This week, I finally clicked on some of the You Tube videos from Asbury’s revival. It was such a shot of “good news” to see a University working in keeping with God’s hope for the world.

God wants my worship to be like a song of ascent drawing me nearer to His heart. It defies the trap of being lulled to sleep in “safety”. It may consist of a moment when the music crescendos with unforeseen boldness (fortissimo). This energy in turn helps me question and then break out of a comfortable mold that was incongruous with His kingdom come. #Lordisthisfromu #discernment

In Matthew Henry’s Commentary, for Psalm 121, the word for harm aka “evil”, is described here (emphasis added): “This psalm teaches us to comfort ourselves in the Lord, when difficulties and dangers are greatest. It is almighty wisdom that contrives, and almighty power that works the safety of those that put themselves under God’s protection. He is a wakeful, watchful Keeper; he is never weary; he not only does not sleep, but he does not so much as slumber. Under this shade they may sit with delight and assurance. He is always near his people for their protection and refreshment. The right hand is the working hand; let them but turn to their duty, and they shall find God ready to give them success. He will take care that his people shall not fall. Thou shalt not be hurt, neither by the open assaults, nor by the secret attempts of thine enemies. The Lord shall prevent the evil thou fearest, and sanctify, remove, or lighten the evil thou feelest. He will preserve the soul, that it be not defiled by sin, and disturbed by affliction; he will preserve it from perishing eternally.*

Psalm 121:1-7 (ESV)

My Help Comes from the LORD

A Song of Ascents.[1] I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? [2] My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. [3] He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. [4] Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. [5] The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade on your right hand. [6] The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. [7] The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.

At the urging of a former seminary professor (during last weekend’s webinar), I dusted off my “Brown Driver Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon” for a more accurate Bible study. This was useful since after memorizing Psalm 121 years ago (in the NIV), I realized-following a short study of the Hebrew words for ‘keep’ and ‘harm’-that the ESV version (see above) is a more accurate translation of the Hebrew text.

My overall takeaway was… when God “keeps” me, (also preserves/protects me), it is from the direction of all evil (whether distress, injury, prosperity or the day of calamity/disaster as in Amos 6:3- see below).

Pursuing deeds that appear spiritually prosperous may not amount to more than idle songs or superficial leisure that pass away.

I was shocked to read that it is better to see the day of calamity come from God’s hand than to usher in the seat of violence in the name of man’s attempt to “keep us from all harm”.

Only God can truly keep us from the day of disaster, the result of evil’s consequence that ends in eternal punishment. That day is like no other day and starts with a capital D.

There will be no going back to relinquish our refusal of God’s way once the Day of the LORD dawns. How much better to surrender my spiritual “keeping” to the maker of heaven and earth today, while there is time.

Being kept from evil means submitting to the keeper of my soul. – Teresa #eternalife

*http://www.biblescopeapp.com/ (NET/MHCC)

Amos 6:1-7 (ESV)

Woe to Those at Ease in Zion[1] “Woe to those who are at ease in Zion, and to those who feel secure on the mountain of Samaria, the notable men of the first of the nations, to whom the house of Israel comes! [2] Pass over to Calneh, and see, and from there go to Hamath the great; then go down to Gath of the Philistines. Are you better than these kingdoms? Or is their territory greater than your territory, [3] O you who put far away the day of disaster and bring near the seat of violence? [4] “Woe to those who lie on beds of ivory and stretch themselves out on their couches, and eat lambs from the flock and calves from the midst of the stall, [5] who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp and like David invent for themselves instruments of music, [6] who drink wine in bowls and anoint themselves with the finest oils, but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph! [7] Therefore they shall now be the first of those who go into exile, and the revelry of those who stretch themselves out shall pass away.”