Lift Your Eyes: 10 Days of Beholding Christ in Motherhoodਨਮੂਨਾ

Day 6: The Lord Is Your Keeper

The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
—Psalm 121:5

If there is one thing the psalmist longs to impart, it’s this: the Lord is your keeper. The original Hebrew text of Psalm 121 includes the word shamar (“to keep”) six times in just five verses. Though some English translations use words like guard, watch, or preserve, the original audience would have understood that the main idea of this psalm is “the Lord who keeps.” In Genesis 2:15, the same Hebrew word is used to describe a gardener tending to his garden: watering, pruning, and cultivating with careful attention. The focus is on God’s watchful eye on us rather than his lookout for potential enemies. It implies his nearness, like a mother staying close to her child, guiding and protecting them as they learn to walk.

As Jewish pilgrims made their way down the Jordan Valley toward Jerusalem, they faced intense sunlight. Because of this, they would have looked for any kind of shade, whether from trees or hills, to comfort and protect them from the scorching heat. Just as shade was a tangible comfort to them, the psalmist says that the Lord is our shade, providing believers with comfort and relief on our journeys.

Your God is your ever-present companion, walking alongside you every step of the way. Because he is your keeper, he will not lose you. He will not let you wander off into foolishness or sin for long because you are too precious to him. The Lord is your keeper and your shade, gently tending to you and protecting you from the harsh rays of life.