From Where Will My Help Come, a Reflection on Psalm 121

Commentaries tell me that this psalm was used by pilgrims traveling to Jerusalem to celebrate various festivals. The goal was important, desirable, worthy, but the trip to get there was often uncomfortable, even dangerous.

We moderns can benefit from the words of this psalm. We are also on journeys. We're not traveling through geographic Israel toward the physical Mount Zion to visit the site of the temple in Jerusalem. But, we are moving in our lives surrounded by calls to give allegiances to worldly pleasures and protections. As we go through each day, we may be confronted by, interrupted by, irritations or even threats of actual danger.

The psalm is the lectionary choice to respond to the Genesis reading of Jacob's traveling home when he was not certain that his arrival would be welcomed. From the struggle during the night, Jacob was able to recognize that he has been blessed by God.

May we in our own journeys, real and metaphorical, as we face our own adversaries, in situations due to our own transgressions or not, have the assurances offered to those ancient pilgrims that are still offered to us:

God will protect us from stumbling, night or day, now and always.