From the Pastor's Pen

Dear friends,

I found myself remembering and reciting Psalm 121 today.  It was my grandmother’s favorite psalm.  It has been a favorite of mine for many years now.  As I was reciting it alone in my kitchen I was suddenly struck by how many times the word keep or keeper appears in the psalm.  You can count them below.

I lift up my eyes to the hills—
    from where will my help come?
² My help comes from the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth.

³ He will not let your foot be moved;
    he who keeps you will not slumber.
⁴ He who keeps Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

⁵ The Lord is your keeper;
    the Lord is your shade at your right hand.
⁶ The sun shall not strike you by day,
    nor the moon by night.

⁷ The Lord will keep you from all evil;
    he will keep your life.
⁸ The Lord will keep
    your going out and your coming in
    from this time on and forevermore.

I count six incidence of the word keep or keeper over eight verses.  The last three “keeps” appear in the last two verses!  I think the psalmist is trying to make a point here.  The Lord is our keeper.  The Lord protects us, watches over us and holds our lives.

I began this recitation because I was looking for the Lord’s help in a difficult moment, and I was reminded in the psalm that the Lord is much more than a helper.  The Lord gives me every breath.  The Lord holds my life!

Just thought I’d share.

Peace,

Pr. Sally