“…The sun shall not smite you by day, nor the moon by night.” Ps. 121:6
Dear Ones:
When we say the word, “Christianity,” we are speaking of a relationship between God and man. It is a relationship primarily based upon the declarative statements of God concerning HIS commitment(s) to us. Our response to those statements must be one of faith, trust, believing…reciprocal commitment. One aspect of that relationship is God’s commitment to KEEP us, and this in the most physically tangible, and correspondingly, spiritually invisible ways. Again, our response to His declarations is to be that of faith…taking Him at His word, and believing in His faithfulness to DO what He has promised.
One of the greatest portions of Scripture with regard to our Keeper, is Psalm 121. The Psalmist begins with great things which are not the source of our help and strength. The hills (…and mountains), though majestic and magnificent to behold, do not in and of themselves possess the power to help us. They may inspire, but provide strength…they cannot. The Psalmist then turns the spotlight immediately on the Source of strength: “My help comes from the Lord which made heaven and earth.” (v.2) This “help” will manifest itself in several different ways, but specifically with regard to the matter of “keeping.” First of all, he deals with His everlasting, permanent capacity, and will, to keep us. “He that keeps you will not slumber nor sleep.” (v.3-4) Secondly, he speaks of His proximity to us. So near is the Lord, that the Psalmist declares that He is “…thy shade upon thy right hand.”
Let us stop here and ask the question: Why is it that we need a Keeper? “The sun shall not smite you by day, nor the moon by night.” (v.6) If ever there was a verse that declares to us our fragility and frailty, in the face of danger, it is with regard to the sun’s heat, or the cold of the night, referencing the moon. We need a “very present help” (Ps. 46:1), where we live, in all that we do. We need a Sovereign, and faithful Keeper.
His invisible keeping, which has its manifestation also in the physical, is declared: “…The Lord shall preserve thee from ALL evil: He shall preserve thy soul.” The Apostle Paul wrote that, “…your life is HID with Christ in God.” (Col. 3:3) Though we may be assailed by our enemy, and circumstances be adverse, nothing shall separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.
Lastly, the Lord is our keeper with regard to “…going out and coming in.” Do we trust Him for it? We are called upon to BELIEVE this Keeper to do this specifically for us, as this is an integral part of our relationship with Him. An old hymn shows us how to make Him our Keeper: “I take You as my Keeper NOW, and I commit to You, my soul, my way, my works, my cause, In Your sole charge to be; And my deposit, You, I know, will guard secure from every foe.”
Dear Keeper of our souls, and of our whole being, grant us the grace and strength to TAKE You as our Everlasting, Present Keeper, for time (today) and eternity. In yielding all to You, enable us to live in the shadow of Your wings, in the light of Your presence, worshiping and being about our Father’s business, for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad