Our God is a Keeper – Psalm 121
Grandparents are called to minister in their families at an unprecedented time. The world is swirling in an indescribable current of insanity. Our grandchildren need the hope of the gospel and the call to a life of trust in the LORD as never before. It is easy for grandparents to be caught up in the foolish rhetoric of our time fueled by ignorance of the promises of God’s Word. Psalm 121 speaks to such a time as this.
“I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From where shall my help come?
My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
He will not allow your foot to slip; 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 will not smite you by day, nor the moon by night.
The Lord will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul.
The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forever.”
It is interesting to underscore the verbs in this Psalm. Note especially the action our Lord takes toward us. He helps us, He protects us from stumbling, He is our shade, and our guardian. But there is the repeat of a word that ought to encourage us. He is our keeper. The Hebrew word shamar is repeated 6 times in the 8 verses of this Psalm. This word is repeated in 3, 4, 7, and 8. It is translated “protect” in verse 7 and “guard” in verse 8.
Because He does not sleep, He keeps us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. He keeps us from evil. He keeps our soul. He keeps us with the coming and going of life as a grandparent. It is this safety and security we are to cling to in a way that we in turn can share it with our grandchildren. Stories of His keeping ministry are invaluable in our personal walk with the Lord. They are vital experiences to share with our children and grandchildren.
