Series Introduction:

Welcome to the second Sunday of Lent! During our forty-day journey to Easter, we will be exploring the Psalms in a series called "The Songs of Lent." This week, we will focus on Psalm 121, a powerful reminder to trust in the Lord's provision, even in the face of dangers and challenges. As we reflect on Christ's ultimate sacrifice on the cross and his triumph through the resurrection, let us allow this Psalm to guide us in our own Lenten journeys. 

Scripture Reading:

I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.

• Psalm 121, ESV

Opening Prayer:

Heavenly Father, as we continue our Lenten journey, we turn to Your Word for guidance and comfort. During this holy season of anticipation and reflection upon Christ's passion, death, and resurrection, we remember that our strength comes from You, the Creator of heaven and earth. We ask for the courage to trust in Your unwavering faithfulness as we face the uncertainties of our journey. May we not only rely on You, our protector, provider, and guide. As we remember the path that Jesus took toward Jerusalem, may we submit to Your divine plan and trust in You completely. We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Introduction:

During the season of Lent, Christians around the world embark on a spiritual journey of reflection and renewal. This spiritual journey is often likened to the pilgrimage that Jesus took towards Jerusalem, leading up to his crucifixion. As we journey through this season of Lent, Psalm 121 is an ideal Psalm to meditate on, as it was sung by pilgrims while traveling uphill to the holy city.

Known as a "Psalm of Ascent," it serves as a powerful reminder of God's constant care and protection, which the pilgrims relied on while traveling through dangerous and uncertain paths. This message is particularly relevant when considering Jesus' own reliance and surrender to God's plan during his journey to Jerusalem. Despite knowing the trials that awaited him, Jesus resolutely directed his steps towards Jerusalem, exhibiting unwavering trust in the Father's will in the face of impending suffering and death.

As we reflect on our own journey in light of Christ's journey to the cross, we can find strength and comfort in the words of Psalm 121, reminding us that God is always with us, watching over us and protecting us.

Where Does My Help Come From?

The Psalm begins with this powerful declaration:

I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord,  who made heaven and earth. (Psalm 121:1-2, ESV)

For the Psalmist, these hills are the rugged terrains around Jerusalem where travel was slow and dangerous. The hills provided many places where thieves and robbers could hide and ambush travelers. For example, the road from Jericho to Jerusalem was infamously unsafe to travel, as seen in the parable of the good Samaritan. 

However, as the Psalmist looks nervously up at the hills, with all their potential for danger, he is ultimately led to look beyond them to the Lord, who dwells in the heavenly heights, the divine dwelling place where God is enthroned above all. When the Psalmist looks beyond the hills, he feels a sense of peace and security, knowing that he is not alone in his journey but is guided and protected by a higher power.

Life is full of challenges and dangers that can either evoke fear or remind us of the power of the Lord. Instead of being fearful of the challenges, we can see them as opportunities to trust in God's care and provision. As Christians, the Maker of heaven and earth is always there to help us. No matter how great the challenge or how daunting the obstacle may seem, it does not fall outside of His power or concern for us. His omnipotence that set the stars in place is the same power that upholds us in every moment of need. Even though God’s majesty commands the worship of angelic hosts, He always turns his ear towards earth to hear our cries for help. We can find comfort in the fact that we are not alone in our struggles, and that the same God who created the universe is always there to guide us through them.

In the New Testament, we witness how the timeless truths of Psalm 121 were given a new and profound meaning. We come to understand how God's provision for humanity reached its pinnacle on a hill outside Jerusalem, known as Golgotha. Despite its ominous name, evoking images of death and skulls, this hill became the site of the greatest act of love and sacrifice the world has ever seen. It was here that Jesus, the Son of God, willingly endured the cross and overcame the shame and pain to offer eternal salvation to all of humanity.

When we lift up our eyes to the hills and ask, "From where does my help come," we do not see an empty hill-top. Instead, we see a hill whose roads were sprinkled with the blood and sweat of our Savior and Lord and whose peak was adorned with that old rugged cross upon which our dear Savior bled and died carrying the weight of our sins and our shame so that we might know the love of God and be granted the opportunity to receive forgiveness of sins and eternal life with God. 

As the Apostle Peter declares: 

"He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed." (1 Peter 2:24, ESV).

