A song of ascents.
1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The LORD watches over you—
the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD will keep you from all evil—
he will watch over your life;
8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.
This has always been an inspiring scripture to me since I was a teenager, but recently it has become even more different as I have learned to interpret it in a new light. I used to just focus on the first two verses, encouraged to know that God is available… you know, in case I need Him. I was encouraged to know that I could call on Him and He would answer. Basically, I’ve been reading this Psalm from my perspective and seeking to understand what it says about me.
Lately I have been reading the Psalm in its entirety, and I’ve started to see it from God’s perspective and I’m understanding what it says about Him:
He is a safe place. He made this world, and He understands it better than anyone ever could. So when we don’t understand, we can run to Him in confidence.
He watches over His people consistently. He is not absent nor absent minded. He sees all, and that’s a good thing.
He is a protector. He is fully aware. He sees what we cannot see, and He will not hesitate to intervene for His peoples’ sake.
He is dependable. He stays with us through thick and thin, up and down. No matter what we face, He will not leave our side.
He is consistent. The psalmist writes with such confidence that the reader cannot deny he has experienced every bit of God’s safety, God’s protection, and God’s dependability on more than one occasion. This may be the greatest quality of God’s leadership – no matter the circumstance, we can always know what to expect from Him.
What a leader! Are you a safe place? Can people confide in you? Are you aware of what those around you are going through? Are you looking out for their best interests above your own? Are you dependable? Are you there when people need you? Do you follow through on your promises? Are you able to hurt with those who are hurting, even if your life is okay? Are you able to rejoice with those who are rejoicing, even if you are hurting? Are you the same today as you will be tomorrow, no matter the circumstance?
What if you were that kind of leader?
At home…
At work…
In your community…
In your church…
This no easy task. Sometimes being a safe place means sacrificing my time and plans for others. Sometimes being a protector means enforcing discipline. Sometimes being dependable means enduring others’ pain until it becomes your own.
It seems that much of today’s leadership has become supporting one’s self at the cost of others, instead of supporting others at the cost of self. I’m so thankful that God chooses the latter, and I hope that I can grow more into the type of leader He is.
Wherever you are, whatever you are doing, try some Psalm 121 leadership this week. Be a safe place, be a protector, be dependable. Most importantly, be consistent.
Leave a Comment so far
Leave a comment
