Psalm 121 commentary on the book

Psalm 121 highlights a point made many other places in scripture, that the lord is maker of heaven and earth, the only one who gives and sustains life. In latin, it is known as levavi oculos meos in montes. I will lift up my eyes to the hills from whence comes my help. Psalms 121 commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole.

The author david is wrestling with an issue in his mind and he works through it for all of us to see and learn from his example. Study the bible online using commentary on psalms 121 and. A word list at the end explains all the words that have a star. God not only keeps his own in all evil times but from all evil influences and operations, yea, from evils themselves. Oct 20, 20 the sleeping deity is a literary motif found in numerous texts in the ancient near east. Psalms 121 commentary spurgeons verse expositions of. Psalm chapter 121 matthew henry complete commentary on. It certainly does not give the impression that godat any timelets his mind wander, unaware of what is happening in. Notes on psalm cxxi this appears to be a prayer of the jews in their captivity, who are solicitous for their restoration. Psalm 121 is a treasure of promise for the suffering believer, whose help comes from the lord verse 2. My help comes from the lord, who made heaven and earth.

The book of psalms introduction bible commentaries. An integrated digital bible study library including complete notes from the believers bible commentary and the cultural backgrounds study bible niv and nrsv is just a step away. In the greek septuagint version of the bible, and in the latin vulgate, this psalm is psalm 120 in a slightly different numbering system. Psalms 121 commentary john gills exposition on the. Spurgeon had high praise for alexanders work writing that it occupies a first place among expositions. The change in personal pronouns between verses 12 imy and verses 38 youyour may signal a dialogue between pilgrims or groups of pilgrims. An easyenglish translation with notes about 1200 word vocabulary on psalm 121. The best guess is that these psalms were collected to be used in conjunction with a pilgrimage to jerusalem. I have known this psalm from childhood and it continues to be powerful everyday even as i age. I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. Historically, this title has created a plethora of interpretations and approaches to this collection of psalms, but recent scholarship has come to a general. The adjoining of psalm 121 with psalm 122 highlights this connection. Matthew henrys bible commentary concise read all of psalm 121 complete concise. Psalms 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.

There is a possibility, depending on how many speakers there are in this psalm, that in ps. The words of psalm 121, stand in sharp contrast to the texts accusing god of sleeping and thus not paying attention to the cries of the psalm singer. The assurance rises from the particular to the general. The psalm is the second in a collection of 15 psalms with essentially the same title. This is my assurance that this bible verses applies to me, my family, and all those i pray for each and everyday. If you travelled from home to jerusalem, you would go through dangerous places. Walking this path would mean a potential encounter with the likes of. This is a lesson in the book of psalms youth sermonlink series. A prayer and 5 truths from psalm 121 debbie mcdaniel christian blog and commentary on crosswalk. The notes explain some of the words with a star by them.

Psalm 121 how god helps you in tough times students jump to questions. Jan 27, 2012 psalm 121 is a treasure of promise for the suffering believer, whose help comes from the lord verse 2. The person who worships god speaks the two first verses, i will lift up mine eyesmy help 121. Mar 20, 2011 therefore, the heading of psalm 121 may indicate that the psalm was used by pilgrims traveling to jerusalem for one of the three yearly festivals deuteronomy 16. In other words, this book will help you achieve both halves of the interpretive task. I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills to zion and moriah, called the holy mountains, psalm 87. Read psalms 121 commentary using matthew henry commentary on the whole bible complete. 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. The story of psalm 121 is in the note on psalm 120. After personally celebrating yahwehs guardianship in verses 12, the psalmist turns to give assurance to others in verses 38. Psalm 121 is wellsuited for the joy of pilgrimage through advent on the way to easter. Commentary on psalm 121 psalm 121 is classified as a psalm of confidence meant to celebrate gods providential care and is the second psalm in the songs of ascent 429, which begin with psalm 120. Now this psalm 121 being one of the songs of degrees, was probably composed to be sung on the way to jerusalem, as a pilgrim hymn, when the israelites were coming up annually to keep the three great feasts.

Psalm 121 encourages pilgrims braving dangerous roads to. Psalms 121 commentary, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this versebyverse commentary contain gems of information found nowhere outside the ancient jewish writings. I lift up my eyes to the mountains where does my help come from. I lift up my eyes to the hills from where will my help come. This theme is carried through the four strophes, and uses a poetic technique frequently employed in the songs of ascent, called anadiplosis. David guzik commentary on psalm 121, which is another song of ascents, declaring the secure help we have in god, who keeps us. The title of psalm 121 reads a song of ascents niv. Free bible commentary on the book of psalms in easy english. Psalm 121 how god helps you in tough times students.

