Thought for the Week

The Psalm opens with a question – “I lift my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?” Idolatry was commonly practiced in the mountains of Israel and therefore this question becomes a denial of the gods of the nations who were powerless to help.

The 2nd verse then answers the question stating, “My help comes from Yahweh who made heaven and earth”. The psalmist was grounded in the knowledge that his God was the creator of heaven and earth and consequently nothing could withstand His power.

The Hebrew word ‘keeper’ is used 6 times to describe Israel’s God and He is presented either as ‘the keeper’ or ‘the preserver’ of His people. When Israel keeps God’s word then He keeps them from evil.

The final verse of this psalm reaffirms its overall message, “The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forever more”.

“Going out” and “Coming in” refers to a man leaving his home in the morning to carry out his daily work and returning at the end of the day. In all the aspects of life, in all our daily tasks, His guardian care is assured. Just as the almighty God of Israel over shadowed His people in the past we can be reassured that He continues to overshadow His servants today who look to Him as their help.