Written by Katharine Campbell, administrative assistant to WMI and the Metro-Urban Institute and brought to you by the World Mission Initiative at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary

Scripture

Psalm 121

1  I lift up my eyes to the hills —
          from where will 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   He who keeps Israel
           will neither slumber nor sleep.

5   The LORD is your keeper;
           the LORD is your shade at 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.
8   The LORD will keep
           your going out and your coming in
           from this time on and for evermore.

Psalm 6

1   O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger,
           or discipline me in your wrath.
2   Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am languishing;
           O LORD, heal me, for my bones are shaking with terror.
3   My soul also is struck with terror,
           while you, O LORD — how long?

4   Turn, O LORD, save my life;
           deliver me for the sake of your steadfast love.
5   For in death there is no remembrance of you;
           in Sheol who can give you praise?

6   I am weary with my moaning;
           every night I flood my bed with tears;
           I drench my couch with my weeping.
7   My eyes waste away because of grief;
           they grow weak because of all my foes.

8   Depart from me, all you workers of evil,
           for the LORD has heard the sound of my weeping.
9   The LORD has heard my supplication;
           the LORD accepts my prayer.
10  All my enemies shall be ashamed and struck with terror;
           they shall turn back, and in a moment be put to shame. 

Devotional

When reading these two psalms, what stands out most to me is the emphasis on God’s benevolent power in our lives. We are not in control, but neither are we subject to a capricious or evil divinity. Whether things are good or bad, the Lord “will watch over your life.” God hears our cries and sees our private pains—even more than that, as we look ahead to the cross and the resurrection. We see that this all-powerful God desires the ultimate good for us—a personal relationship with Him. When I read these passages, I am reminded again that God saves us because of His unfailing love. It is not up to us! God saves me, and you, because He wants to and because He loves us, not because of anything we do or say. What a comforting, liberating thought.

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for this reminder that we are not in control of our lives, that You watch over us in every moment. We praise You for Your power and mercy and love, and we ask forgiveness for the times we forget and live our lives as if You are not there. We pray that You would give us ears to hear Your voice and eyes to see Your love, that we would then be able to share Your love with others. Amen.

Written by Katharine Campbell, administrative assistant to WMI and the Metro-Urban Institute and brought to you by the World Mission Initiative at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary

Scripture

Psalm 121

1  I lift up my eyes to the hills —
          from where will 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   He who keeps Israel
           will neither slumber nor sleep.

5   The LORD is your keeper;
           the LORD is your shade at 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.
8   The LORD will keep
           your going out and your coming in
           from this time on and for evermore.

Psalm 6

1   O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger,
           or discipline me in your wrath.
2   Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am languishing;
           O LORD, heal me, for my bones are shaking with terror.
3   My soul also is struck with terror,
           while you, O LORD — how long?

4   Turn, O LORD, save my life;
           deliver me for the sake of your steadfast love.
5   For in death there is no remembrance of you;
           in Sheol who can give you praise?

6   I am weary with my moaning;
           every night I flood my bed with tears;
           I drench my couch with my weeping.
7   My eyes waste away because of grief;
           they grow weak because of all my foes.

8   Depart from me, all you workers of evil,
           for the LORD has heard the sound of my weeping.
9   The LORD has heard my supplication;
           the LORD accepts my prayer.
10  All my enemies shall be ashamed and struck with terror;
           they shall turn back, and in a moment be put to shame. 

Devotional

When reading these two psalms, what stands out most to me is the emphasis on God’s benevolent power in our lives. We are not in control, but neither are we subject to a capricious or evil divinity. Whether things are good or bad, the Lord “will watch over your life.” God hears our cries and sees our private pains—even more than that, as we look ahead to the cross and the resurrection. We see that this all-powerful God desires the ultimate good for us—a personal relationship with Him. When I read these passages, I am reminded again that God saves us because of His unfailing love. It is not up to us! God saves me, and you, because He wants to and because He loves us, not because of anything we do or say. What a comforting, liberating thought.

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for this reminder that we are not in control of our lives, that You watch over us in every moment. We praise You for Your power and mercy and love, and we ask forgiveness for the times we forget and live our lives as if You are not there. We pray that You would give us ears to hear Your voice and eyes to see Your love, that we would then be able to share Your love with others. Amen.