WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.280 Friends, I'm truly grateful for this opportunity to just open God's word with you all this morning. 00:00:04.960 --> 00:00:09.220 Pastor Daniel and Christine have been friends of my wife Abby and I for many years. 00:00:09.580 --> 00:00:14.640 And actually quite a few of you all over here, we've journeyed together through young adults. 00:00:14.839 --> 00:00:22.019 And it's been really cool to see how God in his mercy and his kindness has brought you all together to be in ministry, 00:00:22.199 --> 00:00:24.160 caring for the people in Kanata, West Area. 00:00:24.600 --> 00:00:28.320 And so truly, it's an honor and a privilege to open God's word this morning. 00:00:28.320 --> 00:00:32.079 And so we'll be looking at Psalm 121 that Miss Lynn just read for us this morning. 00:00:32.560 --> 00:00:34.439 And we're going to unpack that together. 00:00:35.079 --> 00:00:38.899 So allow me to pray for our time together, if that's all right. 00:00:38.939 --> 00:00:42.179 And then we'll go right into our message in Psalm 121. 00:00:42.320 --> 00:00:46.900 So Father, we come before you just truly grateful for just this wonderful Sunday morning, 00:00:47.000 --> 00:00:52.480 this opportunity to breathe in new mercies, breathe in this opportunity of just your grace in our lives. 00:00:52.480 --> 00:00:57.859 And Father, we truly are grateful that we can gather and worship you truly and in spirit and in truth 00:00:57.859 --> 00:01:00.019 and be exhorted by your word. 00:01:00.119 --> 00:01:06.140 And so Father, help us to just not be just listeners and hearers of this word, but be doers of it as well. 00:01:06.200 --> 00:01:15.039 So allow us to be molded, to be shaped by the psalmist and his encouragement to us when we are looking for help. 00:01:15.239 --> 00:01:16.420 And so Father, thank you so much. 00:01:16.439 --> 00:01:17.280 And we pray this in your name. 00:01:18.180 --> 00:01:18.400 Amen. 00:01:19.620 --> 00:01:19.960 Amen. 00:01:19.959 --> 00:01:25.459 Well, as Sam mentioned, it was up until April, Ottawa was home for my wife and I. 00:01:25.899 --> 00:01:29.819 And just this past July was when we made our big move to southern Ontario. 00:01:30.339 --> 00:01:34.899 And we now reside in Hamilton, but I work in a Christian nonprofit called Hope Story that's based in Cambridge. 00:01:35.419 --> 00:01:41.179 And so what used to be a five-minute commute from my home to the Met has now become a 45-minute commute. 00:01:41.180 --> 00:01:47.620 And it's actually been quite enjoyable because I didn't realize how much I liked driving and listening to different podcasts, 00:01:47.900 --> 00:01:49.780 sometimes just even driving in quiet. 00:01:50.740 --> 00:01:57.400 And so it was one of those commutes where one time I was driving and I spotted somebody on the shoulder, hazards on, 00:01:58.040 --> 00:02:01.060 hood popped open, and they were clearly in trouble. 00:02:02.100 --> 00:02:07.620 As I was, unfortunately, I couldn't pull over and be the good Samaritan, you know, in that context because I had to rush to work. 00:02:07.620 --> 00:02:12.240 But that recalled a memory of mine when I was stuck on Merrillville Road. 00:02:12.740 --> 00:02:17.560 This was a situation where my battery had entirely fried, so I couldn't even, like, put my four-ways on. 00:02:18.879 --> 00:02:24.300 My phone was about to die, so, like, I was about to call Abby, and unfortunately, that didn't happen either. 00:02:24.439 --> 00:02:25.400 And it was quite stressful. 00:02:25.520 --> 00:02:32.580 It was one of the worst things that I was feeling, like, just this feeling of, like, not knowing where I can turn to for help. 00:02:33.360 --> 00:02:35.759 You know, now, that was just for a car. 00:02:35.759 --> 00:02:40.219 What about when our life circumstances changes down and life breaks down? 00:02:41.019 --> 00:02:45.699 What about when, like, our financial struggles and the pressures of it keep mounting upon us? 00:02:45.819 --> 00:02:51.120 Or medical news that come back to us and are not in favor and seem confusing? 00:02:51.939 --> 00:02:55.199 What about the people that you counted on ended up letting you down? 00:02:56.139 --> 00:03:00.019 In our passage this morning, Psalm 121 asked that exact question of us, 00:03:00.399 --> 00:03:02.299 where does my help come from? 00:03:02.300 --> 00:03:06.840 And I truly believe that it is a good question for us to wrestle with, 00:03:06.920 --> 00:03:09.340 because this question is not just for people who are in crisis. 