As we contemplate the hills of our lives—be they trials, sufferings, or fears—we are reminded that we do not face them alone. The one who climbed the hill before us, and took on sin and death for us, walks alongside us and protects us and guides us. In His suffering and death, Jesus became our shade and our protector, shielding us from the eternal consequences of sin. Jesus Christ was fully aware of the cost of redemption and yet chose to pay it in full. The death of Christ on Golgotha fulfilled the Psalmist's declaration that our help comes from the Lord. This hill bore witness to the battle against sin and death, which was won through love and sacrifice, not with swords and shields. Just as the Psalmist lifted their eyes to the hills for help, we are invited to lift our eyes to Golgotha, to the cross, where our salvation was secured. This act of divine love and justice allows us to find rest and assurance, not in our circumstances or our ability to overcome them, but in the finished work of Christ. Through His resurrection, we are granted access to an eternal hope that sustains us through every trial and tribulation.

As we navigate the twists and turns of life, we must continually lift our eyes to Jesus. He is the author and perfecter of our faith, and His presence guides, protects, and leads us home. In Christ, we see that God's promise to be our protector and keeper is not just a temporal promise for this life but an eternal promise that extends beyond the grave. We can rest in the assurance of God's unfailing love—a love that has been demonstrated on the cross, a love that endures through every season, and a love that promises to keep us, guide us, and ultimately bring us home to Him. As the Lord himself declared: 

"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also." (John 14:3, ESV).

He Will Not Let Your Foot Slip 

The Psalmist speaks with great confidence when he states, "He will not let your foot slip - he who watches over you will not slumber" (Psalm 121:3). This assurance is not unique to Psalm 121, but is found throughout the Scriptures, reminding us of God's unwavering commitment to our well-being, even in the midst of trials and tribulations. For example, Psalm 16:8 affirms, "I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken." I wonder if passages like these were on the mind of Jesus as he faced his betrayal, false accusations, suffering, and crucifixion. 

Jesus knew intimately the struggle and pain that comes from submission to God in the midst of trials and tribulations. As the cross loomed heavy on the horizon we see Jesus praying on the Mount of Olives. Listen to the way God’s Word describes this moment: 

And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. (Luke 22:39-45) 

Jesus, the Son of God, prayed against the fear and the agony that awaited him, but ultimately he submitted to God’s good and perfect will. Jesus exemplifies the ultimate trust in God's overarching plan, even when that plan entails walking through the darkest valleys. Notice, however, that as he prepared to climb that hill and bear that cross for our salvation, he turned his eyes to his Heavenly Father. 

In our journey through life, seeking stability and assurance is a natural human inclination. However, in our quest for security, we often find ourselves looking to sources other than God, placing our hope in inherently unstable things in the face of life's uncertainties.

Many turn to wealth and material possessions as a source of security and happiness. However, Scripture reminds us that wealth is uncertain and cannot offer the assurance we seek. Jesus Himself cautioned against "[laying] up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal" (Matthew 6:19, ESV). 

Jesus had no earthly treasures to call his own, but at the time of his death, even the clothes upon his back were divided up amongst his persecutors. No earthly treasures would comfort Jesus on the road to the cross. In the same way, earthly treasures will never provide the ultimate security and happiness we seek. 

Some people turn to their worldly relationships for their ultimate comfort and security. While human relationships can provide support and comfort, they cannot bear the weight of being our ultimate source of hope. People, being fallible, can disappoint us, betray us, leave us, or may be unable to provide the help we need.

 "It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man." (Psalm 118:8, ESV). 

I am not trying to diminish the value of human relationships but instead, put them in the proper perspective relative to our relationship with God. When Jesus was approaching his death on the cross, his disciples fell asleep instead of staying up and praying for him. When he was taken away in chains, his disciples abandoned him. The few faithful who watched on as he died were utterly helpless to comfort him in his darkest hour. No friendship or family ties could lighten the load of the cross. 

Thankfully, when all the joys and comforts of this world fail us, we have assurances throughout Scripture that remind us that God blesses and keeps us, not just in the high moments of our faith journey but also in the depths of our struggles and uncertainties. In God alone, we find a stable foundation, a refuge in times of trouble, and the assurance of His constant love and care for us.

