I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? (Psalm 121:1)

I love rhetorical questions. There’s literally NO chance in getting them wrong (unless you weren’t listening…)

Lift is a wonderful word in the Hebrew. It’s pretty common, but has some great translations: to carry, support, sustain, to take away, swept away, forgive, and desire. Look at this verse through these other definitions:

O may I be swept away to the hills.

May I find support in the hills.

My desire is in the hills.

Perhaps the most significant translation of this word is in the following:

Then the LORD passed by in front of him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; (Exodus 34:6-7a)

The LORD is slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, forgiving iniquity and transgression; (Numbers 14:18)

Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the rebellious act of the remnant of His possession? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in unchanging love. He will again have compassion on us; He will tread our iniquities under foot. Yes, You will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. (Micah 7:18-19)

When the Psalmist penned these words, he knew that there was forgiveness in these hills. But we see from the other meanings: deliverance was in these hills; shelter was in these hills; and the One Whom we love was in these hills. If you’re looking for help, you’ll find so much more.

So… where are you looking?

We must keep our eyes on Jesus, who leads us and makes our faith complete. (Hebrews 12:2 CEV)