Our Source of Help

“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills. from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: He that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. Behold, He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.” –Psalm 121:1-4 (KJV)

I grew up in the mountains of North Georgia. The lay of the land there has a strong hold in my way of life and appreciation. I am awed even after the many years of seeing the sweep of mountains in their majesty at the beauty and wonder of the blue ridges.

In Israel long ago the people looked up to the mountains in portions of that land and were also amazed at the captivating scenery. But the Psalmist also had another deep and thought-provoking intention behind this psalm that declares that he will life up his eyes to the hills. Sometimes on the steep slopes, neighbors to the Israelites who were pagan in their beliefs would erect shrines to idols. Upon seeing these, the God-fearing and faithful Israelite psalmist declared that he would look to the hills but proclaim that his help is from the Lord. His help came not from any false belief in idols. His protection also came from the Lord because He would not allow him to stumble.

This weekend has been an event which many of my extended family enjoys. We gather in the hills of North Georgia, at a church between the two highest peaks in Georgia, Brasstown Bald and Blood Mountain. Our ancestors settled in valleys between these mountains in the 1830’s and descendants have lived there since. Those kinsman who live away now enjoy going back for our annual large family gathering. Our Dyer-Souther Family Reunion in a sense is a restatement of values that have been dear to many generations. We greet each other with love and we seek by our spoken word and our lives lived in God’s precepts to declare “My help cometh from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.” We tell each other how the Lord has preserved and helped us since the previous year. And we leave the reunion with renewed hope, knowing that “The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.” (Psalm 121:8, KJV). –Ethelene Dyer Jones 07.19.2015