“He will not let your foot be moved. He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.”
– Psalm 121:3–4
Psalm 121:3–4 is an awesome reality that we are reminded of literally every single day. Or at least we should think about every single day. Or at least we’re reminded of in our lives, we need to remember this at the same time about God. So every single day, you and I require sleep. There’s been times, there are days when I’ve gone without sleep, but it’s been clear that I need sleep. And the same is true with you. Even if you try to pull an all nighter and stay up, at some point you need to lay down and go to sleep.
Psalm 121:3–4 Reminds Us God Does Not Sleep
We require sleep every single day of our lives, but the One who sustains us does not. We will go to sleep tonight, but God does not sleep or slumber.
And it’s a pretty humbling thing, isn’t it? Think about it, God didn’t have to create us this way. God did not have to create us such that every night our bodies are totally worn down. We have to lay down like a sack of potatoes and go unconscious for a number of hours in order to recharge and go again. God made us in such a way that we have to sleep. It’s a pretty humbling thing.
And you know what happens while we sleep? God keeps going. He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. So you and I can run frantically through this life trying to get all these things done like the world will fall apart if we don’t do these things. But every single day for hours, we are laying down and apparently the world goes on. It’s a pretty humbling thing that we are creatures who must sleep. And it brings us to yet one more difference between us and our creator because he never sleeps and this is really good news.
When you and I lay our heads down at night, we can fall asleep knowing that the one who sustains all things and the one who holds all things together. And the one who loves us and is committed to caring for us and providing for us is working even while we are unconscious.
This Verse Leads Us to Praise God
Oh God, we praise you. You are so unlike us in so many ways. Yes, we are so thankful to be made in your image and to reflect you in all kinds of different ways. We praise you that you are working for us all day long. You’re providing us breath. You’re providing everything we need to live, to walk through whatever we’re experiencing during the day, you’re working on our behalf. And when we lay down at night, you’re working on our behalf. You never stopped working for the good of your people, for the glory of your name. You’re working all around the world for the accomplishment of your purposes.
So we just say in a fresh way today, a humbled before you by the fact that we will go to sleep tonight and you will not. All glory be to your name, the one who never slumbers and you never sleep. And we just say in a fresh way in this moment, we trust in you. We trust in you when we’re awake and we trust in you when we’re asleep. And we find all of our confidence in you, the one who never slumbers and never sleeps. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
FAQs
God gives us His full attention, for “he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep” (Psalm 121:4). God is not only compassionately watchful, He is sleepless! He does not need sleep and is always by our side. He guards us and will never doze off and let something disastrous happen.
What does "behold he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep" mean? ›
He that keepeth Israel — The Divine Being represents himself as a watchman, who takes care of the city and its inhabitants during the night-watches; and who is never overtaken with slumbering or sleepiness.
Who keeps Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps? ›
Psalm 121 1
My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
What is the meaning behind Psalm 121? ›
Psalm 121 thus provides words of assurance that if the faithful fix their eyes squarely on the source of their “help,” then the Lord, “the maker of heavens and earth,” who “does not slumber,” will indeed “guard, keep watch over, protect” and “be a shade.” If we take our eyes off of the source of our assuredness, when ...
What is the meaning of slumber in the Bible? ›
1. To sleep lightly to doze. He that keepth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. Ps. 121.
What does 121 3 mean? ›
He wilt not suffer thy foot to be moved. This is either an address of the psalmist to his own soul; or to any other good man, his friend and acquaintance, assuring of stability, and of final perseverance in grace to glory.
What is the difference between slumber and sleep? ›
Sleep means a body condition which naturally and physically rested within a certain period of time (6-8 hours) but not consistently. At certain hours during the rest occurs a dream that can disturb the rest. Slumber is a body condition that is really inactive and unresponsive (deep sleep) for some time.
Who in the Bible could not sleep? ›
Esther 6 1
That night the king could not sleep; so he ordered the book of the chronicles, the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him.
Where in the Bible does it say God never sleeps? ›
Psalms 121:4-5 TPT
He will never slumber nor sleep; he is the Guardian-God for his people, Israel. YAHWEH himself will watch over you; he's always at your side to shelter you safely in his presence.
Who wrote Psalm 121 and why? ›
Others call it the traveller's psalm (for there is nothing in it of military dangers) and think David penned it when he was going abroad, and designed it pro vehiculo—for the carriage, for a good man's convoy and companion in a journey or voyage.
Many readers of Psalm 121 have connected it with life's journey — or at least with life's journeys. A friend of mine always leads his family in reciting Psalm 121 when they depart on a journey. Another friend loves this psalm because it speaks words of promise about God's providence and protection on life's journey.
What does the sun shall not smite thee by day mean? ›
However, in this verse the travelers express their confidence that God would not allow them to experience ill effects from the daytime or the nighttime because of the Lord's watchful care. This confidence is partly literal; these "songs of ascent" were used by pilgrims traveling to Jerusalem for feasts.
What is the meaning of the Lord bless you and keep you? ›
The Lord Bless You and Keep You explores this benediction to discover the important connection between a person's face and the face of God―finding that through faces, God shines the light of the gospel upon his people and offers his grace, goodness, and blessing to those who believe in him.
What is the sermon of Psalm 121 3? ›
Psalm 121:3–4 Reminds Us God Does Not Sleep
We require sleep every single day of our lives, but the One who sustains us does not. We will go to sleep tonight, but God does not sleep or slumber. And it's a pretty humbling thing, isn't it? Think about it, God didn't have to create us this way.
What is the meaning of let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice? ›
David says, "Let all who seek Thee rejoice and be glad in Thee." What this means is that if you seek the Lord, you should rejoice and be glad in the Lord. The Lord is like a treasure. You seek treasure. If you find it, you rejoice and are glad.
