Siblings
I can’t begin to explain how it feels to unearth a new nugget from a biblical text that I thought I’d grasped before. It is even more profound when I see something else while processing the new insight. I’m sure you can sense that I tried to restrain myself to one concept as I reflected with you on what became part 1 of Psalm 121:1-2. You are welcome to say whether you had also had this insight on your own as you consider Today’s Holy Nougat.
Psalms 121:1-2 NIV
[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.
Where is our help 2
In Acts 2:30-32, during his sermon at Pentecost, Peter referred to David as a prophet. Then, he spoke of David’s prophetic anointing in regard to Y’shua’s resurrection. His teaching refers to Psalm 16, and for many of us, also confirms the prophetic aspect of Psalm 22. (We might recall that Y’shua quoted the first lines of Psalm 22 at His crucifixion). When these two Scriptures are read in tandem, we can clearly see why David, Y’shua’s earthly forefather by several generations, could be classified as a prophet. If we believe that reference about David was true, then perhaps we could see where David’s opening lines in Psalm 121 would also have been prophetic.
Digging Deeper
The Synoptic Gospels (those that have similar patterns and stories of Y’shua’s life and ministry) tell us that Y’shua was led to Golgtrha, the Place of the Skull, where He was crucified like a felon (see Matthew 27:33; Mark 16:22-32; and Luke 23:26-43). The name suggests that Golgotha was an un/official execution site. It often served that purpose as Golgotha was the place where enemies of the state met their demise. Y’shua was declared an enemy of the state by some of His detractors. Shane Rosenthal notes that Chief Priests facilitated Y’shua’s crucifixion on that hill outside the city, albeit with Pilate’s approval. Golgotha (aka Calvary) was also where chief priests punished blasphemers and heretics as an example to others; as well as being the place where they offered up atonement sacrifices.
This is significant, because Y’shua’s death, which took place at the time of the Passover, also coincided with the annual sin offering sacrifice. It was an offering that took place on a hill, outside the city. Rosenthal notes that the priests believed Y’shua to be guilty of blasphemy, so they were willing to oversee His execution via crucifixion. Their decision resulted in an outcome that was similar to scapegoating (see Leviticus 16:8-22), where one animal bore the sin of the entire community. And Y’shua became that special forever scapegoat.
Isaiah described the Suffering Servant in Isaiah 53:1-12, and Y’shua referenced the concept in His reference to the Messiah becoming the ‘ransom for many’ in the Synoptic Gospels (see Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45). Paul repeated this image in his letter to Timothy (see 1 Timothy 2:6). Peter also used it in his epistle (1 Peter 1:18 -19), which suggests that it was a much anticipated sign of the Saviour.
That was my insight as I reflected on Psalm 121. For it registered to me that David could have been afforded a prophetic glimpse of Y’shua’s crucifixion when he looked at the hills. If that were the case, then David would have been accurate in seeing his help coming from the hills. For Y’shua, our Saviour, is our help. That’s what saviours do. They rescue people. His presence at Creation (read more in Genesis 1 and John 1), corroborates David’s argument that his help comes from YHWH, the Maker of Heaven and earth. It is by the catonine lashes on the journey to the cross that we are healed (see Isaiah 53), yet another form of help. Y’shua provides comfort to the weary (see Matthew 11:28-30) and provided us a full-time Comforter (see John 14:16, 26; and 15:26). He offers us eternity as long as we believe in Him (see John 3:15-17). Truly our help is Y’shua, Who came from God and was crucified on our behalf.
Again, the hills alone cannot capture the totality of Y’shua’s location. For He did not remain at Calvary. He was buried, He rose and He ascended into Heaven, where He intercedes for us at the right hand of God alongside God’s Spirit (see Romans 8:34). As believers, we don’t have to look very far to find Him anymore; for when we seek Him we ought to find Him in our hearts.
Point to Ponder
Are we intentionally seeking Y’shua in these times?
Self-Check
Do we find ourselves seeking Y’shua with all our hearts when we need help? Where do we look for Him, in our hearts orother places?
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May all we seek be found in Christ
