Psalm 121
Opening Reflections.
Where have you seen God at work in your life this week?
Share any brief examples and encouragements.
Was there anything from Sunday’s message (from Jazz Crowne) which resonated with you or that you felt resistance to? Anything else you particularly noticed?
I look up to the mountains;
does my strength come from mountains?
No, my strength comes from God,
who made heaven, and earth, and mountains.
He won’t let you stumble,
your Guardian God won’t fall asleep.
Not on your life! Israel’s
Guardian will never doze or sleep
God’s your Guardian,
right at your side to protect you—
Shielding you from sunstroke,
sheltering you from moonstroke
God guards you from every evil,
he guards your very life.
He guards you when you leave and when you return,
he guards you now, he guards you always.
Psalm 121 (The Msg)
Read Psalm 121.
1. Did anything immediately strike you, either hearing the message on Sunday or on reading this passage just now?
2. In ancient Israel the mountains they knew were not ski slopes or challenging rock climbs, they were the ‘high places’ where pagan shrines offered quick solutions to pressing problems. Is there a mountain you tend to rely on? Your mountain of money? Or books? Food? A place to escape to?
3. Quoting John Calvin, Eugene Peterson writes that “Psalm 121 is addressed to those of us who, ‘disregarding God, gaze to a distance all around them and make long and devious circuits in quest of remedies to their troubles.’” Does this sound familiar? Is there anything troubling you now that you are finding hard to trust God with?
4. The Psalmist mentions three kinds of things which can throw us off the path:
- Things that make you stumble (accidents, or unexpected events)
- Sunstroke (physical illness or disease)
- Moonstroke (the ancients gave this name to what we think of as mental or emotional ill health).
The Apostle Paul later wrote (Romans 8:39 The Message) “I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.” What have been your biggest challenges to really trusting God in troubled times?
Closing Reflections.
Is there anything you will take away from this study and discussion?What has stood out that you can take into your week ahead?
Pray together (in pairs or small groups) for each other, in response to your answers.
