Elmhurst CRC

Daily Dose of Lent - Psalm 121: 1-2

March 02, 2023 Gregg DeMey Season 1 Episode 7
Elmhurst CRC
Daily Dose of Lent - Psalm 121: 1-2
Show Notes Transcript

Gregg DeMey, Lead Pastor

Gregg DeMey 0:07 

Welcome to Elmhurst CRCs daily dose of the word of God. It's Thursday, March 2, and this is Gregg DeMey, Lead Pastor at ECRC. This week we're journeying with Jesus toward the cross, stumbling along with Nicodemus, the Pharisee. Today's reading will linger on Psalm 121, verses 1 and 2.

Gregg DeMey 0:25 

The Bible says: I lift up my eyes to the mountains. Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord; the maker of heaven and earth.

Gregg DeMey  0:37 

Psalm 121 is sometimes known as the traveler Psalm. As we are walking along with Jesus during the 40 days of Lent, it seems especially fitting for us now. When ancient Israelites traveled to the temple in Jerusalem on pilgrimage, this was one of their go-to Psalms along the way (we're in good company). I invite you to imagine yourself on a hike through the mountains of Colorado or California. Or maybe the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee! Look up to the top of one of our American mountains, what do you see? Chances are, you see large trees, huge rocks, boulders, blue sky - and if we're being honest - possibly radio or cell towers these days. But in the ancient world, the hilltops and mountain peaks were deemed spiritually significant; high places where those of us who are bound to Earth could get a little closer to touching heaven. And in ancient Israel, the hills on the way to Jerusalem would have been dotted. Not with radio towers, but with shrines, pillars or altars dedicated to Baal, Asherah, or one of the many other Canaanite gods or goddesses. Can you picture that?

Gregg DeMey  1:57 

The Bible's invitation in Psalm 121 is to lift up our eyes to the mountains and wonder where the help that we need is going to come from. We need to keep lifting our eyes up, higher than our towers of technology (just like the Israelites needed to lift up their eyes higher than those pillars or shrines), higher up to the God who made the heavens and the earth. Surely the one who spoke all things into the being - that God is the one who can give us help, healing and the saving that we need. Even now.

Gregg DeMey 2:31  

Let's pray. Oh God, we lift up our eyes to you this morning. Help us cast our vision higher than merely human things, to you, the true Creator of all. We remember Jesus, that you came from heaven to earth and now have ascended back to heaven again in victory. Therefore, you have the right and the power to accomplish all that we need today. It's in your name and mighty spirit that we pray, Amen.