00:03:09.760 --> 00:03:12.760 It's actually a question for every one of us to wrestle with, 00:03:12.840 --> 00:03:17.100 because sooner or later, we know our path will get rough. 00:03:17.640 --> 00:03:22.200 Our path, like, leading to our eternal home where God has called us to, 00:03:22.260 --> 00:03:23.740 is not always going to be smooth. 00:03:24.120 --> 00:03:25.340 It's an uphill path. 00:03:25.460 --> 00:03:26.220 It's uncertain. 00:03:26.580 --> 00:03:28.580 And sometimes it's dangerous as well. 00:03:28.580 --> 00:03:33.120 And so thousands of years ago, when the psalm was written, 00:03:33.900 --> 00:03:38.360 it was a psalm that was begging this question to be asked quite regularly. 00:03:38.939 --> 00:03:43.820 You know, Psalm 121 is one of those questions that's a psalm that was a song of ascent 00:03:43.820 --> 00:03:49.160 that the pilgrims used to sing at least three times a year during their pilgrimage to Jerusalem. 00:03:49.159 --> 00:03:55.599 You know, these songs that were from Psalm 120 all the way to 150 were a compilation of these psalms 00:03:55.599 --> 00:04:02.400 that were meant for God's people to be singing as they were traveling to worship God himself. 00:04:03.419 --> 00:04:07.460 And, you know, while this trip that they were embarking on was a dangerous one, 00:04:07.519 --> 00:04:11.680 and so this was an opportunity for them to just keep their eyes fixated upon him 00:04:11.680 --> 00:04:14.859 as they ride or walk for kilometers upon kilometers. 00:04:14.860 --> 00:04:17.020 There were no real roads, right? 00:04:17.160 --> 00:04:19.819 And so, because roads came later on, 00:04:19.960 --> 00:04:23.800 but they were just these well-worn path across the valleys. 00:04:24.160 --> 00:04:26.939 And these pilgrims who were going on this pilgrimage 00:04:26.939 --> 00:04:30.600 often were quite uncertain of this journey to Jerusalem. 00:04:31.139 --> 00:04:34.580 They often used to have this opportunity where they were uncertain 00:04:34.580 --> 00:04:36.300 if somebody was going to jump in or not. 00:04:36.520 --> 00:04:39.100 But this pilgrimage that was called for them to do 00:04:39.100 --> 00:04:41.780 was actually mandated by God himself 00:04:41.780 --> 00:04:44.240 that can be found in 1 Kings chapter 8. 00:04:44.240 --> 00:04:48.660 In verses 10 and 11, God actually told the Israelites for them to go, 00:04:48.939 --> 00:04:50.980 to come where his presence was. 00:04:51.900 --> 00:04:53.900 And that was because the road was uncertain, 00:04:54.060 --> 00:04:56.420 and he wanted them to rely on God as well. 00:04:58.319 --> 00:04:59.980 You know, Marshall Siegel is a guy, 00:05:00.180 --> 00:05:02.300 he's a CEO and president of Desiring God, 00:05:02.400 --> 00:05:06.220 and he wrote this article that has really stuck out with me 00:05:06.220 --> 00:05:09.120 about this pilgrimage that the Israelites used to do. 00:05:09.300 --> 00:05:11.420 And he wrote in this little blog of his, 00:05:11.420 --> 00:05:12.680 he said, 00:05:12.680 --> 00:05:42.680 00:05:42.680 --> 00:05:46.400 insight into the type of pilgrimage that was required of them. 00:05:46.819 --> 00:05:48.199 And this got me thinking, like, you know, 00:05:48.420 --> 00:05:51.300 Jesus himself would have done this pilgrimage himself as well 00:05:51.300 --> 00:05:52.420 in his 30-odd years. 00:05:53.100 --> 00:05:56.160 You know, this, so the song that was meant for the Israelites, 00:05:56.420 --> 00:05:58.780 that was meant to be sung on rough roads, 00:05:59.160 --> 00:06:03.240 then can also be sung by us when life is tough as well. 00:06:03.280 --> 00:06:04.600 And not just life when it's tough, 00:06:04.960 --> 00:06:09.460 can be sung by us as we continue to journey in faith together. 00:06:09.459 --> 00:06:13.699 And so our psalm, if you, we're going to unpack this together, 00:06:14.039 --> 00:06:16.159 and verse 1 actually starts with a question 00:06:16.159 --> 00:06:18.439 that the psalmist is asking of himself. 00:06:18.859 --> 00:06:20.459 He's starting in verse 1 by saying, 00:06:20.659 --> 00:06:22.259 I lift my eyes up to the hill, 00:06:22.579 --> 00:06:24.279 from where does my help come? 00:06:25.579 --> 00:06:27.019 You know, on the surface, 00:06:27.139 --> 00:06:28.699 this might seem like an absurd question, 00:06:28.819 --> 00:06:31.740 because it's quite rhetorical in some ways. 00:06:32.219 --> 00:06:34.359 But in the context of what the psalm is, 00:06:34.399 --> 00:06:36.399 this is a good question that's being asked. 