Word of Salvation – Vol. 26 No. 02 – October 1979

 

New Year’s Sermon

Sermon by Rev. P. C. Tuit on Psalm 121

 

Congregation of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, only a few hours ago we thought about the fact that another year had almost passed. This morning all this is history; 1979 is now history. A new year has begun, 1980 has made its few new footsteps into a new period of time.

Last night, we basically thought about the year that was past. Today, we look not backwards, but forwards. We come anticipating many things for 1980. Many plans have perhaps been made already. For many, 1980 will bring changes into their regular pattern of life. For some 1980 will mark the beginning of a lifetime of work; a beginning of becoming a part of the working process. For some, 1980 will mean a new school, whether primary, high-school, matriculation or perhaps even University For others, 1980 will mark the end of a life alone and the beginning of a life with the partner whom you love and with whom you want to share life with in the state of matrimony. For some, 1980 will bring expansion in the family, either for the first time or by repetition. For some 1980 will mean the beginning of a life of retirement; the beginning of a life enjoying the benefits of a life of hard work.

Yes, 1980, the Lord willing, will bring many changes in our midst. Right now no one here knows exactly what 1980 will bring. It is like standing at the beginning of a journey — a journey about which you cannot precisely predict the outcome. As individuals, as families, as a congregation we are standing at the beginning of our journey into 1980. What will happen? What will it bring? Where will it lead to? We begin this year with feelings of hope and anticipation, but perhaps also feelings of fear and uncertainty for the new and unexpected things this year may bring us.

It is at times such as these, that we are reminded again of our responsibilities but also our frailty and weakness. It is at times such as this that we are reminded of our dependency upon so many factors in life. We depend on our health, we depend on our families, we depend on our economy, we depend on the weather. But we realise at the same time that all these things can fail us; all these things can pull our security from under us.

But it is then at times such as these that we come together as a congregation to hear about the One who gives us a new year after new year. We come to hear about Him who rules and governs time and upon whom we depend most of all. Not only at the end of a year, but also the beginning of a new year leads us back to God, the one who is the same, yesterday, today and forever.

Thus also this first Sunday, (or first day) of 1980 we turn again to the Word of God, that Word which is our only rule for faith and practise. That Word which also in 1980 must give us guidance and direction. That Word which also this year must point us to the Saviour.

Our text this morning is Psalm 121. This psalm is no stranger to many of you. This psalm belongs to the more well-known psalms of the Bible. Many of you have probably heard and learned this psalm when you were very young. And this psalm has been a source of comfort and strength for you all throughout your life. I can remember very vividly how my grandmother would read this psalm to us when we had tea at her place. I can remember how she quoted words from this psalm in that prayer she prayed with me the evening before I migrated to Canada.

This psalm is very applicable for us at this moment; we who are ready to journey into 1980; to journey into a year full of hopes and dreams, but also a year full of uncertainties. This psalm speaks about the help that is there and available for life’s journey. I have titled this psalm “Help for Life’s Journey”. We will look first at the Helper of whom this psalm speaks and secondly we will look at the kind of help this helper provides.

The psalmist who wrote this psalm also stands at the beginning of a journey. A difficult journey lies ahead of him, a journey full of dangers. He lifts up his eyes to the hills where he knows that dangers are awaiting him and he cries out “from whence does my help come”?

In the remainder of this Psalm 121 we have the answer given to this searching and anxious question. And in this answer hope and strength are given for the journey. Congregation, may this psalm teach and instruct us as we today begin our journey into 1980.

As we perhaps also ask in an anxious way, “from whence does my help come?” – who will help me through this year; upon whom can I depend and whom can I trust as I begin this new year?

A very confident answer is given immediately in verse 2. There in response to that anxious question for the source of his help the psalmist writes: “My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” Here, the attention of the traveller upon that dangerous road is taken away from the perils and the pitfalls and uncertainties of his journey. And, instead, his attention is directed to the Lord, who is the creator of heaven and earth. His help, his trust, his confidence is in the Lord, the mighty creator.

