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February 22, 2017

Life Without Eternal Purpose Is Meaningless. . .

My Help Comes from the Lord... because the help that comes to those who LOVE God is higher than the hills. It comes from the Lord Himself...
Psalm 121:1-2

My Help Comes from the Lord

A Song of Ascents.

121 I lift up my eyes to the hills.
    From where does my help come?
2 My help comes from theLord,
    who made heaven and earth.



King James Study Bible Notes:
  • Gen. 2:18 Not good: The negative is extremely emphatic. It is not the construction for expressing a mere negative preference. In the context of chapters 1 and 2, it is the only thing “not good.” After... 


  • Introduction to the Book of Psalms:  
    • Introduction to the Book of Psalms
  • Ps. Psalm 121 This psalm fits well against the backdrop of a pilgrimage for it is concerned with the uncertainties one faces on such a journey. It moves naturally from the need for help (vv. 1, 2) to... 




Psalm 121

V 1–2: HIGHER HELP The help that comes to those who love God is higher than the hills. It comes from the Lord Himself. V 3–6: SHIELDING SOVEREIGN The Lord Himself is the ever awake and watchful keeper of His people. He never goes off duty at any time. V 7–8: PERPETUAL PRESERVATION Because of that, anyone who trusts in Him knows that God preserves his soul perpetually from all evil. God knows all his comings and goings and has them under His plan and preservation.

Ek slaan my oë op na die berge: waar sal my hulp vandaan kom? 
My hulp is van die Here wat hemel en aarde gemaak het...
Psalm 121: 1-2

Dictionary of Bible Themes:
  • 1130 God, sovereignty of: The fact that God is free and able to do all that HE wills; that HE reigns over all creation and that HIS will is the final cause of all things. This is often expressed in the language of kingship.
  • 1325 God, the Creator: God’s power is revealed in the initial creation and the continuing sustenance of the universe. Humanity represents the climax of the Creator’s purposes.
  • 4055 heaven and earth:  An expression which in the original Hebrew refers to the whole of creation. It is frequently used in relation to God both as Creator and Lord in order to emphasise his power and authority.
  • 7963 song:  In Scripture, songs express praise, thanksgiving, joy, victory and love. They also express sadness and derision and can be used to teach and warn. In heaven believers will sing a new song to God. 
  • 8215 confidence, results of:  God-given assurance produces spiritual maturity and stability, so that believers may withstand the adverse conditions of life.
  • 8224 dependence:  Reliance upon God or upon others. Dependence on God for help with spiritual and physical needs arises out of an awareness of human helplessness, though dependence may be wrongly directed. People may look to others for encouragement and support, but over-dependence is not commended.
  • 8491 watchfulness, divine:  The Lord’s alertness to the needs of HIS people, HIS constant care for them and HIS awareness of the power and evil intent of their enemies.
  • 8604 prayer, as a response to God:  Prayer offers believers a means of acknowledging the character and purposes of God and the opportunity to seek guidance concerning his will for them.

Psalms Chapter 121
A Song of degrees.
Psalm 121: This psalm fits well against the backdrop of a pilgrimage for it is concerned with the uncertainties one faces on such a journey. It moves naturally from the need for help (verses 1-2), to the promise of God’s protection (verses 3-8). Verse (1b), should probably be retranslated as a question, which is quite permissible. The psalmist is not looking at the hills as a source of help but as a source of threat or harm. Then he raises the question: “From whence cometh my help?” Verses 2 is his immediate answer.
Verses 1-8: See note on Psalm 120-7. The author and circumstances are unknown. This song strikes a strong note of assurance in 4 stages that God is help and protection to keep both Israel and individual believers safe from harm.
I.                    God – Helper (121:1-2)
II.                 God – Keeper (121:3-4)
III.              God – Protector (121:5-6)
IV.              God – Preserver (121:7-8)
Verses 1-2: As the psalmist anticipates his journey through “the hills” to Jerusalem – a route filled with anxiety – he seeks for help, perhaps looking around and within, and then finally looks up. His “help” – all help – comes from above. Both nature and a person’s very life are God’s handiwork; He has the power to aid His people (146:6).

Psalms 121:1 "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help."
Not to the hills and mountains in Judea, looking about to see if the inhabitants of them. Or any bodies of men, appeared upon them to his help in distress. Rather to the hills of Moriah and Zion, where the ark of God, the symbol of his presence, was. And to whom he looked for assistance and deliverance. Or to heaven, the holy hill of the Lord, and to him that dwelleth there (see Psalm 3:2). The lifting up of the eyes is a prayer gesture (John 11:41); and is expressive of boldness and confidence in prayer, and of hope and expectation of help and salvation (Job 11:15).
"From whence shall my help come?" Not from hills and mountains; not from men, for vain is the help of man; not from kings and princes, the great men of the earth, nor from the most powerful nations. But from the Lord (as in Psalm 121:2), which may be an answer to this.
Sometimes, when we are in the valley of despair, as the psalmist was in the last chapter, everything looks hopeless. This verse above is the answer, not only for the psalmist, but for all who are in trouble. In this life, we go through valleys, but we must always look up for help, and climb back up to the mountaintop. Do not keep looking downward in a cast down fashion, look up to the hills, for help is on its way. Let's look at something Jesus had to say about the very same thing in the following verses.
Luke 21:26-28 "Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken." "And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory." "And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh."
This is speaking of a time when trouble is everywhere you look. There is only one help for the psalmist, or for anyone else, who is surrounded with problems. Look up and rejoice, God will come to your rescue.

Psalms 121:2 "My help [cometh] from the LORD, which made heaven and earth."
“My help”: The psalmist does not look to the creation, but rather the Creator for his help.
Who helps his people out of the hands of all their enemies, and out of all their troubles and afflictions. He helps them in the performance of duty, in the exercise of grace, in bearing the cross, in fighting the Lord's battles, and on in their journey. He helps them to all blessings, temporal and spiritual. To all needful supplies of grace here, and glory hereafter. And this help he gives is quick and present, suitable and seasonable, is sufficient, and sometimes with, and sometimes without means. And they have great encouragement to expect it from him, since he is able to give it, being the Maker of heaven and earth. For what is it that he cannot do, who has made both them? And besides, he has promised to help them, and he is faithful that has promised. He has laid help on Christ for them, and set up a throne of grace, where they may hope to find grace and mercy, to help them in time of need. And they have had past experiences of his help and salvation.
LORD here, is Jehovah. To add, which made heaven and earth, adds to the name Jehovah the Word.
John 1:1-3 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." "The same was in the beginning with God." "All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made."
The spoken Word of God created the heaven and earth. God said, “let there be”, and it was so. The God that was Creator of everything, including me, would be the best help a person could have. Notice, there is no doubt in his statement. He does not say, maybe He will help me. He says cometh, which means continues to come. My help continues to come from the Lord.

 Life Without Eternal Purpose Is Meaningless. . .

#JESUS♡
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