Joy develops in the Christian way of discipleship by trusting and feeling good about what God has done — not what you have done!

Since the maker of heaven and earth is (through Christ) our help, we will not fear (verse 8). What could be against us (Romans 8:31)?

Believers feel the pain of the world’s contempt (verses 3–4). How do we keep from either adopting its views or becoming resentful and withdrawn?

What Jerusalem was to the ancient Jews the church is to believers in Christ. When we come to faith in Christ, we become citizens in the heavenly Jerusalem (Hebrews 12:22–24; Philippians 3:20).

Psalm 121 calls us to not look towards creation for comfort or help but rather — and always — to the Creator who guards us and keeps us from evil.

It is in our utter dissatisfaction, disenfranchisement, and dismay with the world’s narrative of events that we ultimately take up the path of a ‘long obedience in the same direction’ towards Jesus!

God’s response to human pride and power is to install his “son” on Zion. This points beyond Israel’s king to Jesus, God’s true Son.

“Prayers are tools.” But there’s one important clarification: “Prayers are not tools for doing or getting [as we’re used to in our Western culture], but for being and becoming."

Jesus says that the wise person not only listens to his words [in ‘The Sermon’], but obeys them. When they do, their ‘house’ is built on the rock and survives the storm.