The psalmist combines two concepts here, congregation, which serve to give a picture of complete security and total safety. First of all he uses God’s covenant name here. In the Hebrew we read for the name Lord, the name “Jehovah” or “Yahweh”. And the name Jehovah is God’s covenant name. The name Jehovah is used to indicate the special relationship which the Lord has with His people. The name Jehovah indicates that the Lord stands in a special relationship of love and life toward His people. In that covenant relationship Jehovah loves His people and He gives them life and all the blessings of the covenant.

So, when the psalmist says that his help comes from the Lord he is not thinking about a God who is far removed, a God who is unknown and far away from his creatures. No, rather, when the psalmist speaks about his help coming from God he is thinking of His God. He is thinking of the God who has revealed Himself in that beautiful covenant relationship of love and life. Yes, his help comes from a personal God, a God who knows him, loves him and cares for Him. His help does not come from an abstract concept of providence. No, his help comes from a God who is near to the hearts of His people.

This covenant God can give the help the psalmist needs for his dangerous journey. The God who is his help is at the same time the creator of heaven and earth. Thus, his God is not only the God who is near to him in that covenant relationship. He is also the God who had made everything and who ruled and governed everything.

Here we have those two beautiful concepts of God combined, congregation.

The mighty God, the Creator of heaven and earth, the One to whom belong the cattle on a thousand hills, the One who is enthroned high above the heavens, the One for whom the angels cover their face is at the same time “Jehovah”, the God of the covenant, the God who is near to His people.

With this God the psalmist had every reason to be so confident and say “my help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth”. The psalmist could face his journey without fear, without anxiety for this God was with him. The psalmist knew that the Lord of Hosts was with him and that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was his refuge.

The psalmist knew that he could trust the care of this God. He knew that during his journey the eyes of his God would be upon him every moment. He expresses this so beautifully in verses 3 and 4, “He who keeps you will not slumber, behold he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.” A picture of total protection is given here. And the psalmist knew that God was with him every moment of his life, also upon that dangerous journey he had to undertake.

Jehovah God is not like earthly watchmen, who, faithful though they may be, still can make mistakes. They can get tired, and fall asleep at the job. No, his God, the God of love and life would not slumber nor sleep but would carefully watch over His children.

What a tremendous thought we have here, congregation. A tremendous truth indeed; for this text teaches us very clearly that God is always busy for and with His children. There is not one moment in the lives of His children that they may not know the attention of their father in heaven. Those of you who are parents or teachers will know that children love to have attention, children love to be noticed. And not only children, but every adult deep in his heart appreciates attention.

Congregation, this basic need of attention the Lord provides for His children His children may know that the Lord has their attention every moment of their lives. This is so much more than a parent, a teacher or a friend can ever give. How loving a parent may be, he or she will never be able to give complete and total attention to their children. But God, the God of the covenant, the creator of heaven and earth, neither slumbers nor sleeps, and He attends to his children every moment, even when they sleep,

Congregation of Jesus Christ these are beautiful truths to take with us as we venture out into 1980. We enter this year with hopes and dreams, with fears and anxiety. We enter this year asking, “from whence shall our help come? Let us realise that our help is in that God of whom the psalmist wrote. Our help is in the God of the covenant, the God who is near to us in the Lord. Jesus Christ, this God lives in our hearts through the Holy Spirit. We may and can enter this year with hope and confidence because this God who is so near to us in Jesus Christ is the creator of heaven and earth. He holds the whole world in His hand, He governs and controls everything in this world in the interest of His children.

This great God will not let us go alone through 1980. We do not have to do it by ourselves. No, He who makes history will go with us. We have the assurance that as his children we have His undivided attention. This year He will neither slumber nor sleep, this year He will watch over His children better than parents can watch over their children or a shepherd can watch over his flock.