00:06:36.399 --> 00:06:40.259 You know, it's possible that the psalmist is looking to the hills in fear, 00:06:40.759 --> 00:06:43.259 scared of the robbers that might be lurking there. 00:06:43.839 --> 00:06:49.379 But the term lift up my eyes is generally a positive one throughout the psalms. 00:06:49.959 --> 00:06:52.399 You know, Psalm 123, just a couple psalms later in verse 1, 00:06:52.459 --> 00:06:52.699 it says, 00:06:52.859 --> 00:06:54.179 To you I lift my eyes, 00:06:54.500 --> 00:06:56.299 O you who are enthroned in heavens. 00:06:57.000 --> 00:06:59.979 You know, you can get a glimpse that it is the psalmist 00:06:59.979 --> 00:07:01.979 asking to be looking up to the heavens. 00:07:01.980 --> 00:07:04.540 You know, as such, in Psalm 121, 00:07:04.660 --> 00:07:08.060 it's definitely possible that the pilgrim is approaching Jerusalem, 00:07:08.240 --> 00:07:11.140 and he's asking himself this question as he's getting closer, 00:07:11.580 --> 00:07:13.680 closer to God, asking him, 00:07:13.800 --> 00:07:15.060 Where does my help come from? 00:07:15.520 --> 00:07:18.100 And that's why this is an important question for us to answer. 00:07:18.780 --> 00:07:20.640 Where does our help come from? 00:07:21.439 --> 00:07:23.500 You know, in other ways, we can ask this question, 00:07:23.700 --> 00:07:27.500 Where do you go get help when you're traveling on a dangerous path? 00:07:28.120 --> 00:07:32.540 Where are you turning to help when things are getting rough 00:07:32.540 --> 00:07:34.000 on your way to your eternal home? 00:07:35.079 --> 00:07:38.740 Because the reason I'm asking these questions for us to be thinking about 00:07:38.740 --> 00:07:41.160 is because we need to do an honesty check in our life here. 00:07:41.699 --> 00:07:44.459 I read a quote from a family therapist, Jay Haley, 00:07:44.639 --> 00:07:47.720 who told one of his clients something that has stuck with me, 00:07:47.819 --> 00:07:48.259 and he said, 00:07:48.379 --> 00:07:49.800 I don't address problems. 00:07:50.120 --> 00:07:51.899 I address attempted solutions. 00:07:51.899 --> 00:07:54.899 And so for us here this morning, 00:07:55.060 --> 00:07:57.839 what are the attempted solutions that we are turning to for help? 00:07:58.419 --> 00:08:02.339 What friends or coping mechanisms are we applying in our lives? 00:08:02.379 --> 00:08:06.560 What strategies do we lean on and rely on when things get difficult? 00:08:07.519 --> 00:08:09.560 This question is worth pondering on 00:08:09.560 --> 00:08:12.699 is because the answer, how you answer this question, 00:08:12.939 --> 00:08:14.299 will really ultimately matter. 00:08:15.000 --> 00:08:17.519 And so the truth is, when we get into trouble, 00:08:17.979 --> 00:08:19.579 our first response, unfortunately, 00:08:19.579 --> 00:08:22.399 I don't know if it's for you, but for me quite often, 00:08:22.579 --> 00:08:23.959 I tend to rely on my own self 00:08:23.959 --> 00:08:25.819 because I'm confident in terms of what I can do. 00:08:26.180 --> 00:08:27.879 And so when things get tough, 00:08:28.079 --> 00:08:30.139 it's easy for me to first try and figure out 00:08:30.139 --> 00:08:32.159 how to turn and do things my own way. 00:08:32.579 --> 00:08:34.639 Rather, what I should be doing is turning, 00:08:34.799 --> 00:08:36.819 kneeling, and praying, and seeking God himself, right? 00:08:37.960 --> 00:08:40.539 But unfortunately, that's not our normal posture. 00:08:41.039 --> 00:08:43.279 We have all kinds of places that we turn to 00:08:43.279 --> 00:08:44.779 when our life falls apart, 00:08:44.960 --> 00:08:47.019 when we feel discouraged and disheartened, 00:08:47.019 --> 00:08:49.799 or even when a problem that we face 00:08:49.799 --> 00:08:51.600 can't just be solved on our own. 00:08:52.419 --> 00:08:53.860 And so in our psalm for this morning, 00:08:53.939 --> 00:08:56.159 the psalmist is actually answering this question 00:08:56.159 --> 00:08:57.419 quite simply. 00:08:57.620 --> 00:08:59.460 He says that my help comes from the Lord. 00:08:59.659 --> 00:09:01.960 And that's our typical Sunday school answer, isn't it? 00:09:01.960 --> 00:09:02.840 It's a good answer. 