Now and Forevermore:

The promise that God watches over our coming and going, overseeing every aspect of our lives—from the mundane to the monumental—speaks to His omnipresence and omniscience. There is no moment, no circumstance, that falls outside His loving gaze. 

The Bible unequivocally affirms that God's knowledge is innate, complete, and originates within Himself. As the Prophet Isaiah declares, 

Who has measured the Spirit of the Lord, or what man shows him his counsel? Whom did he consult, and who made him understand? Who taught him the path of justice, and taught him knowledge, and showed him the way of understanding? (Isaiah 40:13–14, ESV)

This knowledge extends to the furthest corners of the cosmos: 

Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name; by the greatness of his might and because he is strong in power, not one is missing. (Isaiah 40:26, ESV)

And yet, this awesome God who numbers the stars and holds the constellations in place has an intimate knowledge of us, which extends to the very hairs on our heads. As Jesus himself taught, 

"Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows." (Luke 12:6-7, ESV) 

God knows you, your pain, your circumstances, and your needs better than you know yourself. He not only knows your pain, but he bore it himself more fully than you will ever know. He is more intimately knowledgeable of what you go through than you can comprehend, and in spite of our often wishy-washy lukewarm fair-weather faith, He remains faithful to us through thick and thin. He knit us together in our mothers womb, gave us the breath of life, guided us through every trial, and sent His Son to the cross so that not even our sin could separate us from His love. He has promised never to leave or forsake us. We are never alone because God is with us every step of the way, watching over us with unfailing love and infinite wisdom. Knowing this, is it too much to ask you to have a little faith and to believe that God will see you through whatever it is you are struggling with this morning?

This eternal promise, "now and forevermore" (v. 8). encapsulates the boundless scope of God's care. It assures us that from our first breath to our last, and into the life beyond, we are held securely in His hands.

Protection Through (Not From) Trials

This assurance of protection does not mean we are exempt from trials. Just as the Psalmist acknowledged and as Jesus Himself affirmed, following the Lord may lead us through paths marked by persecution and difficulty.

"Remember the word that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours" (John 15:20, ESV). 

Jesus did not ask for His followers to be removed from the world's challenges but that they would be protected and guided through the challenges and persecutions that this world throws their way. Listen to Jesus’ prayer for you, which he prayed the night before he was turned over to be crucified: 

"I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake, I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth" (John 17:14-19, ESV).

This distinction is crucial; it is not the absence of difficulty that defines our journey, but the presence of God with us through every trial. Jesus, in His journey to the cross, exemplified the ultimate trust in God's watchful care. He faced the gravest of dangers—not merely rough terrain or perilous nights, but the weight of the world's sin and the agony of separation from the Father. Yet, through it all, He was sustained by the assurance of God's will and protection.

As followers of Christ, we are invited to walk this Lenten path with a similar posture of trust and gratitude. The same God who watched over the ancient pilgrims, who kept His Son through the darkest valley, is the God who watches over us. The trials we face, the uncertainties that unsettle us, are all within the purview of His care and protection.

Conclusion: 

Therefore, let us end this sermon with hearts full of thanksgiving. Let us give thanks for the God who is our shade and our protector, who watches over our coming and going, who keeps us from all harm—not by sparing us from every difficulty but by sustaining us through them. Let us be thankful for the assurance of His presence, now and forevermore, a presence that was bought at the highest price on the hill of Calvary.

As we move forward from this place of worship, may the promise of Psalm 121 be the drumbeat of our journey, a constant reminder of God's faithful watch over our lives. May it fill us with peace, embolden our faith, and deepen our trust in the One who holds us in His hands from this time forth and forevermore. 

Closing Prayer:

Father God, as we conclude our time together, we want to thank you for taking care of us. We are grateful that you watch over us and protect us from harm. You guide us through difficult times and help us overcome our challenges. As we leave here today, we are comforted by the fact that you are with us always. You watch over us as we come and go, now and forever. We ask that you help us remember this as we continue on our journey. May we always trust in your care and remember the love that you showed us through Christ. May this Lenten season be a time of growth and faith for us. We thank you for your presence in our lives and for the gift of eternal life that Christ gave us. Help us to move forward in faith, peace, and trust in you. We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.