Dec 18, 2015 the adjoining of psalm 121 with psalm 122 highlights this connection. I will have an eye to the special presence of god in his church, and with his people, and from thence i will expect help. 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. Such a journey should be made in full recognition of false gods all around who compete for our devotion. He that keepeth israel, that keepeth thee, o israelite. 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. Psalms 121 commentary, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this commentary, spanning 23 volumes, covered the entire bible with verse by verse exposition. Psalms 121 commentary john gills exposition on the whole bible. If that be so, we get an appropriate background and setting for the expressions and emotions of this psalm. Authors have called 121 the psalm for the journey of life, and the psalm for sojourners, because of the comfort of its promises as. My help comes from the lord, the maker of heaven and earth.

The new international commentary on the old testament. The ministering priest answers him, he will not suffer thy foot to be. This journey was dangerous, and we see that reflected in the opening words of the psalm. Once we recognize that the psalmist uses hills as an image of a problem to a pilgrim, we easily understand the rest of the psalm as an encouragement to those on a spiritual pilgrimage to the kingdom of god. This is the second of the series of psalms which are titled a song of ascents. God is our machseh, a word translated as dwelling place or refuge depending on the translation e.

Psalm 121 commentary by jerome creach working preacher. The speaker declares that god is not confined to a place or a time ps 121. The psalm is located in a group of psalms psalms 1204 placed together for that purpose. The sleeping deity is a literary motif found in numerous texts in the ancient near east. Gladys adjeipoku on psalms 121 this psalm has been my support in times of need when i am fasting, asking god for deliverance, guidance and protection from fears and work of the enemy. The psalm divides naturally into two verse groups12, 34, 56, 78. Matthew henry commentary on psalms 121 read all of psalm 121 complete concise.

God the help of those who seek him a song of ascents. Youll get this book and many others when you join bible gateway plus. Psalms 121 verses 18 speaks to me as a matter of fact psalms 121 verse 18 are my favorite. Psalm 121 was sung by the ancient israelites as they made the long journey to jerusalem. In step with the psalms psalm 121 inductive discovery lesson 17 the picture david paints for the reader in psalm 121 is from the vantage point of standing in the jericho valley, some twelve hundred feet below sea level, gazing upward to the mountains surrounding jerusalem. Psalm 121 encourages pilgrims braving dangerous roads to jerusalem. We must not rely upon men and means, instruments and second causes. It certainly does not give the impression that godat any timelets his mind wander, unaware of what is happening in his childrens lives. In verse 5, the psalm singer is assured that the lord is a shade tsel.

Tehillim psalms chapter 121 tanakh online torah bible. He declares the nature of gods guarding role in verse 34. Going to jerusalem is a good thing because the house of yhwh and the throne of david are there. It is a clear and judicious explanation of the text, and cannot be dispensed with. The lord watches over you the lord is your shade at your right hand. The issue that david is struggling with is in the last line of the last verse of psalm 12. Aben ezra thinks it was composed on account of israel, when in a siege and distress. Behold, he who keeps israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

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. Dwellers in valleys are subject to many disorders for which there is no cure but a sojourn in the uplands, and it is well when they shake off their lethargy and resolve upon a climb. Psalms 121 commentary matthew henry commentary on the. My help comes from the l ord, who made heaven and earth. Psalm 121 commentary by nancy declaissewalford working. The inscription of the syriac version is, one of the songs of ascent out of babylon. The fourth book opens with the psalm of moses and emphasizes the time when all restlessness and wanderings will be finished, and the peoples of the earth will bow before god and his messiah. I will lift up mine eyesexpresses desire compare psa 25. As a journeying psalm, it would therefore have peculiar significance in its allusion to the keeper by night. It is a great pity that our admirable translation did not keep to the word keep all through the psalm, for all along it is one. Psalm 121 a blessing given to someone embarking on a dangerous journey whether a soldier going on a campaign or a pilgrim returning home from the temple. 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.

World wide study bible psalms 121 christian classics. Psalms 121 commentary spurgeons verse expositions of the bible. The socalled songs of degrees, of which this psalm is one, are usually, and with great probability, attributed to the times of the exile. Psalm 121 is the 121st psalm of the book of psalms. Psalm 121 commentary by rolf jacobson working preacher. Thomas benton, in annotations on the book of job and the psalms, 1732. As a song sung by travelers, this is particularly relevant for the trust placed in god through the journey. Psalm 91, which affirms many of the same things as psalm 121, uses many images and metaphors to describe gods protection and care. Study the bible online using commentary on psalms 121 and more. 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. It is not one israelite alone over whom god will watch unceasingly, but the whole people of israel.