PSALMS OF ASCENT! PSALM 121:5-6

Malcolm Cox, email: malcolm.cox@iccmissions.org | ICC Missions on facebook | www.nwlcc.org

CONSTANT COMPANION

G o d i s o u r c o n s t a n t companion and helper in real or imaginary dangers. His protection is good against the known and the unknown.

The Psalmist expresses this in a poetic parallel. These paral le l s are a favouri te Hebrew way of describing totality. The two extremes of sun and moon (day/night) are described so as to include everything in-between. God has got it all covered.

His covering of us (the ‘shade’ of the Psalm) indicates the comprehensive nature of this protection - every part of our lives.

PERSONAL PROTECTION

G o d ’ s p r o t e c t i o n i s personal - all the you’s in this verse are singular. God is aware of everything we are going through. The government are not, your best friend is not, even your spouse is not, but God is.

SHADET h e wo rd t r a n s l a t e d

‘shade’ is the Hebrew word ‘tzel’, meaning ‘shadow’. God shades and protects His people (Ps 121:5f.; Isa 25:4). We pray that God will hide us under “the shadow of his wings” (Ps 17:8; cf. Ps 36:7; Ps 91:1).

God says that he will hide the suffering servant in the shadow of his hand so that he can preach his message for a time (Isa 49:2). And in the last days Yahweh’s glory will return to Jerusalem and be a shade from the heat and a shelter from the other elements (Is 4:6; cf. Hos 14:8).

What does this mean for us?

TIMES WHEN IT GETS HOT

Are you going through an especially hard time right now? I s s t r e s s yo u r c o n s t a n t companion? Stress does not need to become anxiety. We can do all we are called by God to do by stepping into His shade. There He can help you

think more clearly. That’s what a quiet time is for.

TIMES WHEN IT GETS SCARY

At the time our Psalmist lived it was thought that too much exposure to the moon could cause illness (‘lunacy’).

We are all scared by things. The future, persecution, illness, criticism and so on. How do we process that fear, and overcome it?

What is your part? Take all your fear and anger to God. He can handle it even if you cannot. Remember, He sent Jesus to earth precisely because He knew we could not handle the heat and the fear induced by life on this imperfect world. Step into the shade. Stay in the shade.

What is God’s part? He gives peace and He gives us renewed vision. Hold on to your cons tan t , pe r sona l companion as He shades and protects you from anxiety and fear. Remember to step into the shade today.

“Your Shade” “THE LORD WATCHES OVER YOU—THE LORD IS YOUR SHADE AT YOUR RIGHT HAND; THE SUN WILL NOT HARM YOU BY DAY, NOR

THE MOON BY NIGHT.” (PSALMS 121:5–6 NIV)