Psalm 121:3-4 says this about God’s guardianship over his people: “He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.”

I think that the psalm is alluding to a story from 1 Kings 18. There the prophet Elijah is in a showdown with the prophets of the false god Baal. They call out to him but he doesn’t respond. Verse 27 (ESV) says: “And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, “Cry aloud… Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.”

Elijah suggests that their “god” is asleep. Surely that is why he doesn’t do anything! But, of course, he’s mocking them; it’s because he is non-existent.

Let’s return to Psalm 121. When we are told that God never sleeps, I think this is an intentional contrast. Our God is alive and active, unlike the false god from 1 Kings 18.

But there’s still another nuance at work. False prophets deal in deception. They lead people away from truth and toward lies, and away from light and toward darkness. 

Therefore, one of the ways God helps his people is to direct them in the path of truth. If he didn’t do this, we would be easily swayed and destroyed. Richard Baxter wrote: “It is the grand design of the devil, in all his temptations, to deceive you, and keep you ignorant of your danger, till you feel the everlasting flames.”*

However, when you walk with God he guards you from deception and leads you in truth.

“He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.”

Brothers and sisters, trust his watchfulness. Be attentive to what he says. Rest in his guardianship. Ours is a God who never sleeps.

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Notes:

–*Richard Baxter, The Saints’ Everlasting Rest (London: The Religious Tract Society), 157.

–“God helps those who… ask for help.” Sermon on Psalm 121. Click here.

–Bible quotes are from the NIV.