Where Does My Help Come From? Understanding God’s Promises in Psalm 121
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The old European fairy tales had a formula—a brave knight must rescue a beautiful princess. While not a socially acceptable structure for a story today, saving the princess became a formula because it worked. People repeated the story.
Every person will encounter chaos, crisis, and trauma in their life. A loved one will die. A divorce. A chronic illness. Abuse of various kinds. Injuries from a car accident. When chaos overwhelms our life, we cry out to God or others to help us and rescue us in our desperation.
These crises seem personal, targeted against us, because they are. The apostle Peter describes the activity of the Devil (and his demons) as a “roaring lion, seeking who he can devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Whether we know it or not, we have an enemy who is trying to kill us or destroy our calling, anything he can do to hurt the Creator and his most beloved creation--humans.
In such dire circumstances, we need help, and we can often look around and wonder, “Where does my help come from?” It’s a valid, human question, and we can relate to the psalmist who helps us answer this question.
Where Does the Bible Say “Where Does My Help Come From”?
Psalm 121 begins with the question, “Where does my help come from?” in the first verse. The psalm, likely written by King David, is part of a group called the Songs of Ascents (Psalms 120-134). The Israelites sang or recited these songs as they journeyed to Jerusalem for one or more of the major feast days—Passover, Pentecost, and the Feast of Tabernacles.
The psalm opens with, “I lift my eyes to the hills. Where does my help come from?” The writer was probably considering the hills in the region around Jerusalem. During the major Jewish religious holidays, Israelites from every tribe were required to travel to Jerusalem. These journeys could be dangerous since the hilly terrain could hide thieves and raiders who waited to ambush religious travelers. Additionally, in these ancient times, people would build places for idol worship on “high places,” because they thought that getting closer to the sky gained favor with the pagan gods.
The psalmist rejects any idea of idol worship and answers his question regarding the source of help in the next verse. “My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” God, the Creator of all things, is the only real source of help. As Creator, God has authority over all things, the greatest help anyone could hope for.
The rest of the psalm continues to encourage us about God’s love and protection. “He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber” (Psalm 121:3). Any human protection is limited. People have to sleep. They get tired and make mistakes. God needs no rest or sleep. He’s always awake and watching over his people. The following verse in Psalm 121 describes God as a shade that protects from the sun’s heat and the enemies in the night. The song ends with a comfort: how God will “keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.”
If we consider David as the possible author, the biblical narrative shows how he would have learned to trust in God to rescue and save him, to protect him in harrowing circumstances. Along with writing praise songs, he lived as a warrior and conquering king. David had learned to trust God’s help.
The Hebrew word for “help” in Psalm 121 is ezra, a derivative of the word azar, which means to assist, support, or to rescue. Other passages use ezra for “help,” like Psalm 46:1 and Deuteronomy 33:26, referring to ways God actively and supernaturally saves, protects, and supports those who love him.
What Other Bible Verses Support How God Will Come to Our Rescue?
Since we all go through chaos and crisis, it shouldn’t surprise us how God filled the Bible with promises to rescue and deliver his people from any danger.
From Psalm 91:14-15:
“Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;
I will protect him, because he knows my name.
When he calls to me, I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him.”
God speaks in this passage about the people who love him and also cling to the Lord in their life. This God-follower knows God intimately, knows his name. Therefore, when the lover of God calls, the Father himself answers. The Lord’s presence draws near during trouble, an important promise since most people feel God is far away during a crisis. Yet he comes close, and with his presence, his people are rescued and honored.
From Isaiah 43:1-2:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire, you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you.”
In this passage, Isaiah uses the metaphor of water to symbolize how troubles overwhelm us and fire for the dangers of life. Clinging to God’s personal call and redemption, his presence remains with us and helps us walk through these troubles (not avoid them) and emerge safe and secure in God.
From Psalm 34:17-19:
“When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears
and delivers them out of all their troubles.
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
and saves the crushed in spirit.
Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
but the Lord delivers him out of them all.”
As Jesus promised in John 16:33, his followers will encounter troubles and trials, and yet God always responds to their call. Specifically in this passage, God comes near the brokenhearted and “crushed in spirit.” The trauma and griefs of life often break our hearts, as sorrows break God’s heart, and he draws near to us in healing and deliverance.
