God offers advice at night during the darkest hours, and the writer shall not be moved because he has confidence in gods ability to stay by his side forever. Psalms 121, new international version niv the bible app. Psalm 121 is a treasure of promise for the suffering believer, whose help comes from the lord verse 2. Therefore, the peace sought by the speaker of psalm 120 and the hope sought in the protection of yhwh of psalm 121 find their answer in the journey toward jerusalem of psalm 122. Psalm 121 kjv i will lift up mine eyes unto the bible gateway. To god be all the glory, honor, thanksgiving and praises, amen. Comments on the book of psalms chapter 121 from the king james bible online. The notes explain some of the words with a star by them. This is my assurance that this bible verses applies to me, my family, and all those i pray for each and everyday. Oct 20, 20 the respondent further declares that the lord will not slumber and will not be asleep verses 34. Your catholic voice foundation has been granted a recognition of tax. Four of them ps 122, 124, 1 and 3 are linked in their ascriptions to david, and one. In various analyses, this observation is a con stant.
Psalms 121 the whole chapter is god s promise forever to all those that love him and do his will. No help comes from anywhere else but from the eternal hills. Psalms with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of catholic online is strictly forbidden and prohibited. The lord watches over you the lord is your shade at your right hand. The singer of this psalm looked to the hills, likely the distant hills of. David livingstone, the famous missionary and explorer of the continent of africa, read psalm 121 and psalm 5, which praises god for his sovereign rule over all things, as. Psalms 121 commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. Perhaps some internal connexion might be traced between all the fifteen psalms of degrees. There is an ascent in the psalm itself which rises to the greatest elevation of restful. The sleeping deity is a literary motif found in numerous texts in the ancient near east.
This psalm fits well against the backdrop of a pilgrimage for it is concerned with the uncertainties one faces on such a journey. The psalmist with the eye of faith could see it coming, so he watched its approach. Psalms 121 commentary spurgeons verse expositions of the bible. The hymnal of israel, book v psalms 107150 previous page next page psalm 121 bible commentary on the book of psalms, chapter 121, by. It is several steps in advance of its predecessor, for it tells of the peace of gods house, and the guardian care of the lord, while psalm 120 bemoans the departure of peace from the good mans abode, and his exposure to the venomous assaults of slanderous tongues. Statements of confidence in gods protection and declarations of gods faithful character dominate psalm 121. Psalm 121 the lord is your keeper introduction psalms 1204 are each labeled as a song of ascent. Let us lift up our eyes, therefore, hopefully expecting help from the hills. After personally celebrating yahwehs guardianship in verses 12, the psalmist turns to give assurance to others in verses 38.
In the greek septuagint version of the bible, and in the latin vulgate, this psalm is. The adjoining of psalm 121 with psalm 122 highlights this connection. Psalms 121 commentary matthew henry commentary on the. Geneva study bible commentary on psalms chapter 121. The beginning in the english, in the king james version, is i will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. Psalms chapter 121 comments page 10 king james version. Perhaps some internal connexion might be traced between all. Catholic online is a project of your catholic voice foundation, a notforprofit corporation. Bible commentary on the book of psalms, chapter 121, by dr. Journeys tend to be significant times for those who take them. I repeat this chapter over and over to remind myself that god s love is real and is unconditional, without him i would not have made it this far. Read psalms 121 commentary using matthew henry commentary on the whole bible complete. Ps 121 is the second song of a series of songs called song of ascents that begin in the last chapter, psalms 120.
They are also variously called gradual psalms, songs of degrees, songs of steps or pilgrim songs. These statements and declarations appear together as a liturgy, as indicated by the shift in voices throughout the psalm. As jews made pilgrimages to jerusalem, these are the songs sung while traveling the roads slowly leading up to jerusalem, culminating in their arrival at the temple. We must not rely upon men and means, instruments and second causes.
If you want to accept jesus as your personal lord and savior and enjoy the benefits of the bible fully, please pray this prayer, lord j. The desire and hope of the just for the coming of the kingdom of god, and the peace of his church. This, with the remainder of the psalm, seems to be of the nature of an answer to the anxious question in psalm 121. The respondent further declares that the lord will not slumber and will not be asleep verses 34. Psalms 122 chapter 121 some call this the soldiers psalm, and think it was penned in the camp, when david was hazarding his life in the high places of the field, and. A prayer and 5 truths from psalm 121 debbie mcdaniel christian blog and commentary on crosswalk. Hirsch emphasizes that god watching over us includes not only keeping us physically safe but also morally and psychicallyspiritually as well that we not be infected by outside forces. Psalms 121 verses 18 speaks to me as a matter of fact psalms 121 verse 18 are my favorite. I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. Alexander went to sleep, he said, because parmenio watched. Thou mayest slumber, for thou art frail, but he is a watchman to whose eyes sleep never comes. David guzik commentary on psalm 121, which is another song of ascents, declaring the secure. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved he will enable you to stand firm. My help comes from the lord,the maker of heaven and earth.
