Rejoice in the Lord!

Our oldest son lives in Charlotte, and he joined us in Sanford, North Carolina, this past Saturday to wish his grandmother a Happy 96th Birthday! When he left to return to Charlotte, the last thing we said to him was, “Call us when you get home.”

Marc is 46 years old, but we still wait until he calls us before we settle in for the evening. We do the same thing with our younger son and his family. We expect a call when they are safely home.

Take a moment and read Psalm 121. God is our guardian and the protector for all His children. Verse 3 says God will watch over us and “will not slumber.” Verse 4 repeats this and says God “will neither slumber nor sleep.” The assurance that God “watches over” His people is repeated five times (verses 3, 4, 5, 7, 8).

Verses 1 and 2 declare that help comes from the “Maker of heaven and earth.” Verses 3 and 4 say that God never slumbers as He watches over His people. Verses 5 and 6 proclaim God’s protection over Israel both day and night. Verses 7 and 8 point out that God’s eternal protection is both “now and forevermore.”

This psalm should provide the calm and reassurance that we need in this world. God never falls asleep at His post. God is always watching over us. I will always wait for a call or text when my boys are traveling, but it is an even greater joy to realize that God is always watching out for every one of us. God doesn’t “have” to keep permanent watch over us, but He does it out of His great love for us.

Prayer – Father, thank you for watching over us and for Your constant care over our lives. Help us to always know that You are at Your post. Amen.

Psalm 121: 4 – “He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.”

Author: The Rev. Tommy Herndon
Images: Jacob Kiesow & Calvin Hanson, courtesy of Unsplash