Wakeful Watcher
Fresh joy for your journey.
When your world feels dark and silent, do you ever wonder if God is still paying attention? Do you ever feel like you are unseen in your pain? Because help is deferred, you conclude that God is disinterested in your life — or worse, he has forgotten you. I think we would all say we have had these thoughts. Our hearts know better, but sometimes when the pressures are so great and the rescue is delayed it can cause us to look elsewhere for help. How can we remind ourselves that we have a wakeful watcher when our world is crumbling around us?
Last week, we looked at Psalm 121:1-2. We saw how tempting it is for us to go to people, places, or things for help instead of setting our gaze higher on the Maker of heaven and earth. The rest of this psalm seeks to answer that question in practical ways. How is the Maker of heaven and earth our help? Why should we keep our eyes lifted above the hills to the one who made the hills? Psalm 121:1-2 showed us the Source of our Help. Today’s verses describe our Source of Help as a Vigilant Protector.
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
Notice the repeated words in these verses. ‘Keep’ and ‘sleep’ are an important part of the psalmists description of our Helper being a Vigilant Protector. The word ‘keep’ actually appears six times in this psalm! It emphasizes God’s vigilant, constant and personal care. This word is used 460 times in the OT!!! Anytime we see a word repeated like that, it’s a clue for us to pay attention, to lean into that word and discover what it means for us.
The Hebrew word for ‘keep’ (shamar) is rich in meaning and significance. It is often associated with covenant language. For example:
“Therefore you shall keep (shamar) the commandments...” (Deuteronomy 7:11)
God "shamar"s His covenant and expects His people to "shamar" His word.
Here are some core meanings of this word “shamar”:
To keep/watch/guard/protect – Like a watchman over a city or a shepherd over sheep.
To observe – Especially used in the context of observing God’s commandments.
To preserve – In the sense of maintaining or safeguarding something valuable.
It carries the idea of hedging about as with thorns. Let that one sink in for a minute.
In Psalm 121, the use of "shamar" gives us a picture of God, not as a distant deity, but as a personal, guarding presence, highly involved in our lives — attentive day and night. It’s not just about physical protection, but a loving attentiveness. Think of the example of a parent watching over a child or a shepherd diligently guarding his flock. It’s a protective love.
We will see this word ascend in this psalm. We see it rise from the keeping of our body and soul, to our daily life (coming in and going out) and even into eternity (from now and forevermore). The Psalms of Ascents depict an upward, stair-like journey. The same is true of this verse in not only our Keeper, but also in the repetition of the word ‘sleep’.
Wakeful Watcher
The word for ‘sleep’ shows up three times in these verses. The psalmist is describing our Keeper as greater than any god or guard. He goes far beyond what any human could perform in this area of protection whether it be a mother, a shepherd, or a guard. Humans grow tired. We fall asleep on duty. If you are a mother, you know exactly what this feels like. Your willpower is strong to stay awake watching over a sick child or worrying over a wayward child, but our body overtakes us at some point and we find ourself dozing off. This never happens to our Vigilant Protector.
With these key words in mind, let’s break these verses down line-by-line.
He will not let your foot be moved. This sentence hinges on everything that came before it in verses 1-2. When we look to the “hills” for help (to people, places, or things) our foundation is shaky. If all of our hope is in a person, that foundation can be moved or shaken. This phrase is implying that the Maker of heaven and earth would never let you slip, waver, or totter. When our foundation is Jesus, our future is secure. This foundation is immovable. It’s why we can confidently “cast our cares on him.”
Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. - Psalm 55:22
He who keeps you will not slumber. Our Keeper never slumbers. This sentence and the next move in steps upward. The word slumber in the Old Testament can refer to “drowsiness, inactivity, neglect, or even death”. Our Keeper watches over us without feeling tired or neglecting us. When we sense what we think is inactivity, it is really his hidden activity and watchfulness.
Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The word ‘behold’ should cause us to pause. We need to pay attention. The psalmist is emphasizing the importance of this next statement. In case we ever wonder in our trials if he is still watchful, we need look no further than his keeping of Israel throughout the Old Testament. Through many trials, toils, and snares he brought a whole people out. Setting his affection on a people, calling them out of slavery into the Promised Land, through deep waters and dry deserts he kept them. Even in captivity and their constant sin patterns, through judgment and hope — he was preserving a remnant. When we doubt his care for us as an individual, we need to remember his care for an entire people.
God Is Not Dead
If our Savior has the power to preserve an entire people for hundreds of years, how much more would he keep us through our struggles and battles. He doesn’t require sleep. He doesn’t dose off. He isn’t inattentive. He does not neglect us. He is actively involved in our keeping in a very personal way. Not only does he not grow tired or sleepy, but he never dies. Again, we see this ascension to a higher plain, from never sleeping to never dying. This truly sets him apart as our Vigilant Protector
It’s as if it’s saying what the Christmas song “I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day” states:
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: God is not dead, nor doth He sleep.
He is not dead. He is alive. Our Keeper is Jesus. Something to keep in mind as we go through the psalms is to look for glimpses of Jesus in the psalms.
Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. - Romans 8:34
Because he was raised, he never ceases to vigilantly protect us, forever interceding for us. Let THAT be your comfort next time you feel forgotten in your pain. See him interceding for you, vigilantly protecting your soul. Always awake. Always alive. Always living to intercede for you.
Joy In Action
Here are some very practical ways to put in action the truths we discovered in Psalm 121:3-4:
Start your day by reading Psalm 121 aloud. Before checking your phone or reacting to life’s demands, lift your eyes to the One who made heaven and earth.
Write down your current worries and intentionally pray, “Lord, I lift this to You because You are my Keeper.” “I put this in your keeping, because you are my keeper.”
Set a recurring reminder on your phone that says: “God is watching over me—He does not slumber or sleep.” Let that truth interrupt your stress or fear during the day.
Before going to sleep, thank God specifically for His watch over you while you rest. End your night by creating a “God’s Keeping” journal. List moments throughout the day when God protected, guided or strengthened you.
Psalm 121:3–4 beautifully portrays God as the ultimate Guardian—never sleeping, always keeping watch. What an amazing truth to keep before us!
Christian Life Coaching
As a Christian life coach, my heart is to help you grow in the God-given confidence that comes from knowing who you are in Christ. True confidence isn’t about striving or self-promotion—it’s about humbly submitting to God, trusting His plans, and walking boldly in the identity He’s given you. As you draw near to Him and resist the lies of the enemy, you’ll begin to see transformation not just in how you see yourself, but in how you show up in the world. Together, we’ll uncover what’s holding you back, align your steps with God’s truth, and walk forward in faith—anchored, equipped, and empowered by His Spirit. Begin your journey today.
