1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
Psalm 121:1-2
Companions,
Whether we are looking at actual mountains or daunting personal circumstances which may seem mountainous to us, the question is the same when we feel overwhelmed (where does my help come from?); and the writer of Psalm 121 reminds us of the only one on whom we can rely. The 15 Psalms 120-134 are known as the “Songs of Ascent” of which it is said the Jews sang on the way up to Jerusalem for the three required pilgrimages each year. Ps. 120 gives the personal plight of the ones starting out and ends with Ps. 134 giving a benediction from the Lord. The number 15 in the scriptures often corresponds to rest. The 15th day of the first month of the liturgical year is the Feast of Unleavened Bread after Passover and the 15th day of the 7th month is the Festival of Booths after the summer harvest. There is also a flight of 15 steps leading into the Temple on which the Temple Priests sang these Psalms. Whatever the history of these Psalms, the point to remember is that whatever our circumstances, we can rely on the “Maker of heaven and earth” to help us – and that is very comforting indeed.
May the LORD bless us and preserve our going out and our coming in both now and forevermore. Amen.
Jack A. Holloway
I. Associate Grand Chaplain