God’s Protection
Psalms 121:1-8
Musicians play “The Giving Song”
Let me first pause and thank our Pastor.
Let us pray: Father, coming as humbly as we know how…I have heard your voice speaking to me and Lord I ask that you grant me utterance now to speak your word. Create in your children clean hearts that they may have planted in their soil…seeds this day…that will grow high and bear great fruits. I ask this in the name of your precious son: Jesus. Amen.
God is good…we don’t sound like we know that God is good…he woke me with Joy…this morning..I stand as a testimony…weeping may endure for the night….bed, suit, car, youth..JOY…JOY…JOY
Let me get back on track. Text is Psalm 121. History of Psalm: 1043-931 B.C. Psalm was Mizmore Daveed.
The First, Second, and Third Books end with Amen and Amen; the Fourth, with Amen and Hallelujah, the Fifth, with Hallelujah.
PSALMS 121:1-8 “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. THE LORD IS THY KEEPER; THE LORD IS THY SHADE UPON THY RIGHT HAND. THE SUN SHALL NOT SMITE THEE BY DAY, NOR THE MOON BY NIGHT. 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 FOR EVERMORE.”
I want to talk this day about - God’s Protection
This text tells us many things if we just open our eyes and our hearts to understanding. We can see how god is three things to us. (Falling, Circumstances, and Defending)
First, if we open our eyes and hearts to understanding – we will notice that the Lord is our helper. Helping us in tough times. Keep us from falling
Second, if we open our eyes and hearts to understanding – we will noticed that He’s our keeper. Keeping us safe. Safe from circumstances
Thirdly, if we open our eyes and hearts to understanding - He’s our preserver. Preserving our way. How many know he’ll preserve and Defend us against evil.
How many know this morning…that he’s been there for you…when you weren’t there for yourself…Amen is this mirophone on….y’all don’t hear me this day. But I heard somebody say that he’ll be your helper, keeper, and preserver if you been saved by his grace….for in the book of Hebrews 13:5 it tells me Holt St “..for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” So I want you to know that Christ is always there for you if you’re one of His. He will never leave you nor forsake you. He’ll never slumber or sleep. There will never be a time when we call upon God that He’s not available for us. The Bible says He’s there even before we call upon His name. He’s our Alpha and Omega…our Dr when we are sick..our lawyer in the courtroom…so when they ask you..tell that …who told Moses to tell them that…That I am that I am.
I heard a story of a family’s who home ….
All of us long to feel safe. We want to know that we are protected from danger. Policemen; Restaurants; Cars, Military.
But where do safety really come from? From
Let us read in the Word of God the answer to this question. 10:30
In our text this morning, we read a Psalm that Israelites would often sing while making their yearly pilgrimage to worship in the temple in Jerusalem. For many, this was a long and treacherous trip. The miles were long and the traveler was vulnerable. There were dangers that awaited them on many fronts. They were many things that could go wrong, many bad things that could happen. It wasn’t like today and if your on highway 85 or 65 heading to Atlanta or Birmingham..and if you have car trouble you can just call someone on the cell phone. But I don’t think that the Israelites had cell phones in 900 b.c. They couldn’t summon the police if they were in trouble. They had reason to fear. They longed to feel the same safety and protection that we still long for in our world today. So, they would sing this song. Psalm 121 was written to remind God’s people as to how He protects them in times in danger. We see this in the first two verses which serve as an introduction. I lift up my eyes to the hills, one asks, where the pagan temples could be seen upon the mountain tops? Where does my help come from? The answer is our theme this morning: “My help comes from the Lord”. That word for “help” also signifies protection. God is being pictured as our guardian. The dangers before us may not be the same as the ones they faced, but our unchanging God still protects us from danger. The question then is, how does God protects us from danger? Our text suggests three ways God protects us from danger.
I) First, we see that God protects us from danger by keeping us from falling. (verses 3-4)
For the traveler en route to worship in Jerusalem, there were many dangers. One of those dangers was that of falling. When verse three says that “He will not allow your foot to be moved,” that verb often translates “slip”. A person could fall and sprain an ankle, or break a leg or hip. When was the last time you tried to walk a hundred miles through mountainous territory on a broken ankle? Get the point? For us, this seems petty, but for them, it was a major concern and a very real danger. So God promised his fearful journeymen that He would not “let their foot be moved”. This doesn’t mean that God forbids us from sinning. It doesn’t mean we won’t have to face sometimes dreadful consequences for our actions. It does mean that God nourishes us, not only through the harm that others would bring upon us, but even the harm we might bring upon ourselves.
