I look up to the mountains—does my help come from there? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth! PSALM 121:1-2 (NLT)

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Jewish pilgrims made their way to Jerusalem for festivals like Passover. Those who traveled long distances in groups did so with anticipation and anxiety as they drew near to the hills leading to their destination. 

Why anxiety? Have you ever traveled long distances on foot with children and teenagers? Have you ever lost track of a child in Walmart? Parents have separation anxiety as surely as do children on the first day of school. Jesus was left behind in Jerusalem one time on a trip like this as you may recall (Luke 2:41-52). 

There was anxiety because robbers tended to favor the hills so that they could see the caravans coming and prepare to intercept them. There was anxiety also because some people built altars to false gods on the high hills. They liked to play God of the Mountain. 

So a song was born for pilgrims pondering these issues and thinking these thoughts, a song that speaks to us today. Does our help come from some territorial god limited in scope by how high his hill was? No, “My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth!”

We do not worship the things of earth. We worship Earthmaker. We do not fear bandits. We trust God. 

Look up. Look all the way up. Let every high hill and every mountain range remind you of how great is our God. Let every anxiety meet the calm and comfort that our Father in heaven is alive and well and in charge of all things at all times. 

Our help comes from God.

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I will trust the Creator and fear nothing else.

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Our Father, you are the Creator of all good things. Your beauty is on display all around us. This world is full of wonders pointing to your glory. We place our trust in you alone. Thank you for watching over us. Thank you that we are never out of your care or apart from your presence. You are God and you are here. How could we not bow in worship, wonder, and awe? Amen.