He has proven his word to me over and over again, i shall serve him for the rest of my days. This is the second of the series of psalms titled, a song of ascents. Thomas benton, in annotations on the book of job and the psalms, 1732. This is the second of the series of psalms which are titled a song of ascents. As a song sung by travelers, this is particular relevant for its trust in god through the journey.
The right hand is always a biblical symbol of ones power and strength. It moves naturally from the need for help verses 12, to the promise of gods protection verses 38. Psalms 12 an introduction to the psalms summary these psalms together announce what it takes to be happy as a child of god 1. Psalm 121, joan stott, prayers and meditations based on lectionary psalms, 2011. Psalms chapter 121 king james version of the holy bible. Your catholic voice foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under section 501c3 of the internal revenue code. I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills to zion and moriah, called the holy mountains, psalm 87. Shade to keep thee from the burning heat of the sun. The last and highest degree of this song is attained in ps 121. Psalms 121 verses 18 speaks to me as a matter of fact psalms 121 verse 18 are my. Feb 04, 2017 ps 121 is the second song of a series of songs called song of ascents that begin in the last chapter, psalms 120. The book of psalms is the first and main book of the third part of the hebrew bible, of the writings hebr. Matthew henrys bible commentary concise read all of psalm 121 complete concise.
Hills to sion and moriah, which are called the holy mountains. The speaker declares that god is not confined to a place or a time, that every step is guarded ps 121. It begins with an acknowledgment of god as creator and ends with a declaration of personal trust in his providential care. Psalm 121 is part of a group of psalms psalms 1204 placed together for that purpose.
Going to jerusalem is a good thing because the house of yhwh and the throne of david are there. A pilgrimage reading of psalm 121 167 dialogue within the pilgrims inner self, or an antiphonal song between pilgrims, or between a pilgrim and someone giving blessing,19 there is clearly a shift from the first person to the third person at verse 3. Some call this the soldiers psalm, and think it was penned in the camp, when david was hazarding his life in the high places of the field, and thus trusted god to cover his head in the day of battle. The lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore. Gods constant presence is a major assertion throughout the book of psalms. He will not let your foot slip he who watches over you will not slumber. Commentary on psalms 121 by matthew henry blue letter bible. An easyenglish translation with notes about 1200 word vocabulary on psalm 121. Scholars see psalms 1 and 2 as a deliberate psalm pair, meant to introduce the entire psalter with important themes. I lift up my eyes to the mountains where does my help come from. In other places in the book of psalms, the psalm singers call on the lord to awaken psalms 7. Psalm 121 is one of fifteen songs of ascents psalms 1204 that were sung at three annual festival processions as the israelite pilgrims ascended to jerusalem to worship god. Psalms 7 clearly refers to the babylonian captivity.
My help comes from the lord, the maker of heaven and earth. Psalms 121 commentary spurgeons verse expositions of. Verse 1b, should probably be retranslated as a question, which is quite permissible. Psalms 122 chapter 121 some call this the soldiers psalm, and think it was penned in the camp, when david was hazarding his life in the high places of the field, and thus trusted god to cover his head in the day of battle. The hymnal of israel, book v psalms 107150 previous page next page psalm 121 bible commentary on the book of psalms, chapter 121, by dr. Psalms, chapter 121 king james version christian answers.
The spirit, who is their preserver and comforter, shall abide with them for ever. A word list at the end explains all the words that have a star. Some call this the soldiers psalm, and think it was penned in the camp, when david was hazarding his life in the high places of the field, and thus trusted god to cover. Psalms 121 hebrew english translation massoretic text mt. Text of psalm 121 according to the 1928 psalter psalms chapter 121 text in hebrew and english. According to many researchers it was ezra, the priest and scribe, himself who completed the final collection of the psalms ezra 3. Psalms 121 commentary albert barnes notes on the whole bible. In the greek septuagint version of the bible, and in the latin vulgate, this psalm is psalm 120 in a slightly different numbering system. As a song sung by travelers, this is particularly relevant for the trust placed in god through the journey.