Where does your help come from? And maybe the more honest question — where do you actually go for help?
In this episode of More Than a Song, Jon Reddick’s “Holding On (Praise God)” leads us to Psalm 121 and a question that won’t let go. We’ll take an honest inventory of where we look for help, draw a line between trusting someone and trusting IN them, and then land in John 6, where Jesus corrects a crowd that had quietly given Moses the credit for something only God ever did.
Key Points
- Psalm 121 is the second of the fifteen Songs of Ascent, and all three theories about their original purpose end in the same place — drawing nearer to God
- Scripture answers “where does my help come from,” but we still have to answer “where do I go for help”
- Trusting someone evaluates a trait, an outcome, or a capability. Trusting IN someone anchors your overall confidence in who they are
- Spiritual authority deserves honor, but holding the title of shepherd doesn’t guarantee being a good one (Ezekiel 34:4)
- The drift from trusting to trusting IN happens for recognizable reasons — they’re in front of you, they’re dynamic, you’ve connected with them, or your faith tradition taught you to
- The crowd in John 6 demands a sign the day after the feeding of the five thousand, and quotes a psalm that exposes the very unbelief they’re displaying
- Jesus’ correction does two things: he reveals himself as the true bread of life, AND he reclaims the credit for the manna from Moses
- Exodus 16 shows the mirror image — the people aimed their grumbling at Moses, and God said that grumbling was aimed at Him
- Moses was the conduit in both directions, and the destination in neither
- The Word changes the reader over time, which is exactly why we extend grace to believers who haven’t seen it yet
- Your help can come through the body of Christ. It comes from the Lord.
Scriptures Referenced
- Psalm 121:1–2
- Psalm 78:68–69
- Psalm 78:18–24
- Ezekiel 34:4
- John 6:28–29
- John 6:30–31
- John 6:32
- Exodus 16:3
- Exodus 16:4
- Exodus 16:8
BITEs (Bible Interaction Tool Exercises)
Try these BITEs as you explore the Scripture for yourself this week:
- Review the section titles – get your bearings in an unfamiliar chapter by scanning the headings (remember, they’re study tools, not Scripture)
- Read in context – read the chapter before, the chapter, and the chapter after your focus area
- Follow the cross-reference – John 6:31 sends you to Exodus 16, and the “as it is written” quote sends you to Psalm 78
- Read the entire psalm – a small habit that leads to interacting with a lot more Scripture
- Compare and contrast – hold the manna in the wilderness next to Jesus, the bread of life, and notice what’s different
- Consult an outside resource – I used the Study Assistant in Logos to learn about the Songs of Ascent
It’s not semantics. It’s giving credit to a servant of God for the things of God.
Enjoy the official music video below.
More Than a Song Playlist
Additional Resources
- Download the free Episode Guide
- The story behind the song “Holding On (Praise God)” by Jon Reddick – Air1 Article
- Bible Interaction Roadmap Bible Study – videos and assignments that will equip you with habits you can use over and over in your own Bible Study – Learn More
- Learn more about my favorite Bible Study Software with a 30-day free trial and links to my favorite Bible resources – Logos Bible Software Affiliate Link
This Week’s Challenge
Read Exodus 16 in its entirety, keeping your antenna up for who the people are grumbling against and what God says about it. Then follow the cross-reference to Psalm 78 and read the whole psalm. Compare and contrast the manna with Jesus, the bread of life, in John 6. And then the harder part — listen to your own words this week. When you talk about your church, your pastor, your small group, your mentor, notice where you’re putting the credit. Have you drifted from trusting to trusting IN? Be sure to use the Episode Guide to help with all of this!
📥 Download the free Episode Guide: 👉 michellenezat.com/544download
