“Who is looking after you?” - Psalm 121, Sermon for the Watford church of Christ - a podcast by Malcolm Cox

• Bandits in the hills

• Pagan temples, altars and shrines were on the hills - false hope

• God is available to help, “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV)
  


• He is our ‘helper’ or ‘guardian’, ‘the one who guards’ 8 times in this Psalm.


• The Psalmist’s thinking quickly jumps from the hills to what lies beyond them - the Maker of the universe. 


• Setting our hearts & minds will help us keep the right perspective during the day, 
  
  
  • 
    Col. 3:1
  
  
  • 
    2Cor. 4:18
  
  
  • 
    Heb. 3:1
  
  
  • 
    Heb. 12:2
  
  
  
  
  

• Note move from “my” to “your” - when we are assured of God’s help we can point others to that helper.


• ‘watches over’ = Heb ‘Shamar’, The basic idea of the root is “to exercise great care over.” ... “take care of,” “guard.”  

• Mother watching over a vulnerable child - staying awake to protect


• Pagan gods needed waking (1 King 18:27), but not Israel’s God.  

• Guarding against intruders, etc., such as the cherubim guarding the way to the tree of life in Gen 3:24.
  


• Better than a burglar alarm. Satan steps back when he knows God is home!

• God is YHWH five times in this little Psalm.


• And his protection is personal - all the ’you’s’ are singular.


• “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1 NIV11)
  


• We are to help ‘guard’ one another in Christ. Be in touch! Be like God!

• Shade you (protection) comprehensively


• God is our constant companion and helper in real or imaginary dangers.  

• Stressed? Does not need to become crippling anxiety.  


• Stepping into the shade helps you think more clearly.  That’s what a QT is for.

• It was thought that too much exposure to the moon could cause illness i.e. ‘lunacy’.


• We are all scared by things.  How do we process that fear, and overcome it?


• That’s what a QT is for.

• Shade = Heb. ‘tzel’, ‘shadow’, "Yahweh is the shade or the source of protection for his people The Psalmist prays that God may hide him under “the shadow of his wings” (Ps 17:8; cf. Ps 36:7; Ps 91:1). 


• Remember to step into the shade when it gets too hot or too scary.

• Our situation is bearable because it is not the final destination.  


• God is doing good even at this time.


• What’s been better since this Covid 19 crisis began?


• Romans 8:35–39


• Faith is taking hold of this and moving into confusion without being controlled by fear 
  
  
  • Because we know, by faith, God will make something good from it
  
  
  • That is why Jesus went to the cross
  
  
  • He, by faith, looked forward to it with joy 
  
  
  • Not so much the cross, but it’s outcome
  
  
  • ““I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11 NIV11)
    
  
  
  
  
  

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