Proper 17
Preaching
Aids To The Psalms
Exploring The Message
I lift up my eyes to the hills --
from where will my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
He who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your keeper;
the Lord is your shade at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life.
The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in
from this time on and forevermore.
Alternate Image
The Singer goes to worship every week. Worshipers from all
over the country congregate to offer praise, seek understanding
and share fellowship. They gather in an open air ampitheater in a
valley between majestic mountains for their services. After an
opening song they join in a unison prayer. Together, with one
united thunderous voice they shout, "Help!" The "help" echoes
throughout the valley. They turn to their left and shout once
more, "Help!" As the echoes continue to reverberate they turn to
the right and shout, "Help!" Finally, they turn around and shout,
"Help!" The "helps" echo over and over again among the mountains.
A preacher comes to them and tells them there is no help in
the mountains. Another preacher tells them there is no help in
the valley. Another preacher tells them there is no help on the
plains or the cities. Yet more preachers tell them there is no
help in the stars or planets. The congregation again yells,
"Help!" All the preachers respond, "Our helps comes from the one
who made mountains, valleys, plains, cities, country, stars and
planets." The preachers take turns telling the congregation over
the next several days how they can trust and rely upon this God
who created all things. They state that this same God who creates
such wonders is madly and passionately in love with them and
intends to care for them.
At the end of the week of worship the congregation gathers
again and shouts with all their might, "Thank you!"
Reflection
We tend to think spending a whole hour in worship is quite a
chore, and woe be to the liturgist and preacher who runs
overtime. However, the setting for this Psalm was a worship
festival, an extended period of time to be spent in worship.
There were likely several speakers, interpreters of God's word,
who addressed those assembled. This was an exciting time when the
covenant people took time away from their daily routines to think
just how well blessed they were by the God of the universe. It
was a time when they were reminded of the reality of their God in
contrast to false gods and philosophies.
In our busy, busy world, it is good for us to take time to
gaze at the wonders that God has created and the wonders we
believe we have created. More important, we should reflect upon
the one who created all these things and still remains madly and
passionately in love with us.
from where will my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
He who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your keeper;
the Lord is your shade at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life.
The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in
from this time on and forevermore.
Alternate Image
The Singer goes to worship every week. Worshipers from all
over the country congregate to offer praise, seek understanding
and share fellowship. They gather in an open air ampitheater in a
valley between majestic mountains for their services. After an
opening song they join in a unison prayer. Together, with one
united thunderous voice they shout, "Help!" The "help" echoes
throughout the valley. They turn to their left and shout once
more, "Help!" As the echoes continue to reverberate they turn to
the right and shout, "Help!" Finally, they turn around and shout,
"Help!" The "helps" echo over and over again among the mountains.
A preacher comes to them and tells them there is no help in
the mountains. Another preacher tells them there is no help in
the valley. Another preacher tells them there is no help on the
plains or the cities. Yet more preachers tell them there is no
help in the stars or planets. The congregation again yells,
"Help!" All the preachers respond, "Our helps comes from the one
who made mountains, valleys, plains, cities, country, stars and
planets." The preachers take turns telling the congregation over
the next several days how they can trust and rely upon this God
who created all things. They state that this same God who creates
such wonders is madly and passionately in love with them and
intends to care for them.
At the end of the week of worship the congregation gathers
again and shouts with all their might, "Thank you!"
Reflection
We tend to think spending a whole hour in worship is quite a
chore, and woe be to the liturgist and preacher who runs
overtime. However, the setting for this Psalm was a worship
festival, an extended period of time to be spent in worship.
There were likely several speakers, interpreters of God's word,
who addressed those assembled. This was an exciting time when the
covenant people took time away from their daily routines to think
just how well blessed they were by the God of the universe. It
was a time when they were reminded of the reality of their God in
contrast to false gods and philosophies.
In our busy, busy world, it is good for us to take time to
gaze at the wonders that God has created and the wonders we
believe we have created. More important, we should reflect upon
the one who created all these things and still remains madly and
passionately in love with us.