00:09:02.919 --> 00:09:04.980 And I wish that that's how we could go to. 00:09:05.100 --> 00:09:06.600 But what I appreciate about our psalm 00:09:06.600 --> 00:09:09.059 is that he doesn't just stop by saying 00:09:09.059 --> 00:09:10.559 that my help comes from the Lord. 00:09:10.699 --> 00:09:13.439 He actually goes on and continues in the rest of psalm 00:09:13.440 --> 00:09:16.720 and explains to us why he's the best source of our help. 00:09:17.180 --> 00:09:20.980 Why we should actually go to him for anything, that is. 00:09:21.220 --> 00:09:22.980 And so he unpacks this idea 00:09:22.980 --> 00:09:26.540 that Jesus is our helper of his people now and for eternity. 00:09:26.720 --> 00:09:29.260 But then he goes on to explain why is that the case. 00:09:29.380 --> 00:09:31.560 And he gives us three wonderful reasons 00:09:31.560 --> 00:09:35.520 why God is our best qualified helper in our time of need. 00:09:35.519 --> 00:09:40.559 So our first one, the first reason why God is our qualified helper 00:09:40.559 --> 00:09:42.519 is actually found in verse two, 00:09:42.819 --> 00:09:45.799 where he's showing that God is our best helper 00:09:45.799 --> 00:09:47.439 because he is the creator. 00:09:48.399 --> 00:09:49.220 You know, verse two says, 00:09:49.379 --> 00:09:52.860 my help comes from the Lord who made the heaven and the earth. 00:09:53.679 --> 00:09:55.220 Allow me to illustrate this for you 00:09:55.220 --> 00:09:57.539 because to help you understand what the psalmist is getting at. 00:09:58.299 --> 00:10:02.199 Have you ever tried calling a customer service call center? 00:10:02.379 --> 00:10:03.399 I recently had to do that 00:10:03.399 --> 00:10:05.079 to transfer my internet service and everything. 00:10:06.079 --> 00:10:09.039 And it was actually not an easy process 00:10:09.039 --> 00:10:10.939 because I kept getting transferred over 00:10:10.939 --> 00:10:12.720 from one department to the other. 00:10:12.799 --> 00:10:14.159 Well, it happened three times in total. 00:10:14.259 --> 00:10:15.960 But by the time the third time happened, 00:10:16.019 --> 00:10:18.639 it was frustrating because all I wanted was 00:10:18.639 --> 00:10:20.939 I wanted to get to somebody who was qualified to help me 00:10:20.939 --> 00:10:22.259 just transfer my service. 00:10:22.360 --> 00:10:23.699 I wasn't even looking to cancel it. 00:10:24.639 --> 00:10:26.379 You know, and that's what's happening here. 00:10:26.960 --> 00:10:28.399 The psalmist is trying to help us see 00:10:28.399 --> 00:10:30.740 what qualifies the Lord to be a good helper. 00:10:31.059 --> 00:10:33.879 And he's showing us that he's made the heaven and the earth. 00:10:33.879 --> 00:10:36.899 Like, pause and let that sink in. 00:10:38.200 --> 00:10:42.100 The God that you pray to, the God who walks with you, 00:10:42.679 --> 00:10:45.460 the God who is along with you in life's journey, 00:10:45.620 --> 00:10:48.659 is the one who spoke galaxies into existence. 00:10:49.659 --> 00:10:51.299 You know, scientists have now estimated 00:10:51.299 --> 00:10:54.659 that the observable universe spans over 90 billion light years, 00:10:54.799 --> 00:10:56.220 and it continues to grow. 00:10:56.220 --> 00:10:59.759 And God made all of that effortlessly. 00:11:00.540 --> 00:11:01.759 Like, that's amazing. 00:11:02.220 --> 00:11:05.180 Like, the Milky Way galaxy and the other galaxies around, 00:11:05.460 --> 00:11:08.639 our own DNA, even the trees and the nature, 00:11:08.879 --> 00:11:10.639 the hummingbirds, which is one of my favorite birds, 00:11:10.820 --> 00:11:12.420 he thought of it all up. 00:11:12.700 --> 00:11:15.220 And he continues to hold it all together. 00:11:16.000 --> 00:11:17.620 And so when we cry out to help, 00:11:17.759 --> 00:11:20.460 we're not just calling a technician or a call center agent. 00:11:20.460 --> 00:11:22.740 We're actually going straight to the CEO, 00:11:23.139 --> 00:11:26.680 who's the architect of the existence of our entire universe. 00:11:27.040 --> 00:11:31.639 The one who carved the path of the journey that we're walking on. 00:11:32.400 --> 00:11:33.720 That's who we have. 00:11:34.019 --> 00:11:36.680 You know, it's almost like when little kids get afraid 00:11:36.680 --> 00:11:39.220 and they instinctively call out for mom and dad. 00:11:39.740 --> 00:11:40.139 Why? 00:11:40.259 --> 00:11:41.480 Because for children, 00:11:41.680 --> 00:11:44.280 mom and dad can do anything and everything in their eyes. 00:11:44.279 --> 00:11:48.220 That childlike instinct is a good picture 00:11:48.220 --> 00:11:50.459 of what Psalm 121 calls us to do 00:11:50.459 --> 00:11:52.039 when life gets confusing, 00:11:52.459 --> 00:11:53.600 when life gets frightening, 00:11:53.879 --> 00:11:55.480 or even when it's overwhelming. 