Climb Higher

Psalm 121 and the Songs of Ascent

This devotional reflection introduces the Songs of Ascent (Psalms 120-134) and focuses on Psalm 121’s question about where our help comes from. It highlights God’s steady presence on life’s journeys and his watchful care over our “coming and going.”

• Psalms 120-134 were sung as worshipers ascended toward Jerusalem for festivals.
• Psalm 121 points us past false sources of security to the Lord, Maker of heaven and earth.
• God’s care is constant—he watches over every season of life, now and forevermore.

By David Faust

Psalms 120 through 134 are known as Songs of Ascent. Jewish tradition connected these 15 chapters with the 15 steps of the temple where worshipers stood and sang; but there is another reason they are called Songs of Ascent. The Israelites sang these Psalms as they ascended the hills toward Jerusalem to attend festive occasions like Passover and Pentecost. Just as we enjoy favorite songs at Christmas and Easter, the Jews sang the Songs of Ascent as they climbed the hills toward the Holy City. When he was 12 years old, Jesus probably sang these Psalms as he traveled to Jerusalem with his family and friends for the Feast of Passover.

The Songs of Ascent inspire us to keep climbing higher in our own walk with the Lord. When we pursue God’s upward call, the Lord himself is our hiking partner.

The Source of Our Help

Psalm 121 begins with a question: “I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from?” (v. 1, New International Version). Snow-covered peaks look beautiful, but the ancient Hebrews believed there was something sinister about mountains. Pagan worshipers built shrines on the “high places,” engaging in immorality and idol worship there.

When we lift up our eyes, we see a variety of spiritual options that offer to make our journeys safer and better. But our help doesn’t come from the mountains; it comes from the one who made the mountains. “My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth” (v. 2). If we think the next election will solve all our social problems, and a scientific breakthrough will fix everything that is wrong with our environment, and a pay raise will solve all our worries, we are not looking high enough.

The Lord’s Watchful Care

As you walk with God, “He will not let your foot slip” (v. 3). This doesn’t mean you will never stub a toe or twist an ankle, but the Lord will support you on the journey.

“He who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep” (vv. 3-4). We miss a lot because we need to sleep. We’re basically unconscious about one-third of our lives, but the Lord never gets tired. Instead, “The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore” (v. 8).

It’s interesting that God watches over “your coming and going.” He oversees your “coming”—when you are born, and when you launch a new career, move into a new home, start your freshman year of college, begin married life, or commence some other journey of faith. And he watches over your “going.” He is there when you conclude a significant season of life and you retire, graduate, become an empty-nester, or attend a loved one’s funeral. He is there when fortunes ebb and flow, and when friends come and go. He was there when your life began, and he will be there when your time on earth ends—and beyond.

William Faulkner described the difference between monuments and footprints: “A monument only says, ‘At least I got this far,’ while a footprint says, ‘This is where I was when I moved again.’”

Is the Lord calling you to climb higher? With him at your side, you don’t need to be afraid to take another step.

This is the first in a series of articles based on selected verses from the Psalms of Ascent (Psalms 120-134).

David Faust serves as contributing editor of Christian Standard and senior associate minister with East 91^st Street Christian Church in Indianapolis, Indiana. He is the author of Not Too Old: Turning Your Later Years into Greater Years.

Author: David Faust

David Faust serves as contributing editor of Christian Standard and senior associate minister with East 91st Street Christian Church in Indianapolis, Indiana. He is the author of Not Too Old: Turning Your Later Years into Greater Years.