(27th Nov. 2011) The Lord watches over you

 

Scripture Reading: Psalm 121

1. I lift up my eyes to the hills-- where does my help come from?

2. My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

3. He will not let your foot slip-- he who watches over you will not slumber;

4. indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

5. The LORD watches over you-- the LORD is your shade at your right hand;

6. the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.

7. The LORD will keep you from all harm-- he will watch over your life;

8. the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

 

 

 

Sermon: The Lord watches over you

“The Lord watches over me"

"The Lord watches over you"

"The Lord watches over us" Amen!

Sometimes we want to leave from our life circles. Sometimes we want to get out from those who know us. Why we want it? because we want to be free from all the things and all the people.

You could experience this. when you arrived at the Incheon airport, what did you think? No body knows you. Of course, you can have a hope to earn money for family future and at the same time have a fear to live in a unfamiliar country, Korea.

As times went on, you could realize the fact that you could do everything by your will. Here, nobody bothered you even though you lead a fast life; drinking a lot, gambling a lot, and so on, nobody cared about you and kept an eye on you.

However, we also know the fact; it is not good to us "nobody keeps an eye on us." The reason is that it is the beginning of 'misfortune'.

Now I want to share today text, Psalm 121 with you in this respect.

As I told you the result first, the true happiness is based on 'the value of God' way'. For this, today text reminds us of Israel's lives in the desert in the book of Exodus.

When Moses decided the way for 40 years in the desert, God protected Israel people to live in the desert. There were the hottest Sun in the day and the coldest moon in the night. In the day, people cannot stand on the ground of the desert at any minutes. Under the high temperature of Sunshines, they can not live without any shades. So many people can get sunstroke. on the other hand, In the night, there was so freezing because of suddenly fallen temperature. Moreover, moonlight make them dizziness or even being crazy to be lunatics.

For this, God prepared to make a way for them, "By day the LORD went ahead of Israel people in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night."(Exodus 13:21) It means God always was with them travelling in the desert and facing the difficulties in any times.

God was not only with them, but also took care of all they had and all they lived.

"He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years."(Deuteronomy 8:3~4)

Therefore, we love to rely on God Almighty who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

In this point, we have to accept the relationship between the Lord and us. Keeping us is graceful! but at the same time, we have to possess a holy fear toward God.

When we walk in wrong ways, if he keeps on us, he would guide us even by whipping. If he abandons us, he would leave us living in wrong ways. If leaves so, the misfortune is coming, and there is no way to get out from it by ourselves. When you think of the Lord in your mind, you are blessed.

Running away from God is the most foolish action in the world. Why? those who do so, can not ask anyone for a help. According to vers 1~2, "I lift up my eyes to the hills-- where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth."

Our Lord gives us a powerful and certain help because he is a creator of the world. So he can keep you from all harm. All secular temptations make us ruin all families, break all relationships, and destroy all future of people's lives. These occur fatal mistake and harm. He protects us from them whenever we are with him and walk in his way.

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:5). Now we accept the truth "we can not do anything without our Lord. So we can not live apart from him". If you are tempted by some thoughts that you leave from God, you should change it. If you consider more secular and comfortable lives apart from holy way of God, you should throw away it. We are his. once again I am surely saying to you "you are his. We belongs to our Lord."

What is the absolute prayer for our Lord? Read vers. 8,

"the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore." Yes it is! My Lord! PLEASE You watch over my coming and going both now and forevermore! This is the very prayer which we are blessed and the most great one to us.

you who are in this worship with all your heart are so blessed because you know well you are his and he keeps on you.

 

Let's pray. Dear Lord. Thanks for your blessing. Thanks for your keeping on us. We always lift up our hand and praise you and worship you. Be with us and make our way by you. In Jesus name we pray Amen.