Psalm 121 NIV

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.

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

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

The LORD watches over you – the LORD is your shade at your right hand;

the sun will not harm you by day,

nor the moon by night.

The LORD will keep you from all harm – he will watch over your life;

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

Psalm 121 is about taking a trip, but not just any trip. It is about a pilgrim taking a trip to Jerusalem, to the temple. Every Jew tried to do it once in their life, even if they were poor. Some Jews did it every year, or a number of times each year.

Here in Nepal our colleagues make many trips from Kathmandu out to the projects: to places called Lamjung, Dadeldhura, Pokhara, Chitwan or Lele. Sometimes they travel by public buses, other times in private vehicles. To leave Kathmandu, there are many turns winding up to the top of the valley and then on the other side, down again. There are many bridges to cross and hairpin turns to navigate, with many vehicles coming or going, all on a road barely two lanes wide.

Meanwhile, this summer you may also be taking a trip, going on vacation here or there, by various means of transportation.

When pilgrims traveled back in the days of Psalm 121, they would look at the scenery around them. Traveling from Galilee to Jerusalem, there were hills to see. They caused the Psalmist to ask himself from where does his help come? Why? In those days, those who worshiped Baal believed that he lived in the hills. So when the writer saw the hills, he thought of them as the home of Baal. And that made him think about where his help comes from.

The writer's help comes from the Lord, "Who made heaven and earth."

The Lord does not live in the hills; indeed, He does not need a place to live.

This passage is particularly relevant for Nepal as the Hindus believe that their deity, Shiva, lives in the Himalayan Mountains. When our Nepali Christian colleagues travel, they see ridge upon ridge of mountains getting higher and higher, until they finally become the snow-covered Himalayas. When you travel this summer, you too will see the beauty of the world God created.

When people travel, they also worry. For the pilgrims in the days of Psalm 121 there were dangers like the weather or robbers along the way. The writer writes about the Lord protecting the pilgrims from the sun; protecting the readers from any harm.

When our Nepali colleagues travel, they may come upon a roadblock that the Maoists caused by felling a tree across the road.If so, they have to wait for the army to come and remove the roadblock, first making sure there are no bombs hidden in it. Or our colleagues may find some roads closed because the Maoists are not permitting any travel on it.Then they may have to turn around and return to Kathmandu. Through all this they certainly need God's presence in the face of the uncertainties they face, as well as God's protection.

You, too, may experience anxiety in your travel for any number of reasons. You—we all, need to be aware of God's protection for us as we travel this summer.

So there is worry and fear. Therefore, the writer tells of how the Lord protects the pilgrim/traveler:

God will not let the traveler's foot slip;

God who watches over us does not slumber;

The LORD will keep us from harm.

Psalm 121 was written centuries ago to help people going on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. But it also is relevant for going on any trip, whether here in Nepal or there in the US.

Life is like a trip. So Psalm 121 can also help us when we are worried about life.

And today is like a trip. So Psalm 121 can also help us face today.

The Lord will protect the traveler:

the LORD watches over you,

will watch over your life,

and will watch over your coming and going now and forevermore.

The view of the mountains that surround the Kathmandu Valley, and the break-taking Himalayas when visible, are a constant reminder to me of Who my Helper is. It is a constant reminder for me to pray for my Nepali colleagues as they travel to the different projects in the country.

This summer, it will be a reminder for me to pray for you, that you will experience God's care over you, not only in on summer trips, but in your daily life, in your journey of faith.

Lastly, should you travel, may the beauty of God's creation that you see remind you to pray with us, for our Nepali colleagues who travel in and out of Kathmandu Valley, that God will watch over them in their travels, as well as in their journey of faith.

"May the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. Amen."

Thank you for your prayers and support for us and this country, Nepal.

Carole and Bucky