Psalm 121:1-2 - "I will lift up my eyes to the hills— From whence comes my help? 2 My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth."

Thoughts on today's verses:

In the days of the Psalmist people used to do most of their travel on foot. We don't really do that today. If you were to travel from one city to another and there were hills in between the cities those hills would provide the best concealment for robbers and vagabonds who would could greatly injure someone - think of the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:29-37:

“A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead."

Travelers were not naive to this and no doubt, as they approached the hilly region they would be thinking about what they would do if a thief came out to meet them. Think of it in our modern day like going into a big city and having to pass through the ghetto section of town to get somewhere, at night. That would be very dangerous. No doubt you would double check to make sure your windows were up, the doors locked, and you would remain conscientious about not getting trapped at an intersection, making sure that 9-1-1 is on speed dial.

Well, as the psalmist considered the threat there was a very real anxiety, but there was also hope. Unlike the ghetto, if he was on a pilgrimage to the Holy City, Jerusalem, he would recognize that that city was nestled in the hills - the city where he was headed to worship God!

He then considered the help that he would receive. Was he counting on a good Samaritan to show up after he had been robbed and left for dead? Hardly. He recognized, as one who feared the Lord, that his help in fact came from the Lord. Then we get a glimpse into what that meant, as the psalmist gives us a creedal statement that it was the Lord who made heaven and earth. One cannot truly recognize God, without recognizing God as the creator. But this also brings up the idea of complete, and absolute power. The one who created all that is, and apart from whom nothing made was made, is the one who is personally interested in his creation and more specifically, his children. No one is better qualified to offer help than the Lord God, Himself!

From where does your help come? From the Lord who made heaven and earth!