Psalm of Ascent: Monday

This week, we're going to look at what are known as the Psalms of Ascent (also called "travelling" or "pilgrimage" psalms). It's believed that the ancient Israelites sang these songs on their pilgrimages to the temple in Jerusalem. 

As you read each Psalm this week, there will be a prompt for meditation. For today's psalm, consider what pilgrimage you are on right now. Where are you coming from, and where are you going? What does it mean, as this psalm says, that "the Lord is your shade at your right hand"?

Psalm 121

A song of ascents.

1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
    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.