Some time ago back at Fort Knox, Kentucky my wife Melissa and I visited with a couple who were the proud parents of a baby boy, just over a year old. As soon as we entered their home, we noticed that everything about this house was dedicated to protecting their baby. There were plastic plugs in the electrical outlets to keep the baby from seeing what happens when he places his little fingers in them. When they opened their pantry door, there was a small plastic “baby gate” nailed into place, keeping the baby from getting to items that might be harmful for a small child. When you tried to open their cabinet doors, there were small hooks in place to keep the baby from being able to open those doors and reach more harmful things. Finally, we drove somewhere with this couple and noticed they had a special baby seat to buckle him in, in case he would try to move about. We couldn’t roll down the windows because they were “child proof”, in case the baby tried to reach through them and become hurt. When we arrived at our destination, we couldn’t open the car doors because they had “child proof” locks that only the driver could unlock. Everywhere you looked, everything about their lives was dedicated, not only to protecting the baby from others, but from protecting the baby from himself. Likewise our Heavenly Father protects us not only from evil in this world around us, but even from ourselves.
How is God able to do this? Verse four says God will neither “slumber nor sleep”. When a person is asleep, they are unconscious, unaware of what is going on around them. Many of the pagans in Old Testament days believed that their false gods occasionally slept and had to be awakened. But this is not so with God. Because He never sleeps nor slumbers, He is aware of every step you take in your life, and is able to nourish you when your foot would “slip”. He can do this because He is a full time God. Jude 24 says that our Lord “is able to keep you from falling.” Those whom God saves, He also sustains.
My friends, God knows our every weakness, He knows our every failure in life, and still He wants to use us. He knows how grouchy we can be in the mornings, the things we utter while fighting traffic, our lack of patience...He knows the fears we harbor and every dumb
thing we have ever done.
The word says it like this… O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.
Yet, in spite of all of these things He say to us “take up your cross and follow me!” You do not have to say, as many have said to me, “I have so little to give God. I have so many failures and weaknesses. What if I fail? What if I fall?”
When you feel inadequate, God is more than adequate through you. Trust Him with your every step, follow wherever He leads, and know that “He will not let your foot be moved.”
Not only does God protect us by keeping us from falling, but by...
II) Sheltering us from circumstances. (verses 5-6)
Not only did the traveler have to fear the possibility of being incapacitated by slipping
or falling, but there was another danger. This was the danger posed by their circumstances. Verse five says God is our “keeper”. That word in its Hebrew context means “to watch, preserve, support, aid or...keep guard.” What does God guard us from here? The sun and the moon. For the traveler, sun stroke was a dangerous reality. Many also believed that the beams reflecting off the moon could be deadly as well. These were the circumstances in which they had to travel. Thus, God I “your shade at your right hand.” He is shade in that He gives relief from the heat of the sun and moon. He is at our “right hand” as that was a symbol of reliability. Just as God sheltered them from their circumstances, He shelters us from ours as well.
Some time ago I watched a fascinating story on the Nature Channel on cable tv. The have a chaneel for everything now…sports, music, movies, and even religion. On this show an explorer had made a tremendous accomplishment. He managed, for the first time in history, to record on videotape the birth of a panda cub in the wild. This was amazing, in part, because of how violent the mother panda bear can be when intruders are near their young. The newborn cub was no larger than a gerbil. He could fit in the palm of your hand. The most amazing thing happened after this cub was born. In order to protect the cub from the elements, and to give the cub an opportunity to grow sheltered from the dangers of the outside world, she spread her enormous body across this tiny cub and did not move for twenty-eight days. She did not eat, sleep, or even defecate at all during this time. Her massive presence remained steadily hovering over this tiny being. It has since been discovered that this is a common practice when the panda bear is protecting her young. So it is with God, as He omnipotent presence hovers over us as a shield from our circumstances in life.
