Watch Over!!!

I was reminded of Psalm 127 today on my prayer walk & I just feel strongly that someone needs to be encouraged by these words. 5 times in 8 verses, the psalmist uses the phrase, "Watch Over." In other words, he wants to be very clear that our Heavenly Father "Watches Over" us at all times! Check this out... Here are the verses, (with my thoughts in paratheses)...

v. 1 "I lift up my eyes to the mountains (that's the most high & lofty place around) - where does my help come from?" (In other words, he could be implying any number of things... a. my help doesn't come from worldly high places, b. my help comes from the High places of God, c. when I face mountains that I know I am to climb, I gotta know where my help comes from)

v. 2 "My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth." (Perhaps he clears up his intentions in this verse by recognizing that God created this whole world that we live in, and since He created it, He knows how to get us through it!)

v. 3 "He will not let your foot slip - he who watches over you will not slumber;" (I love that he changes his verb tense right here... He moves it from 1st person, personal, to 3rd person. He is now speaking to someone other than himself! I love that boldness. He had to internalize the message 1st, & then share it with others! Did you catch the 1st "watches over"?)

v. 4 "indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep." (2nd "watches over". He speaks of Israel as the people he knows and loves. He is confident in God's ability to "watch over" the people he knows & loves.)

v. 5 "The Lord watches over you - the Lord is your shade at your right hand;" (3rd "watches over". I'm not real sure of the reference to God being their shade at their right hand. Perhaps it has something to do with them living in a desert climate and needing protection from the scorching heat that can drain you. A potential metaphor for how being in the thick of a battle can drain you, and make you feel like you need relief, like a shade would provide. It kinda makes me want to do some study on that...)

v. 6 "the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night." (Again, not sure about how the moon can harm someone, but I bet he's saying something really powerful right here. In any case, he is declaring God's ability to "watch over" us anytime, day or night. He's always near, always watching, never sleeping!)

v. 7 "The Lord will keep you from all harm - he will watch over your life;" (4th "watch over". This time from "ALL HARM!" Wow, what a declaration! Notice, he's increasing in the magnitude of his declarations of what God can do, will do, and is doing for them! He's building a case for the greatness of God in their lives!!!)

v. 8 "the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore." (5th "watch over". This is the big culmination. No matter where you go, or when, God is watching over you!!! Picture having an umbrella that is always over head, protecting you from the scorching sun, but always available to shield you from storm, day or night, wherever you go, now & forevermore! That's a picture of our God.)

May we walk with that kind of boldness this week as we dig in & live for Him!

Hope that encourages you today,

Matt