Moving to the New Testament, the apostle Paul bears witness to how God will rescue him from his physical and spiritual enemies. “The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom.” (2 Timothy 4:18) Nearing the end of his life and under house arrest, Paul writes to the young man Timothy about how God will ensure Paul’s entrance into the heavenly kingdom, despite how others sought to kill him for preaching the Gospel.
What Are Some Narrative Examples from the Bible When God Came to the Rescue?
One of the most famous biblical rescues happens when God delivers the Israelites from Pharaoh’s army in Exodus 14. After being freed from Egyptian slavery, God leads the Israelites to the shores of the Red Sea. Pharaoh chases them with the most powerful army in the world, and God’s people are trapped between the army and the sea. The Israelites panic, but God tells Moses to stretch out his staff. God divides the Red Sea, and the Israelites cross on dry ground while God protects them from behind with a pillar of fire. The Egyptians try to cross, too, but God closes the waters. Even when escape appears impossible, the “maker of heaven and earth” can creatively deliver his people.
In Daniel 6, the prophet Daniel continues praying to God even after the king passes a law forbidding it. The king’s officials throw Daniel into a den of starving lions. But God sends an angel to shut up the lion’s mouths, and Daniel survives until morning. In this story, Daniel remains faithful to do what’s right, and God supernaturally protects him from oppressive government, enemy officials, and wild beasts. Believers can see how God rescues his people from all sorts of dangerous circumstances.
Finally, from the New Testament, Paul and his companion Silas are imprisoned for preaching the Good News of Jesus (Acts 16). While in chains, they pray and sing hymns to God. All of a sudden, an earthquake shakes the prison and opens the doors, breaking everyone’s chains. The jailer believes the prisoners have escaped, and he is about to take his own life, since he was responsible. But Paul stops him. Instead of running away, Paul and Silas stayed and used their new freedom to share the Gospel with the jailer, who’s whole family ends up coming to faith in Christ. Because of God’s promises, believers can choose to praise God, giving him glory within the trials. As God protects and delivers his people, they can use the opportunity to bear witness to the Gospel to others, maybe bringing people to salvation.
What Does “Where Does My Help Come From” Mean for Us Today?
The issue isn’t “if” we will ever face crises and chaos but “when.” When we encounter troubles and attacks, we remember our loving God promises to deliver those who remain faithful. As Romans 8:28 says, all things work together for good for those who love God. Paul is clear about who the promise is for. We first love God and follow him in bringing his love to others through the Gospel. Despite all the troubles we face, God himself ensures it all works together for good.
Psalm 121 doesn’t say our help comes from anything of this world, not wealth or human governments. He looks beyond what earthly things can do and states the truth of God as the only possible help. The worldly resources seem more immediate, yet they will ultimately fail us. God will not. In this, we remember two things. First, God alone is good, loving, just, and powerful. Second, since he is the Creator, he sovereignly controls all things, whether governments or natural events. Circumstances or resources can’t limit him.
While God is the source of help, he often uses the world around us to provide. He can provide supernaturally and does, but he also uses people to encourage, support, and guide us (Galatians 6:2). The Father puts the right people in our lives for certain seasons and reasons. The Lord also uses other circumstances to provide a way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13). We must discipline our hearts to seek God’s will regarding the opportunities for good within our difficulties.
God doesn’t always deliver us immediately, as the Israelites had to feel stuck between the sea and an army. However, he is always present and orchestrates everything for our good. We must have patience and perseverance, knowing he will strengthen us through our hard times.
The biblical promises and narratives all point to the ultimate salvation from sin and eternal separation from God. Psalm 121 reminds us how God is our helper in daily struggles. Even more, he rescues us from hell for intimate relationship with himself. He came to save us from sin and death (Matthew 1:21) through his sacrifice and resurrection. He brings us into eternal life (John 3:16).
At the root of his deliverance stands his love. And from the place of a right relationship with him, he leads us in the purpose he created us for, an individual calling to glorify him and serve others.
Psalm 121 teaches us how God alone is our true help through his power, friendships in this world, and finally through salvation in Christ. Our help comes from the Lord, now and forever.
Peace.
Photo credit: Unsplash/Yannick Pulver
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