God protects us from our circumstances not only because He is aware, as we saw in our first section, but also because He is always present. The same word which we here see translated “shade” also translates “shadow”. God is like our shadow. Your shadow follows you every moment of the day. There is virtually nowhere to go to escape it. In fact, the only way to hide it from view is to escape the light of day and to retreat to the darkness. When you are walking in the light, the shadow is clearly seen, walking with you, wherever you go. God has promised us “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world.” If God is there, there is nothing in our circumstances that should cause us to fear, for He is Lord over them.
What are the circumstances in which life finds you now? What are the circumstances that are troubling you? Perhaps the circumstances of your job is difficult and you are struggling to be a good steward in the workplace. Perhaps the circumstances of your family life are stressed, and you are struggling to be the husband or wife God called you to be.
Perhaps the circumstances of your health are deteriorating and you struggle just to get up each day. Whatever your circumstances may be, God is your “shade at your right
hand.” That means there is nothing about your circumstances that must hinder God’s plan for your life. There is nothing in your circumstances that must rob you of the joy of walking with Christ. You can trust God with your life no matter what your circumstances may be, knowing that He is Lord over your circumstances and promises that you will not be stricken by them.
Ya know we get too big for our own good. We get the big head and believe our own press. We need to step back: and notice how small we are. We need to step back and notice how unworthy we are. We need to step back and see how needy we are…and O’h we need to step back see ourselves as ourselves….we need to step back and see who’s broght us from a mighty long way….we need to step back and see the light…and I can hear someone singing… “This little light of mine…I’m gonna let it shine…Oh we need to step back and see how merciful he is….. Do you know him….he know’s you for he has Search you and he knows you…he know’s you thoughts afar off. And when we step back and notice how great and how big God is and how little and humble we are, we’re heading in the right direction. For the word tell me In John 3:30 when it says “He must increase but I must decrease.”
God protect us by keeping us from falling, sheltering us from circumstances, and by...
III) Defending us against evil. (verses 7-8)
Verse seven says, “The Lord shall preserve you from all evil.” The word for “evil” signifies the evil intentions other people might have. Possibly the most frightening danger posed to this traveler was not the possibility of falling, or the chance of being stricken by the heat of the sun. It was the presence of those evil persons who might do them harm. There were bandits and burglars who were anxious to make quick riches at others’ expense. The family heading to worship in Jerusalem could often make a good target for their crime because they were likely to be tithing when they arrived and thus might be loaded with considerable wealth. Not only might they steal your possessions, but wouldn’t think twice about taking your life. This was a real danger. But for the child of God, they need not fear, for “He shall preserve your soul.” This doesn’t mean that evil will never touch us or hurt us. It means that we will be preserved when those who would devise evil against us enact their evil plans.
I wish I could tell you that being a follower of Jesus Christ would make you popular, but it will not. What I can promise is that God will preserve you from the evil that He allows to touch your life. It will not be able to overcome what He intends to do in your life. Isaiah 54:17 says that “no weapon formed against you shall prosper.” God will render them useless, except to accomplish His will. Luke 10:19 says “nothing shall by any means hurt you.” No evil will hurt or hinder God’s plan for your life. Yes, there will be those who, because of your walk with Christ, will persecute you, attack you, lie about you, and seek to destroy your life. So how do we respond when evil is devised against us? Jesus makes clear for us what our response should be when men revile us, persecute us, and say all sorts of evil things against us falsely. In Matthew 5:11-12 he tells us “For my sake rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven!” You who know Jesus as Savior and Lord can rejoice because you know that any evil God allows to touch your life, He allows for your ultimate benefit.
The same assurances of protection and safety He offered to those fearful travelers thousands of years ago, God still offers to us today. In spite of all the defenses we erect, we need God’s protection now more than ever.
I’m almost done now…but I told you to remember 3 key words. Falling, Circumstances, and Defending.
If God has promised to protect His children, then we need not fear the dangers this life presents. God’s protective work in our lives will flow from our relationship with Christ. We can trust God to keep us from falling for He sent His Son to walk this earth and He did so without ever falling into the trap of sin. We can trust God to shelter us from our circumstances for we follow a Savior who walked upon the water and calmed the most violent of storms. He controls our circumstances as well. We can trust God to defend us from evil because our Lord suffered at the hands of evil. He suffered even to the point of
death upon the cross...yet he rose again! If we are to successfully complete the journey which we are traveling, we too must trust God to keep us from falling, shelter us from circumstances, and defend us against evil.
