By: Juliet Constantine

“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.” (Psalm 121:1-4)
 

I am blessed to be ‘planted’ on an island with beautiful picturesque mountains which are surrounded by the turquoise colored, tranquil Caribbean Sea. As I admired the mountains, some altered and others untouched, I realized that it’s almost impossible not to lift my eyes toward heaven. One day while driving home, contemplating my ever present struggles and difficulties, the Lord lifted my eyes to the mountains, and then heavenwards. Instantly, the Holy Spirit filled my thoughts with the famous words of David, “I will lift up mine eyes to the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord.” Yes, in the midst of my struggles, I am reminded that my Help comes from the Lord.

David was confident of God’s help in his times of trouble. So much so, that he could declare, “…he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep”. Of this I was assured, my God sees all my struggles because He neither slumbers nor sleeps. Just as He came through for David, He will for me too. But what was happening to David when he wrote this Psalm? I was led to research the reason behind David’s writing of this song.

The first book of Samuel, the twenty-fifth chapter, recorded the death of Samuel the Lord’s prophet. People loved and admired him; now that he was dead, they all felt hopeless since King Saul, their other leader, was considered to be a mad man. Why? He was obsessed with killing the only person who gave him the victory over the Philistines. He spent many days chasing after David, his designated successor, because he wanted him dead.

“David could not be present at the burial of Samuel, but he mourned for him as deeply and tenderly as a faithful son could mourn for a devoted father. He knew that Samuel's death had broken another bond of restraint from the actions of Saul, and he felt less secure than when the prophet lived. While the attention of Saul was engaged in mourning for the death of Samuel, David took the opportunity to seek a place of greater security; so he fled to the wilderness of Paran. It was here that he composed the one hundred and twentieth and twenty-first psalms. In these desolate wilds, realizing that the prophet was dead, and the king was his enemy, he sang:

‘My help cometh from the Lord, Which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: He that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. . . The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: He shall preserve thy soul. The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore.’ Psalm 121:2-8.” (P&P pg664)

I am comforted to know that my God watches over me. Even the sun and moon are in His control. He will not allow them to do me harm. He will preserve me from all evil. Yes, my help cometh from the Lord. In whom do you find help in your hour of need? To whom do you turn when life’s cares have pressed you down, causing you to sigh instead of smiling? To whom do you look when in the face of injustice and you want to retaliate or to stand up and fight? Yet, you’re instructed to keep silent. I look to the hills from whence cometh my help. Just as God preserved David (and he became King), God will preserve you and me to fulfill our destinies. Let’s look to Him. Better yet, call out to Him. He is our only help.

I look to You Father God, I look to You. After all that I’ve been through, on You I can depend. I look to You. Just as you preserved David, preserve me I pray, in Jesus’ name, amen.

Copyrighted by Juliet Constantine 2014 (for “Alone With God – Finding Jesus In The Scriptures” Daily Devotional)