STEP ONE: Study the Bible Passage

Psalms 120-134 are a group of psalms the Jewish pilgrims sang as they completed the last part of their journey up to Jerusalem to participate in religious festivals. The psalms are short and easy to memorize and they are all celebratory. Biblical scholars have noted that many of the fifteen psalms in this collection deal with routine life, things that were a part of the pilgrims’ daily lives. Psalm 121 was written about the journey itself, one that for many travelers would have taken multiple days of travel to complete, was physically demanding, and fraught with dangers. For protection for that journey, the psalmist asked, “From where does my help come?”

Psalm 121:1 As the psalmist moved along on a journey, he looked up at the mountains ahead of him. Scholars suggest two possibilities for what the mountain represents in the psalm. Some suggest that the mountain was Mount Zion and the Temple mount, so the psalmist responded in prayer and praise for God’s divine help. Others speculate that the mountains were those ahead at the beginning of the journey. Seeing the mountains and the rugged terrain ahead made the psalmist anxious as he considered the dangers ahead––rugged terrain, steep climbs, loose rocks, wild animals, robbers. To these dangers, the psalmist questioned how he would be safe along the journey. He found peace because he was confident in God’s help and guidance. Both scenarios are possibilities.

Psalm 121:2 The psalmist proclaimed that his security was found in the Lord (translated as YAHWEH). Yahweh is one of the names used in the Old Testament and is the only name that is personal. Some scholars trace the name to the name God gave to Moses––“I am.” Within the psalm, the psalmist pointed out these things he was confident in:

  1. The Lord is his Creator, who made heaven and earth (v. 2).
  2. The Lord is his Guide, who watches over his steps to make sure he is safe on the journey (v. 3).
  3. The Lord is his Guardian, who watches vigilantly over him day and night without sleeping and who is never idle (“slumber”) (v. 3).
  4. The Lord is his Keeper, who provides refuge and rest on the journey (v. 5).
  5. The Lord is his Defender, who defends him from danger during the day and at night (v. 6).
  6. The Lord is his Protector, who protects him from evil (v. 7).
  7. The Lord’s protection is forever, even throughout eternity (v. 8).

As the psalmist reflected on God’s protection in his life, he focused on God who “made heaven and earth” (v. 2b). This statement reflects God’s sovereignty “over all realms: heaven and earth, thereby excluding any claims by pagan deities. Yahweh alone is God. The sole source of ‘help’ comes from Yahweh, who, as Creator, has unlimited power.”1 Further, the psalmist pointed out God’s power, both personally and celestially, by referring to “my help” from the One who created both “heaven and earth.”2

Psalm 121:3 In verses 3-4, the psalmist pointed out how complete God’s help is through using three negative statements: (1) He will not let your foot be moved; (2) He . . . will not slumber; (3) He . . . will neither slumber nor sleep. The negative statements bring about positive effects, which are given in verses 5, 7-8. These negative statements speak to God as the Guardian of both the psalmist and individual followers of God, and to the nation of Israel as well.3 In verse 3a, the words “not let your foot be moved” can be understood that God would not allow the psalmist to slip or stumble along the path.

Psalm 121:3b-4 The psalmist then reflected on God’s watchful care. First, the psalmist compared the proof of God’s sovereignty to that of the pagan gods who needed “to recreate, eat, or sleep”4 Rather, Yahweh is always available, always watching, and always ready to “help” (v. 2a). In fact, the word “slumber” was possibly used metaphorically to record that God is never idle. Second, the psalmist recorded God’s watching to mean that Yahweh would never stop watching over the nation of Israel and the people within it.

Psalm 121:5-6 Beginning in verse 5, the psalmist made three emphatic statements beginning with “The Lord” and including “keep” or “keeper” as he reflected on being kept in God’s personal watchful care. Each of the statements expand what is included within God’s “keep” or protection––He protects individually, He protects against evil, and He will protect now and forever.

In the first statement (v. 5), the psalmist used the metaphor of travel to document what God’s protection looks like. Journeys were difficult at best, under the hot, possibly deadly, sun and across arid landscapes. For the ancient, even traveling under the light of the moon could be dangerous. Therefore, the psalmist used the metaphor of traveling under God’s shadow or shade to provide a picture of God’s constant, caring, and watchful protection for His followers. The image of the shadow illustrates having complete dependence on God.5

Psalm 121:7-8 In verse 7, the psalmist moved his attention from being under God’s watch in the present to the future. Because God is sovereign, He is over all realms, including His followers’ lives, and can, therefore, provide protection against evil. Furthermore, God’s protection will stay with His followers forever. “No place, no time, no circumstance will be able to separate the psalmist from God’s loving care.”6 

Three key statements about God can be pulled from this passage:

As you prepare to teach, consider how these three statements about God should impact the way we pray to Him.

1 Frank E. Gaebelein, gen. ed, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, vol. 5 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishers, 1991), p. 772.

2 The New Interpreter’s Bible Commentary: Introduction to Hebrew Poetry, Job, Psalms, Introduction to Wisdom Literature, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, v. III (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2015), p. 1180.

3 Gaebelein, p. 773

4 Gaebelein, p. 773.

5 New Interpreter’s, pp. 1181, 823.

6 New Interpreter’s, p. 1181.