Some of the most beautiful messages of help are from the Songs of Ascents that pilgrims sang as they ascended up to Jerusalem and up the southern steps to the temple. Psalm 121 is one of the most famous ones that starts with the question, “Does my help come from the hills?” The answer is stunning, thrilling, and beyond awesome.
I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
My help comes from the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, he who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD is your keeper;
the LORD is your shade on your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.
The LORD will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life.
The LORD will keep
your going out and your coming in
from this time forth and forevermore. (Psalm 121 ESV)
My help comes from way beyond the hills that I can see. My help comes from the LORD who made heaven and earth.
Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, and from the multitude of mountains: truly in the LORD our God is the salvation of Israel. (Jeremiah 3:23)
Do you need help right now? Don’t look down. Don’t look around. Look up to the LORD who made heaven and earth.
Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell? (Proverbs 30:4)
For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:5-13)
No matter how much help you need or how soon you need help, God has already done everything for you. All you have to do is receive it.
- What is the gospel?
- 10 Psalms of trust in God’s goodness and care for his people
- Psalms of instruction in wisdom and the blessing of the wise life
- Help for suffering from stress, anxiety, and depression
- Principles of intercession, interceding, and intercessory prayer
More Songs of Ascents
- Psalm 120: God’s presence during distress
- Psalm 121: God’s protection of his people
- Psalm 122: Prayer for peace in Jerusalem
- Psalm 123: Patience for God’s mercy
- Psalm 124: Help comes from the Lord
- Psalm 125: Prayer for God’s blessing upon His people
- Psalm 126: The Lord has done great things
- Psalm 127: God’s blessing on man’s efforts
- Psalm 128: Joy for those who follow God’s ways
- Psalm 129: A cry for help to the Lord
- Psalm 130: A prayer of repentance
- Psalm 131: Surrender as a child to the Lord
- Psalm 132: God’s sovereign plan for His people
- Psalm 133: Praise of brotherly fellowship and unity
- Psalm 134: Praise to God in His temple
I want to thank the writer for stating the glorious truth that our god
is the one who has created everything in the heavenlies and here
on this earth! May we never look to the hills for our help!
Our father in heaven is a very present help in time of need!