LOOK TO THE HILLS (2 OF 3)
by Jeff Strite
Scripture: Psalm 121:1-4, Psalm 121:7-8
This content is part of a series.
Title: Look To The Hills (2 of 3)
Series: Psalms That Can Change Your Life
Author: Jeff Strite
Text: Psalm 121:1-8
OPEN: They are called the "Songs of Ascent". There's 14 of them from Psalms 120 thru 134. At least 3 times each year, the Israelites would make their way to City of David... to worship God - the feast of Passover; the feast Pentecost; and the Feast of the Tabernacles. And as they made their way to Jerusalem it was pretty much an uphill trek. There's not many places in Israel that have a higher elevation than Jerusalem. And for many of the worshippers they had to walk the whole way.
And as they walked they would sing these songs of Ascent.
Psalm 121:1 starts out with this interesting phrase: "I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?" What were they looking at? What did they see when they lifted their eyes to the hills? They were looking at Jerusalem. It's the highest place around. And WHAT they saw would literally have taken their breath away. One person described it this way: The city was a wonder to behold, and the "the gem in the crown was the Temple itself. The building's white marble and gold glistened in the sun to such an extent that it was blinding in the daylight."
That's what they saw when they lifted up their eyes. And they weren't looking at a mere building. They were looking at the place where they BELIEVED God dwelt. When they lifted up their eyes to the hills they were looking to the Temple of God for help. "I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?"
There's an old phrase that says: "You get what you look for" If you know what you're seeking... you'll find it. But if you don't know what you're looking for, you're going to wander around aimlessly.
ILLUS: Yogi Bera, the former catcher for the New York Yankees said: "If you don't know where you're going, you're likely to end up someplace else."
So Psalm 121:1 is declaring... look to the hills. Look to the hills of Jerusal ...
Series: Psalms That Can Change Your Life
Author: Jeff Strite
Text: Psalm 121:1-8
OPEN: They are called the "Songs of Ascent". There's 14 of them from Psalms 120 thru 134. At least 3 times each year, the Israelites would make their way to City of David... to worship God - the feast of Passover; the feast Pentecost; and the Feast of the Tabernacles. And as they made their way to Jerusalem it was pretty much an uphill trek. There's not many places in Israel that have a higher elevation than Jerusalem. And for many of the worshippers they had to walk the whole way.
And as they walked they would sing these songs of Ascent.
Psalm 121:1 starts out with this interesting phrase: "I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?" What were they looking at? What did they see when they lifted their eyes to the hills? They were looking at Jerusalem. It's the highest place around. And WHAT they saw would literally have taken their breath away. One person described it this way: The city was a wonder to behold, and the "the gem in the crown was the Temple itself. The building's white marble and gold glistened in the sun to such an extent that it was blinding in the daylight."
That's what they saw when they lifted up their eyes. And they weren't looking at a mere building. They were looking at the place where they BELIEVED God dwelt. When they lifted up their eyes to the hills they were looking to the Temple of God for help. "I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?"
There's an old phrase that says: "You get what you look for" If you know what you're seeking... you'll find it. But if you don't know what you're looking for, you're going to wander around aimlessly.
ILLUS: Yogi Bera, the former catcher for the New York Yankees said: "If you don't know where you're going, you're likely to end up someplace else."
So Psalm 121:1 is declaring... look to the hills. Look to the hills of Jerusal ...
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