{"id":4558,"date":"2024-04-24T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-04-24T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/handstotheplow.org\/reading-plan\/april-24\/"},"modified":"2025-08-19T16:28:27","modified_gmt":"2025-08-19T21:28:27","slug":"april-24","status":"publish","type":"reading-plan","link":"https:\/\/handstotheplow.org\/am\/reading-plan\/april-24\/","title":{"rendered":"April 24"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u1218\u12dd\u1219\u122d 121\u1361 \u12a5\u130d\u12da\u12a0\u1265\u1214\u122d \u1320\u1263\u1242\u1205 \u1290\u12cd \u121b\u1208\u1275 \u121d\u1295 \u121b\u1208\u1275 \u1290\u12cd?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Psalm 121 is a treasure of promise for the suffering believer. This treasure centers on a massive truth: Yahweh stands guard over his people. The psalmist celebrates the <\/span>fact<\/span><\/i> of Yahweh\u2019s guardianship in verses 1\u20132: \u201cI lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from Yahweh, who made heaven and earth.\u201d The psalmist declares the <\/span>nature<\/span><\/i> of Yahweh\u2019s guardianship in verses 3\u20134: \u201cHe will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.\u201d<\/span>[1]<\/span><\/p>\n

\u12e8\u1245\u12f1\u1233\u1295 \u133d\u1293\u1275<\/span><\/h1>\n

I was surprised to find that the Hebrew word combination depicting the stumbling step in verse 3 (translated into English as \u201cHe will not let your <\/span>foot be moved<\/span>\u201d) is never used in Scripture of <\/span>physical<\/span><\/i> falling. Rather, all four of its other occurrences use this combination of Hebrew words in a <\/span>figurative<\/span><\/i> sense. In their other appearances, these words speak of someone who is (or anticipated being) overcome by divine judgment (Deuteronomy 32:35), personal sin or weakness (Psalm 38:16), or enemy oppression (Psalm 66:9; 94:18). When the psalmist declared, therefore, \u201cHe will not let your foot be moved,\u201d he was most likely speaking of <\/span>the perseverance of the saints<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The psalmist is not promising the absence of pain or even failure. But he is promising that, amidst seas of adversity, the elect will remain upheld, not because of their own doing, but because of the preserving hand of God. No one can snatch God\u2019s sheep out of his hand (John 10:27\u201330), and the one who has justified will never again condemn (Romans 8:33\u201334). What mercy! What promise! The sure confidence we have today that we will remain with God tomorrow is God himself. Thank him. Remain dependent on him. Plead for his sustaining grace.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u1290\u134d\u1233\u127d\u1295\u1295 \u12ed\u1320\u1265\u1243\u120d\u1362<\/span><\/p>\n

Along with ensuring our perseverance (\u201cHe will not let your foot be moved\u201d), the LORD \u2019s guardianship also means he is <\/span>constantly watching over our souls<\/span><\/i> (\u201cHe who keeps you will not slumber Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep\u201d). The Hebrew of verse 4 suggests a development from what precedes. Whereas verse 3 suggests \u201cyour Guardian\u201d will <\/span>not<\/span><\/i> slumber now, verse 4 stresses \u201cIsrael\u2019s Guardian\u201d will <\/span>never <\/span><\/i>slumber nor sleep. God \u201cgives to his beloved sleep\u201d (Psalm 127:2), and we are able to rest only because we know God never does. \u201cThe LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary\u201d (Isaiah 40:28). Yahweh is always awake, always aware, and always watching over his children.<\/span><\/p>\n

Do not put your hope today in yourself, for were it not for God, you would surely slip. But because of his ever-sustaining mercy, your faith will remain. As asserted in Psalm 94:16\u201318: \u201cWho rises up for me against the wicked? Who stands up for me against evildoers? If Yahweh had not been my help, my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence. When I thought, \u2018My foot slips,\u2019 your steadfast love, O Yahweh, held me up.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

It is the steadfast love of the LORD that sustains. It never ceases but it is replenished every dawn (Lamentations 3:22\u201323).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u1320\u1263\u1242\u1205\u1295 \u1270\u1218\u120d\u12a8\u1275<\/span><\/h1>\n

Whether your sleepless nights are filled with tears and prayers, diaper changing, or paper writing, God is with you with all the energy and grace you need. Don\u2019t forget him. Look to him at any hour \u2013\u2013 in the light or in the night. Yahweh\u2019s guardianship means that he ensures our perseverance. He constantly watches over his own.<\/span><\/p>\n

[1] Evidence of the psalmist\u2019s confidence in Yahweh\u2019s guardianship may be seen in the overall outline of this psalm. In verses one and two, the psalmist speaks of his own beliefs about Yahweh\u2019s guardianship. In verses three through eight he encourages others in similar situations.<\/span><\/p>\n



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