00:11:56.259 --> 00:11:58.860 God wants us to lift our eyes up to him 00:11:58.860 --> 00:11:59.899 and cry out to him 00:11:59.899 --> 00:12:01.600 because he can do anything. 00:12:02.039 --> 00:12:04.579 There's no problem too small or too big 00:12:04.579 --> 00:12:06.419 for our creator of our universe. 00:12:07.259 --> 00:12:09.959 God can help us in every aspect of our life 00:12:09.959 --> 00:12:11.519 since he's the creator of everything 00:12:11.519 --> 00:12:13.600 and he's in everything that we can see. 00:12:13.600 --> 00:12:16.240 The creator is more than able to help us 00:12:16.240 --> 00:12:18.620 and the Israelites back then knew that really well 00:12:18.620 --> 00:12:21.440 because that's what inspired Isaiah 00:12:21.440 --> 00:12:24.519 to even jot down in Isaiah 40, 28 to 29. 00:12:24.840 --> 00:12:25.680 And he puts it this way. 00:12:25.740 --> 00:12:27.320 It's really, really encouraging. 00:12:27.779 --> 00:12:28.159 Read this. 00:12:28.320 --> 00:12:28.980 I mean, hear this. 00:12:29.879 --> 00:12:30.680 Have you not known? 00:12:30.940 --> 00:12:31.800 Have you not heard? 00:12:32.480 --> 00:12:34.279 The Lord is the everlasting God, 00:12:34.500 --> 00:12:36.180 the creator of the ends of the earth. 00:12:36.800 --> 00:12:38.660 He does not faint or grow weary. 00:12:39.040 --> 00:12:40.960 His understanding is unsearchable. 00:12:41.560 --> 00:12:43.000 He gives power to the faint 00:12:43.000 --> 00:12:45.139 and to him who has no might, 00:12:45.399 --> 00:12:46.899 he increases strength. 00:12:48.200 --> 00:12:50.679 You know, this is why the Israelites could trust God 00:12:50.679 --> 00:12:53.159 and this is why we can also trust in him as well. 00:12:53.519 --> 00:12:54.340 He's our creator. 00:12:54.720 --> 00:12:57.200 We can rely on the one who has the power 00:12:57.200 --> 00:13:00.159 to meet all our needs in every aspect of our life. 00:13:00.620 --> 00:13:02.940 The first reason is that he's our good, 00:13:02.960 --> 00:13:04.600 he's a good helper because he's our creator. 00:13:04.980 --> 00:13:06.820 But the second reason is because 00:13:06.820 --> 00:13:08.940 he has been watchful in our life. 00:13:08.940 --> 00:13:11.320 He's a good helper because he's watchful. 00:13:12.240 --> 00:13:13.900 Verses three and four say that 00:13:13.900 --> 00:13:15.640 he will not let your foot be moved. 00:13:15.840 --> 00:13:18.080 He who keeps you will not slumber. 00:13:18.620 --> 00:13:22.200 Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. 00:13:22.200 --> 00:13:26.220 One of the main themes in our psalm this morning 00:13:26.220 --> 00:13:28.320 is that God is a watchful God 00:13:28.320 --> 00:13:30.300 or like God is our keeper. 00:13:30.820 --> 00:13:33.020 In some translations, that word keeps repeating. 00:13:33.420 --> 00:13:35.300 And so the word for guarding, 00:13:35.540 --> 00:13:36.200 for watching, 00:13:36.600 --> 00:13:39.240 for protecting occurs six times in the eight verses. 00:13:40.100 --> 00:13:43.000 And there's never a time that God is not watching his people. 00:13:43.000 --> 00:13:45.540 He pays very careful attention to them. 00:13:45.539 --> 00:13:47.919 In verses three and four, 00:13:48.139 --> 00:13:50.439 the psalmist actually contrasts God 00:13:50.439 --> 00:13:52.319 to the gods of the ancient Near East. 00:13:52.799 --> 00:13:54.000 In the ancient world, 00:13:54.379 --> 00:13:58.000 the people believed that gods also needed sleep and rest. 00:13:58.679 --> 00:14:00.259 You know, in one Babylonian story, 00:14:00.539 --> 00:14:02.139 one of the gods got so angry 00:14:02.139 --> 00:14:03.759 that one of the humans woke them up 00:14:03.759 --> 00:14:05.819 that he ended up punishing the people 00:14:05.819 --> 00:14:07.439 by cutting their food supply. 00:14:08.360 --> 00:14:10.480 But you know, when we approach the God of the Bible 00:14:10.480 --> 00:14:11.679 and the Hebrew God, 00:14:12.259 --> 00:14:13.219 he's not like that. 00:14:13.699 --> 00:14:14.740 He never sleeps. 00:14:14.740 --> 00:14:16.700 He never stops watching. 00:14:17.960 --> 00:14:19.120 You know, it's almost like 00:14:19.120 --> 00:14:22.279 one of my heroes are night shift nurses, you know. 00:14:22.980 --> 00:14:23.980 It's almost like that. 00:14:24.159 --> 00:14:25.940 Just before we moved down to Hamilton, 00:14:26.220 --> 00:14:28.580 you start knowing that you're getting older 00:14:28.580 --> 00:14:29.440 when out of the blue, 00:14:29.539 --> 00:14:30.919 the Civic calls for a sleep test. 00:14:31.519 --> 00:14:33.580 You know, that's what happened for me just mid-May. 00:14:34.379 --> 00:14:36.940 And I had to spend a night at the Civic, 00:14:37.720 --> 00:14:40.919 hooked up to a machine with a bunch of wires 00:14:40.919 --> 00:14:43.180 and probes and different things. 