New: 3 March 2025
Lifting our Eyes
towards God
Psalms 121, 123, 125
I will lift my eyes to the mountains,
from where shall my help come?
Psalm 121:1 NASB
Lifting our Eyes
In life's struggles and problems, lifting our eyes away from it all and gaining a fresh perspective can make a big difference. Dwelling only on the problems, constantly thinking about them and talking about them is like turning in circles. We feel like we are stuck in the mud, or, worse, in quick sand, slowly drowning in the sand that wants to bury us. What can we do?
The psalmist would lift his eyes to the mountains, asking where his help might come from (Psalm 121:1). His help comes from Yahweh, the Creator of heaven and earth (v 2). We don't worship the mountains or think something mystical or magical will happened if we look at them. We worship the One who created mountains and all else. Our trust is in the God who created all things. His great power and divine attributes are visible in the beautiful and majestic creation that came from His masterful and creative mind. We give Him honour as God and Creator. We look to Him for help, for if He can create all things, He can certainly help us! Lifting our eyes towards God gives us the divine perspective when we feel stuck or lost. He can show us the way.
God is not asleep, neither in slumber. He is the One watching over us to keep us and preventing our foot to slip (vv 3-4). He is our keeper; He is a shade so we won't be smitten by life's overpowering circumstances (vv 5-6). Yahweh will protect us from all evil and keep our soul (v 7). He will watch over us and guard us (v 8). Lifting our eyes to Him and gaining the divine perspective of who He is and what he can do, makes all the difference. We no longer turn in circles stuck in our problems, but we look to the One who has the solution and the power to implement it. We lift our eyes in trust towards Him who is faithful to help.
To You I will lift my eyes,
O You who are enthroned
in the heavens!
Psalm 123:1 NASB
Trusting God for Protection
The psalmist lifted his eyes to the Lord who is enthroned in the heavens (Psalm 123:1). He did so with trust for God to protect him. He did so with humility in God as his Lord (v 2). God gives grace to the humble. He is gracious to those who look to Him in trust. He won't fail us. There are those who cause us great harm, scoffing at us proudly (vv 3-4). We may be filled with contempt; we might be hard-pressed; the situation may look bad, yet God is faithful. He is gracious to the humble. We can trust Him.
Those who trust Him are like Mount Zion—unmovable! Solid, stable, and strong. God surrounds His people as the mountains surround Jerusalem (Psalm 125:1-2), the city of the great King (Matthew 5:35). God it just and will deal with wickedness that oppresses the righteous (Psalm 125:3a). Evil will not succeed forever; God won't allow it to last, else even the righteous might start doing wrong (v 3b). Many good people became corrupt as they suffered from injustice and became bitter. This is not the way to handle life. We must trust God, lift our eyes to Him and continue to do good. We trust Him and feed on His faithfulness (Psalm 37; E2). The God who created all things will not sleep nor slumber; He will bring forth justice and truth as a light in the darkness.
As we trust Him we will be unmovable; as we humbly call on His help, He will graciously help us. We can lift our eyes to our God and Master who won't fail us. He will keep us and protect us. He gives grace to the humble. The meek shall inherit the earth. Trust God for His protection.