To watch someone means to keep track of them, but watching over them signifies an act of protection. God sees everything we do, but He also watches over us.
Jewish pilgrims traveled from various regions to Jerusalem three times a year to celebrate their annual feasts. On those long journeys, they sang or recited different Psalms.
One of them was Psalms 121. It’s often referred to as the “Song of Ascents.” It expressed their trust and confidence in God’s care and protection as they traveled.
I look up to the mountains— does my help come from there? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth! Psalm 121:1-2
Many times, these groups of travelers journeyed quite a distance to Jerusalem. If mountains stood in their way, they would have to either climb them or find a pass.
These pilgrims also needed to deal with the threat of Bandits. Therefore, they moved through the mountains cautiously, looking for potential thieves and robbers lurking in the hills.
So, they knew the answer to their initial question: I look up to the mountains— does my help come from there? Without saying it, their implied answer was no.
Sometimes, challenges come across our lives, and we think conquering them will enhance our spirituality. But instead, they can end up doing the exact opposite.
Our help doesn’t come from mountains or other obstacles standing in our way. The Psalmist told us where we should focus. He said, “My help comes from the Lord.”
God Constantly Watches Over You
God wants to help us in our times of need. He wants us to call upon His name. Whether you realize it or not, God watches over you constantly.
He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps. Psalm 121:3-4
They sang this and other Psalms of faith while God watched over them in their travels. He protected and kept them from all harm as He watched over their lives.
Jerusalem was the only place the Israelites could worship God and offer Him sacrifices. In other words, many traveled a distance to enter the presence of the Lord.
Fortunately, we don’t have to travel to a specific city to enter God’s presence. He accepts us as a living sacrifice, and we have the freedom to worship Him anywhere.
Dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Romans 12:1
Just like God’s presence dwelt in the Old Testament Temple, He still dwells in His Temple. Our God, who watches over us, also resides within us.
Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
The Chorus of Psalm 121
The final verses of Psalm 121 must have been the chorus or something similar. Their theme revolves around how God watches over us. Take a look at the first one.
The Lord God himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade. The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night. Psalm 121:5-6
Sitting in the hot sun without protection can make a person very uncomfortable. But finding a shady spot makes a world of difference. Several Psalms mention the shadow of the Lord.
- Guard me as you would guard your own eyes. Hide me in the shadow of your wings. Psalm 17:8
- How precious is your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings. Psalm 36:7
- Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy! I look to you for protection. I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings until the danger passes by. Psalm 57:1
- Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1
When God stands beside us, He casts His shadow over us. That shadow creates the shade of shelter, protection, and rest. Let’s look at the second verse of the chorus in Psalm 121.
The Lord God keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. Psalm 121:7
I’ve often wondered how many times God has protected me from “close calls” that could have physically harmed me. We suffer physical harm at times because we reap what we’ve sown.
I do know, however, that He will keep me from all spiritual harm because of my relationship with Jesus. The Holy Spirit in us makes it impossible for Satan, our adversary, to touch us.
God Watches Over You Forever
So far, God watches over us and gives us shade. Then, He watches over us to keep us from harm. The chorus of Psalm 121 contains one more line.
The Lord God keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever. Psalm 121:8
What does it mean when it says, God watches over you when you come and go? It simply means He watches over you when you come to Him and go away from Him.
He will never abandon us even though He has given us the freedom to walk away from Him. He loves us so much that He patiently waits for us to come back to Him again.
God, in His grace, preserved these wonderful statements of faith proclaimed by the early pilgrims to boost our faith. Because of a later Psalm, we, too, can put our faith in the promises of God.
For your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. You rule throughout all generations. The Lord always keeps his promises; he is gracious in all he does. Psalm 145:13
Lord, thank you that you, our God, watch over us. We also thank you for covering us with your shadow of shelter, protection, and rest.
This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Christian Perspectives
Featured Image by CUONG_ART from Pixabay