From whence does our help come, congregation? Our help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth. Our help also for 1980 comes from the God of love and life; the father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The same idea comes across in the kind of help, the kind of protection this covenant God gives to His children. The psalmist writes about this as follows: “He will not let your foot be moved, he who keeps you will not slumber. The Lord is your keeper, the Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not smite you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all evil; He will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forever more.”

The truth that comes across in these verses is again the fact that the Lord is involved in the lives of His children. The Lord does not leave his children up to their own. No, the Lord is involved in and with their lives. He is not an indifferent kind of God who takes no interest in what his children do. Instead He leads them, guides them, strengthens and encourages them.

The psalmist did not have to fear while on his journey. The Lord was with him. One idea that comes across especially in our text is that of the Lord being a keeper and guardian. The Lord guards and keeps His children from danger and evil. The psalmist did not need the protection of man, for the Lord was his keeper. The perils of the day nor the terror of the night would be able to hurt the psalmist, for the Lord would be his shade on his right hand.

In verses 7,8 the psalmist brings this psalm of trust and confidence to a climax when he sings: “the Lord will keep you from all evil, He will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forever more.” Not only protection for today but forever. Total and complete care is promised here.

With this kind of help and protection from his covenant God the psalmist could face life, he could face the dangers of his journey. Yes, he could even face death itself. Congregation of Jesus Christ we stand at the beginning of a new year; 1980 has only just begun. We do not know what this year will bring to and for us. We do not know what lies ahead of us. But we do know who is in control of 1980. We do know who is in charge. Jehovah the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ who promised His people: “Lo I will be with you even unto the end of the age.”

A great task lies upon our shoulders congregation as we begin this new year. A great task is ours and also a great responsibility. At the beginning of this year the Lord calls us to believe and to serve Him in all that we do. Also this year the Lord tells us as He did Adam in paradise: “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over it.”

Indeed it is a great task congregation. Upon our shoulders rests nothing less than the maintenance and the development of God’s creation. God has placed us here on earth not just to satisfy our own desires, or to have an easy life for ourselves. No, God has placed a task upon our shoulders, and He asks of us that we fulfill this task to His glory and honour. Paul writes: “and whatsoever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” In this spirit the Lord asks us to use the gifts and talents He gave us in the maintenance and development of His creation.

It does not matter what your occupation is: builder, painter, factory worker, housewife. Everybody is asked to do His part in the work in God’s creation which is His kingdom. The Lord asks this also from your children and young people in school, because, what you are doing in school is basically preparing yourself for service in God’s creation. You are preparing yourself to serve God and your neighbour. In the discharge of our responsibilities whence shall our help come? Our help will come from the Lord who made heaven and earth. Besides our task in God’s creation there lies still another task upon our shoulders as the church of Jesus Christ, as a congregation In Mat.28:19 Jesus told His disciples as the representatives of His church: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you ” This is what the church has called her missionary mandate, the great commission. This commission has not been fulfilled yet, congregation. So also in our journey into 1980 we are asked to give attention to the spreading of the gospel, the good news of salvation in our own community and throughout the world. It is my hope and prayer that in 1980 we will witness a greater involvement in these things congregation.

Yes, a great task and a great responsibility rests upon our shoulders, congregation, also for 1980. God has commanded us to do this. At the same time we may have the confidence that as we, in light of the task ahead of us, asks ourselves “whence shall our help come?” the answer is: “our help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth.”

This God will also be our guide and stay for 1980. He will keep us and lead us. He will sustain us. Does this mean that 1980 will bring only sunshine and roses? No congregation, 1980, because of the presence of sin in the world, will bring its share of sorrow and sickness; of failure and loss; but while we go through this we may know the presence and the help of God. Yes, we may even know this in the face of death.

Thus congregation, let us with hope and courage move into 1980, let us fulfill faithfully the tasks God has given us to do. And let us do this with the realization that our help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth.

Amen!