00:14:43.179 --> 00:14:45.699 And I always knew our nurses were amazing, 00:14:46.099 --> 00:14:50.219 but that last outing at Civic affirmed that opinion of mine. 00:14:50.719 --> 00:14:52.620 You know, one of the quiet heroes in our world 00:14:52.620 --> 00:14:53.799 are the night shift nurses. 00:14:54.179 --> 00:14:57.339 Because while me and other patients were sleeping 00:14:57.339 --> 00:14:58.779 and the rest of the world was sleeping, 00:14:58.959 --> 00:14:59.819 they were awake, 00:15:00.279 --> 00:15:02.279 making sure that my vitals 00:15:02.279 --> 00:15:05.479 and documenting all my irregular rhythms and all that. 00:15:05.480 --> 00:15:08.200 And they were doing that for my sleep 00:15:08.200 --> 00:15:09.519 as well as for two others. 00:15:10.360 --> 00:15:13.139 And now magnify that a billion folds. 00:15:13.920 --> 00:15:15.860 You know, God never clocks out. 00:15:16.700 --> 00:15:18.420 He's always watching over you 00:15:18.420 --> 00:15:20.120 when you're awake or when you're asleep. 00:15:20.860 --> 00:15:23.100 And the beautiful thing about this is 00:15:23.100 --> 00:15:24.399 that whether you know it or not, 00:15:24.480 --> 00:15:25.519 he is going to do that 00:15:25.519 --> 00:15:26.820 and he's continuing to do that. 00:15:27.159 --> 00:15:29.379 And that's why in verse five, 00:15:29.440 --> 00:15:30.220 he goes on to write, 00:15:30.519 --> 00:15:31.879 the Lord is your keeper. 00:15:31.879 --> 00:15:34.960 The Lord is your shade and your right hand. 00:15:35.580 --> 00:15:37.080 This isn't general now anymore. 00:15:37.200 --> 00:15:38.120 It's getting personal. 00:15:38.539 --> 00:15:39.679 And you can start seeing 00:15:39.679 --> 00:15:41.820 that God doesn't care about the abstract, 00:15:42.259 --> 00:15:43.559 but it's getting intimate. 00:15:44.059 --> 00:15:45.899 You're not lost in the crowd to him. 00:15:46.720 --> 00:15:48.879 And that's why he goes on to continue in verse six, 00:15:48.960 --> 00:15:49.399 where he says, 00:15:49.519 --> 00:15:51.279 the sun shall not strike you by day, 00:15:51.500 --> 00:15:52.879 nor the moon by night. 00:15:53.500 --> 00:15:55.179 This is poetic language really 00:15:55.179 --> 00:15:56.639 to say that God protects you 00:15:56.639 --> 00:15:58.399 from all kinds of dangers, 00:15:58.580 --> 00:16:00.299 whether they are visible, invisible, 00:16:00.600 --> 00:16:01.720 emotional or physical, 00:16:01.879 --> 00:16:04.240 or even during the day or the night. 00:16:04.879 --> 00:16:07.419 He's not just watchful over his people. 00:16:07.820 --> 00:16:10.419 He is watchful over you personally. 00:16:11.360 --> 00:16:13.340 You know, he watches over you day and night 00:16:13.340 --> 00:16:15.179 so that nothing can happen to you 00:16:15.179 --> 00:16:16.439 outside of his purposes, 00:16:16.879 --> 00:16:17.860 which are good. 00:16:18.639 --> 00:16:19.519 Now hear me, you know, 00:16:19.620 --> 00:16:21.480 like this doesn't mean 00:16:21.480 --> 00:16:23.379 that like bad things will never happen 00:16:23.379 --> 00:16:25.879 because history is full of bad things 00:16:25.879 --> 00:16:27.100 happening to God's people. 00:16:27.840 --> 00:16:29.500 But this does mean 00:16:29.500 --> 00:16:31.559 that God will never stop watching, 00:16:31.919 --> 00:16:33.299 never stop caring for you. 00:16:33.639 --> 00:16:36.940 He'll never stop providing for you 00:16:36.940 --> 00:16:39.059 according to his will 00:16:39.059 --> 00:16:40.419 and what you need 00:16:40.419 --> 00:16:42.519 to walk through this journey of faith. 00:16:43.200 --> 00:16:44.940 Nobody will ever be able 00:16:44.940 --> 00:16:46.460 to take away from you 00:16:46.460 --> 00:16:47.639 what matters most to you 00:16:47.639 --> 00:16:49.919 because God is faithful to his people. 00:16:50.860 --> 00:16:52.100 You know, one of the ways I appreciate 00:16:52.100 --> 00:16:54.419 why this whole context is 00:16:54.419 --> 00:16:56.039 Heidelberg Catechism puts it 00:16:56.039 --> 00:16:57.039 really beautifully. 