IN THE WORD
Psalm 121 Photo: Erik M. Lunsford/The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Ryan M. Tietz
W
ords fail. We do not know what to say. We hear of another senseless death. We hear words like “flexibility” and “pivot.” We get strange looks for beliefs that seem, at best, incomprehensible, at worst, hateful. We try everything to fix the problems. We look to secular saviors to deliver us from this valley of the shadow of death. We cannot hide. We cannot escape the reality of life in a world of deaths. We live as part of a society that tries to deny the reality of death. The problem is that life is a series of deaths. Judith Viorist observes that life is a series of dyings that include birth, going to school, leaving home, getting a job, getting married, having kids, kids growing up, growing old, retiring, illness, and death.1 When words fail, we go to where God gives us words. The gift of the psalter is that it is God’s words for us to say back to Him. They are also timeless. You do not need to be living in B.C. time to pray them. We pray and contemplate now Psalm 121. First, slowly read Psalm 121. Like all Psalms, it is poetry. Poetry is not meant to be read quickly. Poetry also appeals to the senses with its images. As you now read Psalm 121 a second time, what are some images that resonate with you? Read Psalm 121:1. What are the images here that the psalmist uses? __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ 30
The psalmist uses few words. We have no idea what problem provoked this. He is desperate and can only look up. The language of mountains is key. Mountains are a big deal in the Bible. They are places of strength. More importantly, they are where God and humanity meet. Consider how Isaiah 2:2–5 describes the role of God and Zion. List as many mountains in the Bible as you can think of from Gen. 2 to Rev. 21. __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ Read Psalm 121:2. What is the basis for the psalmist’s help? __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ The divine name Yahweh (Lord) is key to confidence. The use of this name emphasizes God’s saving character. For the Life of the World
