Psalm 121: God, my Source of Security

A song of ascents.

[Preliminary Comments: In this second psalm of ascents, the psalmist turns from rejecting the world [in the previous psalm] to declaring his trust in the Lord, a very practical trust because he knows the Lord is there for him to protect him wherever he is and whenever he is.]

v.1 Others looked to the ‘high places’ but is that where help really comes from?

v.1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains –
    where does my help come from?

v.2 No, real help only comes from God who is Creator of all things

v.2 My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.

v.3a God is for us and therefore will make us secure

v.3 He [i] will not let your foot slip –

v.3b,4 He watches over us vigilantly every moment of every day and night

    he [ii] who watches over you will not slumber;
v.4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

v.5,6 But His watching is not passive, it is protective

v.5 The Lord watches over you –
    the Lord [iii] is your shade at your right hand;
v.6 the sun will not harm you by day,
    nor the moon by night.

v.7,8 His protection is there for every aspect of our comings and goings of life

v.7 The Lord [iv] will keep you from all harm –
    he will watch over your life;
v.8 the Lord [v] will watch over your coming and going
    both now and for evermore.

[Additional Comments: Verse 1 hints at the trust that others put in gods they worshipped at the high places in the hills but, by contrast the psalmist knows that security only comes from the Living God, the all-powerful Creator of all things, who will be there for him providing stability, security and protection at all times wherever he is. A song declaring total confidence in the One he is going to meet.

After perhaps going back and meditating on individual verses, now read it meaningfully out loud straight through

1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains –
    where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot slip –
    he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord watches over you –
    the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day,
    nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord will keep you from all harm –
    he will watch over your life;
8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going
    both now and for evermore.

For those who may wish to make a study of this chapter, to perhaps think some more about what you have been reading, use the link below: