifested in Creation says enough. “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1) Ex Nihilo – from or out of nothing.
Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
d. What is it that you need; what is it that want? I am not of the “name it claim it” people, but we have not simply because we ask not.
Psalms 121:1-2 A Song of degrees. I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. (2) My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.
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