You can always count on Jesus. A lot of people think they need other things. And we try to put our trust in men and women….but nevertheless Paul said that in my flesh dwelleth no good thing. The Bible says that the Spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak. They will always let you down. But I know someone who won’t let you down…. For it says he’ll be your friend who will be closer than a brother.
Those who sung this Psalm in Biblical days were making a journey. This was no ordinary journey, but a journey to worship and give of themselves to God. Maybe your saying will Preacher that worked for them…but I had promise one day and it has slipped away. Now let me just tell you that I heard that David had a promise. That as a child he slayed Goliath…but as a man he was to be king. But one thing happened during the time when he was suppose to get his promise. I heard that in 2nd Samuael the 5th Chapter it tells of an enemy which had inhabited david’s promise. MMMMM. But that didn’t stop david he went on to Jerusalum to land that he was promised…a man annointed to be king..but not yet king ..a man going to claim what doest saeth the lord. And as david and his men got to the city…the Jebusites told him that they knew that this is promoised to you but you cannot come HITHER…..oh my god…the word tells me that NEVERTHELESS…NEVERTHELESS David went on to rule that land.
Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David.
I’m so glad for nevertheless…there is always a nevertheless in your life
Yes the situation looks like an impossibility.
But nevertheless you can do all things for God is able.
Yet you don’t have money to pay your bills.
But nevertheless he’s made you the head and not the tail.
Yes your family and friends may be treating you bad
But nevertheless the word says they shall be raised up and call
you blessed because you will possess what god has promised you.
I’m not talking about next year…I’m talking about right now.
You may be sick tonight
But nevertheless by his stripes I am already healed
I’m so glad for nevertheless.
For nevertheless no weapon formed against me shall prosper;
Nevertheless a 1,000 shall fall at my side and 10,000 at my right hand.
I may not know the future
But Nevertheless I’m gonna be blessed coming in and going out.
Who am I here for? Turn to someone and say NEVERTHELESS.
Well, brother preacher, how do you know that there’s a Savior that will always be there when you need Him. Well one day a long time ago, I found myself in the middle of a storm, I looked to my right and nobdy was there. I looked to my left and nobody was there. I looked all around me and nobody was there to help me out of my storm. But you know what I prayed?
“I WILL LIFT UP…. MINE EYES…. UNTO THE HILLS…..(in the middle of the storm) FROM WHENCE….COMETH….MY HELP. MY HELP…COMETH FROM…THE LORD,… WHICH MADE HEAVEN…(I said 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 IS THY KEEPER;….. THE LORD IS THY SHADE…. UPON THY RIGHT HAND. THE SUN…. SHALL NOT SMITE THEE….. BY DAY, NOR…. THE MOON BY NIGHT. 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 FOR EVERMORE.”
I know I been change…….There is a angel in heaven done signed my name…..and God’s Protection is here for me…it’s here for you…I don’t know about you…but I’m gonna trust in the Lord….I’m gonna trust in the lord…..
I’ve been in the storm too long.
But I’m gonna trust in the Lord…right now…..there’s a
I WILL TRUST IN THE LORD
(There are a lot variations to this song)
I Will Trust In The Lord, I Will Trust In The Lord, I Will Trust In The Lord Until I Die. I Will Trust In The Lord, I Will Trust In The Lord, I Will Trust In The Lord Until I Die.
I Am Going To Treat Everybody Right, I Am Going To Treat Everybody Right, I Am Going To Treat Everybody Right, Until I Die; I Am Going To Treat Everybody Right, I Am Going To Treat Everybody Right, I Am Going To Treat Everybody Right, Until I Die.
I Am Going To Stay On The Battle Field, I Am Going To Stay On The Battle Field, I Am Going To Stay On The Battle Field, Until I Die.
I Am Going To Stay On The Battle Field, I Am Going To Stay On The Battle Field, I Am Going To Stay On The Battle Field, Until I Die.
I Am Going To Stay On Bended Knees Field, I Am Going To Stay On Bended Knees, I Am Going To Stay On Bended Knees, Until I Die. I Am Going To Stay On Bended Knees Field, I Am Going To Stay On Bended Knees, I Am Going To Stay On Bended Knees, Until I Die.
I Will Trust In The Lord, I Will Trust In The Lord, I Will Trust In The Lord Until I Die. I Will Trust In The Lord, I Will Trust In The Lord, I Will Trust In The Lord Until I Die.
