'where Does Your Help Come From?'

SERMON OUTLINE:

(1). The God of creation is BEFORE me (vs 1-2).

(2). The eyes of God of are UPON me (vs 3-4).

(4). The care of God is AROUND me (vs 5-6)

(3). The presence of God is BESIDE me (vs 7-8)

SERMON BODY:

Ill:

• What do these objects have in common?

• (I will be amazed if you can guess the answer)

• A geological hammer.

• Some cards containing quotations

• (From the likes of Thornton Wilder and John F. Kennedy. Astronaut Rusty Schweickart)

• An unopened miniature bottle of Coronet Brandy

• A Madonna figurine

• A six-iron golf club.

• Other items included,

• A folding pen knifes

• And a copy of the American Declaration of Independence.

• The Photographed items on the screen are pictures by Steve Pyke,

• Who contacted American astronauts who had travelled to space or walked on the Moon,

• These items are from their personal possessions that they took.

• Source: Surprising Objects That Have Been to Space.

• https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/objects-that-have-been-to-space

• TRANSITION: If you were Jewish and a male,

• The greatest journey you could make, dare I say even greater than a trip to the moon,

• Would be to go ‘up’ to Jerusalem

• Now just about every time Bible writers talk about going to or from Jerusalem,

• They say they are going “up to Jerusalem” (Galatians 2:1),

• Or they are headed home “down from Jerusalem” (Luke 10:30).

• It doesn’t matter if the writer is talking about going north, south, east, or west.

• It’s always “up” to Jerusalem and “down” from Jerusalem.

• One reason is obvious, geographically Jerusalem sits on the top of the ridge of hills.

• So, no matter where you’re coming from or going to,

• You have to climb the hill to get to Jerusalem and you have to descend the hill to leave.

• Another reason is theologically,

• Jewish writers held Jerusalem in high regard.

• In all the world, the one and only Jewish Temple was in Jerusalem.

• There were synagogues throughout the world, but just one Temple.

• So, for Jewish people this was the most important place to visit,

• It was and still is the most holy place.

Note:

• The Psalm has a title ‘Psalms of Ascent’.

• This title gives us a setting for this Psalm,

• It is part of a collection.

• There are a group of Psalms/songs, numbers 120 to 134.

• That were used by Jewish worshippers in their adoration of God.

• They are called the ‘Psalms of Ascent’.

• The word ‘Ascent’ simply means “on their way up”,

• So as these people were travelling “on their way up” to Jerusalem,

• As they are walking up the hillsides which led to the city.

• They sang this collection of Psalms.

• Ten of these psalms are anonymous (including 121),

• Four are attributed to David (122, 124, 131, 133)

• And one to Solomon (127).

Now because these Psalms/songs are short they would have been easy to remember.

• No need for a hymnbook or a projector, a screen and a PowerPoint!

• Three times a year Jewish men would make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

• Three times a year they went “up” to Jerusalem to celebrate three major yearly feasts:

• The Feast of Passover in the spring

• The Feast of Pentecost in early summer

• The Feast of Tabernacles in the autumn/fall.

Just about every type of psalm is represented in this mini collection.

• There are psalms of thanksgiving and praise,

• Psalms of lament and confidence, confession and wisdom.

• This Psalm (121) is a Psalm of confidence,

• The psalmist is assured, convinced that God is his helper.

Note:

• This Psalm is an antiphonal psalm.

• That means it is sung, recited, or shouted alternately by two groups

• Verses 1-2 are in the first person,

• Verses 3-4 are in the second person.

• So, the leader of the group opened with verses 1-2,

• And the rest of the travellers responded with verses 3-4.

• Let’s try it, I will lead, and you respond,

• Two verses each.

LEADER:

I lift up my eyes to the mountains –

where does my help come from?

2 My help comes from the Lord,

the Maker of heaven and earth.

GROUP:

3 He will not let your foot slip –

he who watches over you will not slumber.

4 indeed, he who watches over Israel

will neither slumber nor sleep.

LEADER:

5 The Lord watches over you –

the Lord is your shade at your right hand.

6 the sun will not harm you by day,

nor the moon by night.

GROUP:

7 The Lord will keep you from all harm –