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“My Help”
Psalm 121

Why is asking for help so hard to do?

Psalm 121
	•	Psalm 121 is the second song of a series of songs called Song of Ascents.
	•	There are 15 such songs from Psalms 120-134.
	•	They are also variously called Gradual Psalms, Songs of Degrees, Songs of Steps or Pilgrim Songs. Four of them (Psalm 122, 124, 131, 133) are linked in their ascriptions to David and one (Psalm 127) to Solomon.
	•	Many scholars believe these psalms were sung by the worshippers as they ascended the road to Jerusalem to attend the three pilgrim festivals 	(Deuteronomy 16:16) or were songs of the priests as they ascended the fifteen steps to minister at the Temple in Jerusalem.

God’s Help
	Starts with a change in viewpoint or focus (v. 1)
	•	Replace a view of the “mountain” with the “Maker”
	•	Help is reflected that attitude of a person
	•	The contrast is: downhearted, downfallen, downturn

	Is defined by answers, alternatives, or assurances from Him (v. 2)
	•	God’s help is for those who want it and ask
	•	The exact phrase “made heaven and earth,” not “created heaven and earth,” appears only in Psalms 115:15, 121:2, 124:8, 134:3, 135:6, 146:6
	•	He is never stumped by a situation too hard, small, trivial, complicated, or inconvenient

	Is a steady confidence; not the absence of difficulty (v. 3)
	•	The word “slip” means “moved” or “shaken.” The truest literal meaning is a bar (Numbers 4:10) or a staff (Numbers 13:23). In the days of Joshua, the twelve spies carried a cluster of grapes upon a staff (Numbers 13:23) as evidence of their quality of the fruits. The “staff” is synonymous with “being unmoved or unshaken.”

	Is never inactive or unavailable (v. 4)
	▪	“NOT” let your foot slip
	▪	Will “neither or NOT” slumber
	▪	“Nor or NOT” sleep
	▪	Will “NOT” harm you
	
	Doesn’t keep us from trouble, but keeps us from evil while we are in
	trouble (v. 5-7)
	•	“Keep you from all harm” is not absence of trouble
	•	It is the absence of evil or untimely death

	Provides comfort, calm, and a desire for a permanent relationship (v. 8)
	•	The most repeated word is “keep” (v. 4, 5, 7, 8)
	•	His help is to keep us comforted, calm, and in a loving relationship with Him.

Simple Formula for Help
	1. Don’t be too proud to ask
	2. Know to whom and where to turn
	3. Hang on – help is on the way