1 A Ma`alot Song. I will lift up my eyes to the hills. Where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and eretz.
3 He will not allow your foot to be moved. He who keeps you will not slumber.
4 Behold, he who keeps Yisra'el Will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The LORD is your keeper. The LORD is your shade on your right hand.
6 The sun will not harm you by day, Nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD will keep you from all evil. He will keep your soul.
8 The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in, From this time forth, and forevermore. - Psalm 121:1-8 HNV
In his book A Sweet and Bitter Providence, John Piper offers these thoughts about God's providence and guidance: "Life is not a straight line leading from one blessing to the next and then finally to heaven. Life is a winding and troubled road. . . . God is not just showing up after the trouble and cleaning it up. He is plotting the course and managing the troubles with far-reaching purposes for our good and for the glory of Jesus Christ."
The Jews journeying to Jerusalem for the annual feasts (Deut. 16:16) had the assurance of knowing that the Lord was plotting their course and managing the winding and troubled roads for them. They expressed this assurance in Psalm 121, a pilgrim song. The question, "From whence comes my help?" did not express doubt but affirmation in the Lord who rules supreme (vv.1-2). Unlike a guard who sometimes slumbered, or the god Baal who needed to be rustled out of his stupor (1 Kings 18:27), the Lord was fully alert and secured the journey of His people with providential care (vv.3-4). The Lord, who rescued Israel, would continue to help, preserve, and walk with His people.
Life is a winding road with unknown perils and troubles, but we can be certain of God's providence, security, and care.
Dear Lord, sometimes life seems to be full of
perilous and winding roads. Thank You for giving
us the assurance that You have our course plotted
and are watching over our every step.
Troubles are unknown; God's providence is certain.
The Winding Road
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