The Bible App is completely free, with no advertising and no in-app purchases. Get the app
Stones Hill Community Church
Life Verses & Catchphrases
Welcome to the Life Verse and Catchphrases Series! The Words We Carry. The Truth That Carries Us. A Life Verse Is... A truth from God’s Word that becomes a personal compass, a source of courage, a reminder of identity, or a declaration against the lies of the world. A life verse is a verse out of the Bible that especially resonates with you and that has inspired you in some meaningful way. It has become a kind of focus point for you, a life mantra, or a kind of statement or even a counter-culture protest of sorts to battle some erroneous worldview assumption. What verse do you keep coming back to—and why? How did you come to settle on this verse? How has God used this verse in your life?
Locations & Times
Ligonier, IN
151 W Stones Hill Rd, Ligonier, IN 46767, USA
Saturday 8:00 PM
Psalms 121:1-8
*
OPENING
Have you ever been somewhere in life where you suddenly realized, “I can't manage this. I can't fix this. I need help.” That's exactly where Psalm 121 begins.
*
CONTEXTUALIZATION
Three times a year, Jewish families went “up” to Jerusalem (highest elevation point in the nation) to celebrate three major yearly feasts. The traveler knew they would pass through mountainous regions where regional gods were worshipped. And yes, there was beauty and animals and mountains, but there were tribes, and nomads, and bandits on the journey. And all the miles – things could easily go awry.
*
PROPOSITION
Because God is our faithful Keeper, we can face life's uncertainties without being controlled by them. Because God is watching over us, Psalm 121 suggests that we can respond to life's uncertainties in FOUR WAYS…four couplets of truth in eight verses, two verses per couplet. Four descriptions of God’s care the prompts four applicational exhortations.
*
Psalm 121 gives us four descriptions of God’s watchful care, and each description calls us to a corresponding response.
*
OUTLINE
His watching is personal (my help)
LOOK UP — change what you look at when you need help.“I lift up my eyes…” (v. 1–2) Change what you look at when you need help.
*
His watching is continual (awake or asleep)
LET GO — identify what you’re trying to control that’s keeping you awake.“he who watches over you will not slumber…” (v. 3-4) Release what you're trying to control.
*
His watching is total (day or night)
STAY CLOSE — build a “shade habit” for when life gets hot.“The Lord is your shade at your right hand.”(v. 5–6) Cultivate awareness of His presence.
*
His watching is eternal (now and forevermore)
KEEP GOING — take the next step because God is not finished.“The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.”(v. 7–8)
*
CONCLUSION
I had a seminary professor who suggested that all the psalms are roughly Messianic – that is they point to Jesus. Psalm 121 gives us a portrait of God's covenant care for His people—a portrait that reaches its fullest expression in Jesus Christ.” Just as the OT believer was trying to get to God’s presence in Jerusalem, the NT believer must get to Jesus, the new location of God’s presence. LOOK UP: Jesus teaches us where ultimate help comes from. LET GO: Jesus teaches us to trust the Father rather than live under the burden of control. STAY CLOSE: Jesus is Emmanuel—God with us. KEEP GOING: Jesus endured the journey all the way to the cross and resurrection.