I was at a college graduation recently expecting it to be the normal thing although happy for the students I knew and their joy at finally reaching their goal of finishing their courses. However, as often happens, the Lord arrested my attention with his Word. One of the speakers given the task to bring greetings from an American University, talked about Psalm 121 and what a blessing this psalm had been to him.
He indicated that the question in verse 1, "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from where does my help come?" is best understood as a reflection of the pagan worship that took place on the "high places" as in Jeremiah (3.23, "Surely the [idolatrous]
commotion on the hills and mountains is a deception; surely in the LORD our God is the salvation of Israel" http://www.ridgewaymethodist.org.uk/pdf/Psalm121Sermon.pdf).
Other commentators also believe it could relate to Jerusalem or Mt Zion in which case the psalmist is saying as he travels to the holy Mount, as I lift up mine eyes to the hills I remember that beyond these hills is the power of the Lord God the creator.
Both interpretations, however, act as warnings to remind up to keep our eyes on the fact that it is the Lord, the God of Israel, the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has made everything, heaven and earth. Both interpretations warn us of the present danger of substituting idols for the living God; of trusting in a variety of created things to support us when things are tough when in effect only the One "from whom, through whom and to whom are all things", can possibly do that.
He indicated that the question in verse 1, "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from where does my help come?" is best understood as a reflection of the pagan worship that took place on the "high places" as in Jeremiah (3.23, "Surely the [idolatrous]
commotion on the hills and mountains is a deception; surely in the LORD our God is the salvation of Israel" http://www.ridgewaymethodist.org.uk/pdf/Psalm121Sermon.pdf).Other commentators also believe it could relate to Jerusalem or Mt Zion in which case the psalmist is saying as he travels to the holy Mount, as I lift up mine eyes to the hills I remember that beyond these hills is the power of the Lord God the creator.
Both interpretations, however, act as warnings to remind up to keep our eyes on the fact that it is the Lord, the God of Israel, the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has made everything, heaven and earth. Both interpretations warn us of the present danger of substituting idols for the living God; of trusting in a variety of created things to support us when things are tough when in effect only the One "from whom, through whom and to whom are all things", can possibly do that.
