Psalm 121

(As we are pulling up past devotions this week, I wanted to choose a devotion on the end of Revelation – but didn’t want to ignore the Psalm we have been reading all week either. So, today we are including 2 devotions from Jeff Fletcher, one on the end of Revelation, and one on Psalm 121.)

The Bible begins in the book of Genesis with God and his children named Adam and Eve living in a perfect garden where his children have immediate access to the presence of God and can interact with God face to face. The act of rebellion against God caused them to be separated from God. They initiated this process by hiding from God and by their failed attempts to cover over their guilt and shame. The consequence of their rebellion against God was that they were cut off from immediate fellowship with God, they were cut off from the garden which, along with all of the earth and the inhabitants of the earth including animals and humans fell under the curse of death.

Within God’s ruling of the consequences of sin and the resulting curse came a kernel of good news in Genesis 3:15. One would come who was a “seed of the woman” meaning a child, a human child, who would ultimately defeat the serpent, which represents evil. In the process of destroying the evil serpent, that human would also suffer a wound (a bruised heel).

The rest of the Bible is the story of how God’s plan to rescue the earth from the curse and restore and redeem humanity that was cut off from God is fulfilled ultimately by Jesus Christ, the human being, he was a seed of the woman, who was also the perfect and sinless son of God. In going to the cross and dying for the sins of all humanity, and being raised up by God to everlasting life, Jesus defeated the serpent.

Revelation 20-22 provides a vision of the ultimate victory of how this is ultimately realized. The serpent/dragon/devil/satan(adversary) is permitted to influence the world only so long, and then it will finally meet it’s end. Evil will be defeated by Jesus Christ. Christ will return, the dead will be raised, there will be a final judgment based upon what we have done. Some will be resurrected to everlasting life with God on a renewed earth in the city of New Jerusalem. Some will be judged and condemned by God and cast into the lake of fire, which the Bible calls the second death. (Note that it does not teach that they will be tortured for eternity, but that they will die a second and final time in a type of mass cremation). Death has to be destroyed. Those who reject God’s love and gracious gift of salvation will not have it forced upon. God allows us the freedom to accept his love and the offer of salvation, but he also gives us the freedom to reject it. Just as a bride must consent to marrying the groom in order for a marriage to be valid, we, God’s people must consent to God’s love before our covenant relationship will be valid.

For those who reject God’s love, they will finally and mercifully be brought to everlasting destruction. Those who accept God’s love through Christ, will be granted everlasting life. The Bible ends with the reversals of Genesis 2-3. God will again make his presence here upon the earth. The image John gives in Revelation is of a New Jerusalem coming down from God to take up occupancy on the earth. This new Jerusalem, interesting, is built on the same scale as the Temple in Jerusalem was… only so much larger. The new temple occupies a territory that rivals the ancient Roman empire.

For Christians living in the first century suffering under Roman oppression, this must have given them hope. Rome/ or Babylon or whatever earthly power that was anti-God would be brought to an end, and God’s Kingdom, God’s government would cover all the earth, with Jerusalem acting as a giant temple where God and his people would dwell for all eternity. Within the temple, emanating from the throne of God is a river of life surrounded by the tree of life. The tree of life was the very reason why Adam and Eve were banished from Eden, so that they would not partake of the tree of life/immortality in their sinful and broken condition. Sin had to be defeated once and for all before immortality could be enjoyed. But now, in Revelation, we are free to partake of the tree of life, we are free to embrace immortality, and we will live forever with God in His Kingdom on this renewed earth. We have, in a sense, come full circle, we are back home with God’s presence in the new Eden, and we are forever blessed. Even those who have suffered martyrdom for their faith, will enjoy the benefits and blessings of the New Jerusalem the New Eden and the New Earth.

If you’ve never said yes to God’s love, I don’t want you to miss out on this greatest of all blessings. Say yes to God, you can do it right now. And then solidify that “Yes” by entering into a covenant relationship with God through Baptism. And then live as a child of God and share this good news with as many as you can, until the day all is fulfilled and Christ returns, or the day that you draw your last breath.

-Jeff Fletcher

(originally posted on July 21, 2017 for SeekGrowLove)

We’re discussing seven different types of psalms and how to make them a regular part of our worship. Today we consider pilgrimage psalms. A pilgrimage is a journey to a place that holds special spiritual value to the person making the pilgrimage. In ancient Israel those who lived outside of Jerusalem would make several pilgrimages each year to come to Jerusalem to worship at the temple and celebrate various feasts which commemorated important elements of Israel’s sacred story. We know that Jesus was arrested and crucified at the beginning of the Passover celebration.

As people made their pilgrimage to Jerusalem they would sing joyful and festive psalms that would help them recall God’s goodness. If you’ve ever travelled to a special place and event like Fuel, or General Conference, Christian Worker’s Seminar, or summer youth camp, you know that the excitement builds as you journey and get closer to the event. Sometimes people sing some of the songs that gave meaning and joy to their previous times at those places.

