Psalm 121 – A pilgrim song

My help comes from the LORD

We are pilgrims on a journey to our heavenly home.

Psalm 121 is a hymn of trust and faith in God from the book of Psalms. It expresses the belief that God is always watching over and protecting those who put their trust in him. The psalmist acknowledges God’s care and assurance, emphasising that the Lord is their help and protector.

Psalm 121 is a quiet voice, gently telling us that we are, perhaps, wrong in the way we’re going about our Christian life. It shows us the right way. It is like a person coming and telling us we’re doing things the wrong way, looking in the wrong place for help.

It rejects a worship of nature, worshipping creation rather than the Creator (Romans 1:25b). Do not allow the mountains, moon, sun, or anything else in creation to frighten us. Our God is eternally alert and goes above and before us.

The psalmist looks to the Lord, who made heaven and earth. We do not live in an impersonal world with a God who cares for nothing in that universe, as much as he cares for us.

Prayer: O Lord, we trust in your vigilant love. You preserve us in order to bring us home. Amen.

Psalm 131 – Another pilgrim song

Before God and the mysteries of creation, we are like little children. And like little children, we can find solace in God’s love for us in Jesus Christ, who became a little child on our behalf.

While some believe that a child cannot have faith, Christ points to children as models for faith.

Jesus, friend of little children,
Be a friend to me;
Take my hand and ever keep me
Close to thee. LHS 618

Prayer: Give us the faith of children, Lord. Calm and quiet us by your presence in Word and Sacrament. In the name of the Christ-child. Amen. 

Some interesting facts – did you know?

• Psalm 118 is the middle chapter of the entire Bible
• Psalm 117, before Psalm 118 is the shortest chapter in the Bible
• Psalm 119, after Psalm 118 is the longest chapter in the Bible
• The Bible has 594 chapters before Psalm 118 and 594 chapters after Psalm 118
• If you add up all the chapters except Psalm 118, you get a total of 1188 chapters
• 1188 or Psalm 118 verse 8 is the middle verse of the entire Bible?
• Should not the central verse not have an important message? It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. Psalm 118:8 ESV

About the Author

Jill Schefe

Jill is a Wimmera-ite growing up on a sheep and wheat farm. As a Lutheran deacon, Jill has been richly blessed supporting pastor husband Clarrie, mother to three adult children and six grandchildren. She was a recipient of the 2022 Servant of Christ award and has served on LWV and LWQ executives and various zone executives. Jill enjoys engaging Christ’s love with others. As formed in Christ, in retirement, Jill enjoys reading, Christian spirituality, music, gardening, travelling, and their recently sold farm, breeding cattle and horses. Jill is active in her local congregation as lay worker. She has a passion for an understanding of the Gospel in the life of everyday Christians.