Useful Bible Studies > Songs of Ascent Commentary
Last part: The plans that people make
An ancient city, like Jerusalem, had walls all round it. And each night, guards watched from the walls. They watched for thieves who might enter the city. And they watched for enemy armies who might attack the city. The guards did not sleep by night; they had to be ready to sound the alarm. If they did that, the inhabitants would wake to defend their city. (Compare Nehemiah 4:18-20.)
The guards had an important job to do. But it was not really them who kept the city safe. If God did not protect their city, they awoke in vain. But the people in Israel did not need to worry about their safety. Instead, they needed to trust God. God was Israel’s strong defender (Psalm 48). It was God who kept them safe.
Next part: The importance of rest and sleep
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© 2015, Keith Simons.