Imagine as the pilgrims get closer to Jerusalem. As Jerusalem is on a mountain they can see it from a distance. As they climb Mt. Zion to get closer to the city and the temple of God their excitement grows and they begin enjoying an attitude of worship by singing and recalling God’s blessings.

Psalm 121 is a great example of a pilgrimage psalm:

A song of ascents.

¹I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
²My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

³He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
⁴indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

⁵The Lord watches over you—
the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
⁶the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.

⁷The Lord will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
⁸the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.

This serves as a reminder that as you journey on your way, God is with you. God is your helper who watches over you wherever you go. How comforting and assuring to know that God is with you on your journey through life. Even during those times where you might not know what’s waiting for you around the next corner or over the next hill, God is there, and he doesn’t go to sleep on the job.

-Jeff Fletcher

(originally posted June 7, 2019 for SeekGrowLove)

Reflection Questions

How is your journey towards the presence of God going today?
What encouragement do you find in today’s passages? What motivation do you find in today’s passages?
Who do you know who needs to know what the Bible shares and reveals?

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Psalm 121, 123-125, 128-130

Psalm 121 1 2 NIV

Today’s Bible reading is 7 Psalms, each titled “A song of Ascents”. They were written to be traveling songs. I know there isn’t much traveling going on right now, but remember when we would travel to visit family and friends and exciting destinations? Remember the great fun of planning a trip and hitting the open road – though sometimes there were unplanned surprises around the bend.

Several years ago, right after church the three kids and I were taking the 2 hour jaunt from our hometown in northern Indiana up to my native Grand Rapids, Michigan to enjoy a Sunday dinner with my extended family. Half-way there, my tire blew and we were stranded on the side of a busy highway. I did what I could in my dress in the rain, but it quickly became obvious I was going to need some help (and this was back when all my kids were shorter and weaker than I was). How fortunate for us that an off-duty police officer who was taking his son to the circus saw us in our distress, covered us with his protection, gave of his time and changed our tire for us. With great relief we thanked him, watched them leave and continued on our way – for a matter of yards. It didn’t take much for our old spare tire to shred to bits and there we were on the side of the road again, with no spare and our Good Samaritan just out of sight and getting further and further from us. But with one phone call, my brother left the family dinner table, drove an hour, brought my parent’s spare tire that fit my van, changed the tire and followed us all the way to our destination.

There was no doubt I knew I was very protected and watched over and blessed on that journey, even though it was far from the journey I had planned or expected. The journey was not without trouble or danger or delay. It didn’t go according to my time schedule. But my God was watching over us every step (and tire) of the way.

In today’s psalms the Israelites are traveling up to the temple – to Jerusalem on Mount Zion – to worship the One who never forsakes them. They don’t have to worry about flat tires, but there would have been many other possible dangers along the way. In the 8 short verses of Psalm 121 the word “keeps” (also translated “watched over”) is used 6 times. How comforting to remember the times – over and over again – that God has watched over the Israelites. And the times that God has – over and over again – watched over me. And, this protector is not weak. He is not asleep. He is not surprised. He is here. He is powerful. He is the Creator of the Universe. And He cares for you and for me. We must lift up our eyes to seek Him and acknowledge Him.

You may not be planning a trip today – but you are no doubt on a journey. A journey of life that includes some unforeseen challenges and flat tires along the way. Sometimes we will feel weak and stranded. But, Praise God, we are being watched over. The Maker of Heaven and Earth is keeping us safe. He is not sleeping on the job. We can rejoice in rising up to thank the One who protects and guides and cherishes His children, even when our journey has some bumps along the way.

Also, remember God often uses people to do His work. How will you be a part of God’s rescue of someone who feels weak and stranded and perhaps ready to give up? How will you provide protection from the dangers on the road? Maybe you thought you were off-duty and heading to the circus, but God will show you someone who needs your help along the way. You will arrive just a little later and a little wetter to the circus; but, someone will know you cared – even if you couldn’t provide a permanent fix. Maybe you will be the brother who leaves the feast to help someone in need get going in the right direction. God has provided for you. He has blessed you and supplied you with what you need to be a very valuable part in His rescue of others. Rejoice in the way He has watched over and provided for you – and let Him use you today.

Marcia Railton

Today’s Bible reading can be read or listened to at https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+121%2C+123-125%2C+128-130&version=NIV

Tomorrow we continue the events of David’s life as we begin 2nd Samuel, chapters 1-4 on our journey through the 2020 Chronological Bible Reading Plan. It’s a great time and place to jump on and travel with us. Look up and seek Him!

Tag: Psalm 121

Lift Up Your Eyes