00:16:57.539 --> 00:16:57.860 It reads, 00:16:58.299 --> 00:16:59.579 Providence is the almighty 00:16:59.579 --> 00:17:01.819 and ever-present powers of God 00:17:01.819 --> 00:17:04.420 by which He upholds as with His hand, 00:17:05.079 --> 00:17:06.599 heaven and earth and all creatures, 00:17:06.940 --> 00:17:08.119 and so rules them 00:17:08.119 --> 00:17:09.519 that leaf and blade, 00:17:09.839 --> 00:17:10.539 rain and drought, 00:17:11.039 --> 00:17:12.319 fruitful and lean years, 00:17:12.700 --> 00:17:13.420 food and drink, 00:17:13.759 --> 00:17:14.579 health and sickness, 00:17:15.079 --> 00:17:16.019 prosperity and poverty, 00:17:16.399 --> 00:17:17.659 all things in fact, 00:17:18.059 --> 00:17:19.639 come to us not by the chance 00:17:19.639 --> 00:17:22.119 but from His fatherly hand. 00:17:22.119 --> 00:17:25.579 And so why is the Lord a good helper? 00:17:26.239 --> 00:17:28.279 Because He's the creator. 00:17:28.919 --> 00:17:30.500 He's watchful over His people. 00:17:31.039 --> 00:17:32.279 And the third reason the psalmist 00:17:32.279 --> 00:17:33.539 shows us He's a good helper 00:17:33.539 --> 00:17:37.059 is because His care extends into eternity. 00:17:38.879 --> 00:17:40.639 The final two verses 00:17:40.639 --> 00:17:42.739 take us beyond our current 00:17:42.739 --> 00:17:45.259 immediate context and circumstances 00:17:45.259 --> 00:17:47.939 and reminds us that God will watch over you 00:17:47.939 --> 00:17:48.839 into the future. 00:17:48.839 --> 00:17:52.379 The Lord will keep you from all evil. 00:17:52.519 --> 00:17:53.240 This is verse 7. 00:17:53.359 --> 00:17:55.079 The Lord will keep you from all evil. 00:17:55.519 --> 00:17:56.459 He will keep you, 00:17:56.859 --> 00:17:58.119 He will keep your life. 00:17:58.679 --> 00:18:00.839 The Lord will keep your going out 00:18:00.839 --> 00:18:01.899 and your coming in 00:18:01.899 --> 00:18:03.199 from this time forth 00:18:03.199 --> 00:18:04.019 and forevermore. 00:18:05.379 --> 00:18:07.539 This is not just about now. 00:18:07.959 --> 00:18:09.899 This is about our entire journey 00:18:09.899 --> 00:18:11.000 all the way home. 00:18:11.899 --> 00:18:13.639 God is not just a short-term helper 00:18:13.639 --> 00:18:14.859 like where He'll help us 00:18:14.859 --> 00:18:15.839 through the rest of today, 00:18:16.159 --> 00:18:17.019 tomorrow and Tuesday. 00:18:17.019 --> 00:18:18.660 No, He's going to take us 00:18:18.660 --> 00:18:20.259 all the way through eternity. 00:18:20.900 --> 00:18:22.139 And the final verse where it says 00:18:22.139 --> 00:18:23.259 that you're going out 00:18:23.259 --> 00:18:24.180 and you're coming in 00:18:24.180 --> 00:18:25.579 is a Hebrew way of saying 00:18:25.579 --> 00:18:28.059 everything you do all the time. 00:18:28.740 --> 00:18:30.579 This is a blanket promise 00:18:30.579 --> 00:18:32.220 that God cares. 00:18:33.700 --> 00:18:34.680 Now, again, 00:18:34.819 --> 00:18:35.960 this doesn't mean 00:18:35.960 --> 00:18:37.579 that bad things will not happen. 00:18:38.400 --> 00:18:39.660 Christians will suffer 00:18:39.660 --> 00:18:41.539 and sometimes even deeply. 00:18:41.539 --> 00:18:44.259 But this means that no evil 00:18:44.259 --> 00:18:46.159 will ever have the final word 00:18:46.159 --> 00:18:47.240 in your life. 00:18:47.920 --> 00:18:49.440 Nothing can snatch you away 00:18:49.440 --> 00:18:50.259 from God's hand. 00:18:51.599 --> 00:18:53.200 You know, Psalm 121 describes 00:18:53.200 --> 00:18:55.299 God as a personal body God 00:18:55.299 --> 00:18:57.159 who's also your personal doctor 00:18:57.159 --> 00:18:58.480 as well as your counselor, 00:18:58.720 --> 00:19:00.019 as well as your father. 00:19:00.940 --> 00:19:02.079 You know, He's the God 00:19:02.079 --> 00:19:03.599 who never leaves your side 00:19:03.599 --> 00:19:05.339 even when the lights can go out, 00:19:05.740 --> 00:19:07.759 even when everyone else is gone. 00:19:08.399 --> 00:19:09.659 Psalm 121 describes 00:19:09.660 --> 00:19:10.700 that this is a God 00:19:10.700 --> 00:19:12.620 who's there with you every time. 00:19:13.820 --> 00:19:15.480 And so as we wrap up, 00:19:15.580 --> 00:19:16.600 like where will you turn? 00:19:17.800 --> 00:19:18.640 Let's go back 00:19:18.640 --> 00:19:19.880 to the very original question 00:19:19.880 --> 00:19:21.000 that was being asked of us 00:19:21.000 --> 00:19:21.600 in verse one, 00:19:21.880 --> 00:19:23.600 from where does my help come? 00:19:24.779 --> 00:19:26.140 If you're in a place today 00:19:26.140 --> 00:19:27.540 where you're painfully aware 00:19:27.540 --> 00:19:28.460 that you need help, 00:19:28.900 --> 00:19:29.700 you're not alone. 