Psa 121:1-2 | KingComments | STEP | This psalm sings of the LORD as the great assurance of those who go their way in faithfulness to Him. That is why His Name is repeated so often. This makes it clear that there is no one so secure as the one who expects his help exclusively from Him. He is the Creator of heaven and earth and the Keeper of His people Israel, of the faithful thereof. The LORD will always keep them in all circumstances. The journey of the chosen people of Psalm 120 begins in dangerous and hostile territory. It is the journey of a sheep among a pack of wild, hungry wolves (cf. ). What does a person need in such a situation? Is there even a possibility of survival? And then a pilgrimage all the way to Jerusalem? Psalm 121 is about what someone who goes on a pilgrimage needs: the LORD’s safekeeping. In this psalm we find a threefold testimony that the LORD is the Keeper of Israel and a threefold testimony that the LORD will keep them. Since the Keeper is the LORD, the Creator of heaven and earth, He will bring His sheep safely to Jerusalem right through the pack of cruel wolves. This second “Song of Ascents” ( ) connects closely to the previous one, in which the faithful is in trouble. In the previous psalm, the believer looks around anxiously; in this psalm, he looks up confidently for help to make his way to Jerusalem. ‘Help’ means protection, support, guidance and blessing. For this, the pilgrim in faith lifts up his eyes up to the mountains surrounding Jerusalem. That may be far from him, but in the midst of it the LORD dwells ( ; cf. ; ). The situation of these pilgrims resembles a threatening situation for King Hezekiah, who many believe is the composer of the Songs of Ascents. Hezekiah was threatened by Sanherib, the king of Assyria ( ). Hezekiah’s princes thought of help from Egypt ( ). Could Egypt help? If the army of Egypt were to come, they would come from the surrounding mountains. No, Hezekiah was not to look to the mountains. He had to look farther, his help had to come from even higher up ( ). Therefore, he went into the temple and spread the threatening letter of Sanherib before the LORD ( ). In doing so, he said what the psalmist says here, “My help [comes] from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth” ( ). Mountains are a picture of earthly powers. The pilgrim realizes that his help comes not from earthly powers, but from the LORD (cf. ). He realizes that his help is from Him alone. This is not difficult when he sees in Him the Creator of heaven and earth (cf. ). Could He, Who created and sustains all things, not also care for him? Of this he is convinced. God is not a local or national god, like the idols of the nations, but the God of heaven and earth. He, Who created and sustains everything, also knows the way of the God-fearing pilgrim and will help him to go that way. All the difficulties that he may encounter on his way come from the God Whom he is going to meet in Jerusalem. Therefore, those difficulties are under His control. During the period prophetically spoken of in the psalm, God is totally denied and man is idolized. It is a period when the eternal gospel is proclaimed by an angel flying in midheaven. This gospel is: “Fear God, and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters” ( ). Given the current development of our society, by that time the theory of evolution will have been generally accepted as fact. This means that the message that God created the heavens and the earth is denied. That is why God sends that angel to remind all people wherever they live on the earth – that is why that angel flies in midheaven, everyone on earth can see and hear him

‏ Psalms 121:1-2

Introduction

This psalm sings of the LORD as the great assurance of those who go their way in faithfulness to Him. That is why His Name is repeated so often. This makes it clear that there is no one so secure as the one who expects his help exclusively from Him. He is the Creator of heaven and earth and the Keeper of His people Israel, of the faithful thereof. The LORD will always keep them in all circumstances.

The journey of the chosen people of Psalm 120 begins in dangerous and hostile territory. It is the journey of a sheep among a pack of wild, hungry wolves (cf. Mt 10:16). What does a person need in such a situation? Is there even a possibility of survival? And then a pilgrimage all the way to Jerusalem? Psalm 121 is about what someone who goes on a pilgrimage needs: the LORD’s safekeeping.

In this psalm we find a threefold testimony that the LORD is the Keeper of Israel and a threefold testimony that the LORD will keep them. Since the Keeper is the LORD, the Creator of heaven and earth, He will bring His sheep safely to Jerusalem right through the pack of cruel wolves.

The Creator

This second “Song of Ascents” (Psa 121:1) connects closely to the previous one, in which the faithful is in trouble. In the previous psalm, the believer looks around anxiously; in this psalm, he looks up confidently for help to make his way to Jerusalem. ‘Help’ means protection, support, guidance and blessing. For this, the pilgrim in faith lifts up his eyes up to the mountains surrounding Jerusalem. That may be far from him, but in the midst of it the LORD dwells (Psa 125:2; cf. 1Kgs 8:46-49; Dan 6:11).

The situation of these pilgrims resembles a threatening situation for King Hezekiah, who many believe is the composer of the Songs of Ascents. Hezekiah was threatened by Sanherib, the king of Assyria (Isa 36:1). Hezekiah’s princes thought of help from Egypt (Isa 36:6). Could Egypt help? If the army of Egypt were to come, they would come from the surrounding mountains.

No, Hezekiah was not to look to the mountains. He had to look farther, his help had to come from even higher up (Psa 123:1). Therefore, he went into the temple and spread the threatening letter of Sanherib before the LORD (Isa 37:14). In doing so, he said what the psalmist says here, “My help [comes] from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth” (Psa 121:2).

Mountains are a picture of earthly powers. The pilgrim realizes that his help comes not from earthly powers, but from the LORD (cf. Jer 3:23). He realizes that his help is from Him alone. This is not difficult when he sees in Him the Creator of heaven and earth (cf. Psa 115:15). Could He, Who created and sustains all things, not also care for him? Of this he is convinced.

God is not a local or national god, like the idols of the nations, but the God of heaven and earth. He, Who created and sustains everything, also knows the way of the God-fearing pilgrim and will help him to go that way. All the difficulties that he may encounter on his way come from the God Whom he is going to meet in Jerusalem. Therefore, those difficulties are under His control.

During the period prophetically spoken of in the psalm, God is totally denied and man is idolized. It is a period when the eternal gospel is proclaimed by an angel flying in midheaven. This gospel is: “Fear God, and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters” (Rev 14:6-7).

Given the current development of our society, by that time the theory of evolution will have been generally accepted as fact. This means that the message that God created the heavens and the earth is denied. That is why God sends that angel to remind all people wherever they live on the earth – that is why that angel flies in midheaven, everyone on earth can see and hear him – that He is the Creator.