I am always blessed by this psalm, because it directs my thoughts to God as my source.  Like the psalmist, I often look to other places or other people to help me.  And I have often been disappointed.  I have to learn again and again that God is my source.

    Since this is one of the psalms which was chanted or sung when people were on pilgrimage to Jerusalem, the psalmist was probably thinking about the hills upon which that city was built.  But as he looked to the hills of Jerusalem and the Temple, he realized that there was no real help in them.

    Perhaps he is thinking of occasions in the past, when he desperately needed help, but he couldn’t find it in the Holy City or the Temple.  Perhaps he had looked to the Priests or the Levites to help him.  But these representatives of organized religion had failed him.  Now he is looking beyond the hills, beyond what man can do for him, to the one who made the hills - the Lord.

    As he looks beyond the hills, he begins to talk about the keeping power of God.  Six times in this psalm he speaks of God as his keeper or preserver (same Hebrew word).  God does not even get drowsy  (slumber), much less go to sleep.  He watches over him 24/7.  He is convinced God will not only keep him as he goes to Jerusalem and back, but that He will preserve his going out and his coming in forever.

    When sickness comes, we often look to medical science as our source.  Surely doctors and other health care professionals can help us.  But they have no power except that which comes from the One who made them and gifted them.  So God is really our source.

    When difficulties come, we often look to the pastor or the church or a counselor.  But they can’t help us in every way we need help.  We have to learn that God is our source.

    Men always fail.  God never does.  Have you learned that yet, or are you still looking to the hills?  Sometimes God has to “shut us up to Himself,” as the old preachers used to say, until we have no one but God.  Then we begin to learn that God is our source.

    I remember being pastor of a church where a certain group of people was my source.  I looked to them for guidance, comfort, strength, support, etc.  Then one by one, God took them away.  I was desolate because my source was gone.  Until I realized that God was still there, and He is the One who matters.

    It is almost fifty-seven years since I started a journey of faith with no resource but God.  He called me to preach, and I surrendered my life to be His servant, even though I didn’t know how in the world I could do what He called me to do.  But He has proven to be faithful and sufficient.  I have often looked to the hills, but my help has always come from God.  So He is the one who gets all the praise.

    Whenever I look beyond the hills, I find God.  And He is everything I need.