00:19:30.259 --> 00:19:32.140 You're in the exact position 00:19:32.140 --> 00:19:33.460 that the psalmist was in 00:19:33.460 --> 00:19:34.580 when he was writing this down. 00:19:35.259 --> 00:19:36.740 And there's only one helper 00:19:36.740 --> 00:19:38.080 who is powerful enough, 00:19:38.680 --> 00:19:39.560 attentive enough, 00:19:39.660 --> 00:19:40.500 and faithful enough 00:19:40.500 --> 00:19:41.960 to carry you all the way through. 00:19:43.100 --> 00:19:44.040 And His name is Jesus. 00:19:44.680 --> 00:19:45.580 He's the creator. 00:19:45.980 --> 00:19:46.920 He's the watcher. 00:19:47.060 --> 00:19:47.820 He's the keeper. 00:19:48.240 --> 00:19:49.180 He's the savior. 00:19:49.880 --> 00:19:51.340 And He didn't just do this 00:19:51.340 --> 00:19:53.180 from far afar to help us. 00:19:53.580 --> 00:19:54.660 He actually entered 00:19:54.660 --> 00:19:56.080 that dangerous road for us. 00:19:56.320 --> 00:19:57.620 He took the worst of it. 00:19:58.100 --> 00:19:59.279 He took the worst of it. 00:19:59.360 --> 00:20:00.180 And what I mean by that 00:20:00.180 --> 00:20:01.779 is our sin and our sorrow 00:20:01.779 --> 00:20:03.000 and even death. 00:20:03.500 --> 00:20:04.759 But then He didn't pause there. 00:20:04.759 --> 00:20:06.559 He actually continued on 00:20:06.559 --> 00:20:08.019 by raising up 00:20:08.019 --> 00:20:09.799 and actually guaranteeing 00:20:09.799 --> 00:20:10.980 our ultimate safety 00:20:10.980 --> 00:20:11.980 by resurrecting. 00:20:12.980 --> 00:20:14.619 So if you are not a follower of Jesus, 00:20:15.019 --> 00:20:16.420 today is a day to turn to Him. 00:20:16.819 --> 00:20:18.220 He is more than able. 00:20:18.599 --> 00:20:19.519 He's more than willing. 00:20:20.019 --> 00:20:21.559 And if you already know Him, 00:20:22.019 --> 00:20:22.779 then this psalm 00:20:22.779 --> 00:20:24.539 is a renewed opportunity 00:20:24.539 --> 00:20:25.400 for courage. 00:20:25.960 --> 00:20:27.059 You're not alone. 00:20:27.240 --> 00:20:28.339 You're never unprotected. 00:20:28.440 --> 00:20:30.180 And you're not unforgotten. 00:20:30.180 --> 00:20:31.600 And so friends, 00:20:31.660 --> 00:20:32.060 this morning, 00:20:32.380 --> 00:20:33.720 take courage from this psalm 00:20:33.720 --> 00:20:35.539 because the road may be hard, 00:20:36.340 --> 00:20:36.580 you know, 00:20:36.759 --> 00:20:38.140 but God in His kindness 00:20:38.140 --> 00:20:39.240 has given us a helper 00:20:39.240 --> 00:20:40.680 who will walk along with you. 00:20:41.700 --> 00:20:42.660 He is somebody 00:20:42.660 --> 00:20:43.759 who will not fall asleep 00:20:43.759 --> 00:20:44.539 and He is somebody 00:20:44.539 --> 00:20:45.860 who will not give up on us. 00:20:46.080 --> 00:20:46.820 And He is somebody 00:20:46.820 --> 00:20:48.259 who will walk with us 00:20:48.259 --> 00:20:49.180 all the way home. 00:20:49.840 --> 00:20:51.060 And so let me pray for us 00:20:51.060 --> 00:20:52.100 as we continue our time 00:20:52.100 --> 00:20:53.160 in service this morning. 00:20:55.640 --> 00:20:56.940 Lord, we come before You. 00:20:57.360 --> 00:20:58.560 We lift our eyes to You 00:20:58.560 --> 00:20:59.799 as this psalm starts. 00:21:00.600 --> 00:21:02.460 We confess how easily it is 00:21:02.460 --> 00:21:03.680 for us to look elsewhere 00:21:03.680 --> 00:21:04.799 for help. 00:21:06.180 --> 00:21:08.180 We confess how easily it is 00:21:08.180 --> 00:21:09.279 to look to others 00:21:09.279 --> 00:21:10.940 or even to things 00:21:10.940 --> 00:21:12.039 that cannot hold us. 00:21:12.660 --> 00:21:13.480 But today, Father, 00:21:13.560 --> 00:21:14.299 we take courage 00:21:14.299 --> 00:21:15.420 from what the psalmist says 00:21:15.420 --> 00:21:17.160 that our help comes from You, 00:21:17.740 --> 00:21:19.660 the Maker of the Heaven and Earth. 00:21:20.180 --> 00:21:20.900 So thank You, Lord, 00:21:20.940 --> 00:21:21.700 for being our Creator. 00:21:22.100 --> 00:21:22.700 Thank You, Lord, 00:21:22.740 --> 00:21:23.600 for being our Keeper. 00:21:24.160 --> 00:21:25.120 And thank You, Lord, 00:21:25.180 --> 00:21:26.640 for being our eternal Helper. 00:21:27.259 --> 00:21:28.560 Father, give us the strength 00:21:28.560 --> 00:21:29.279 for this week 00:21:29.279 --> 00:21:31.079 and for the road ahead 00:21:31.079 --> 00:21:32.920 as we continue to walk in faith 00:21:32.920 --> 00:21:34.839 and we continue to just 00:21:34.839 --> 00:21:36.240 continue to glorify You 00:21:36.240 --> 00:21:37.000 in all our ways 00:21:37.000 --> 00:21:37.619 and we pray this 00:21:37.619 --> 00:21:38.539 in Your precious Son's name. 00:21:38.960 --> 00:21:39.139 Amen.