Psa 121 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Ps 121:1-8: Ps 121 The leader of the group of pilgrims uses word pictures to assure the group of the Lord’s presence during the journey. 121:1 The mountains were known for their idolatrous worship (Deut 12:2 ), and Israel was enticed to the hilltop shrines (Hos 4:13 ). This verse can be understood as a rhetorical question expecting a negative answer: The gods of the hilltop shrines cannot rescue anyone. Others understand the mountains to be a symbol of the Lord’s strength (Ps 95:4 ). In that case, the question would be interpreted literally ( Where does my help come from? ), with the answer given in the next verse

aPs 121►

b121:1►

cDeut 12:2►

dHos 4:13►

ePs 95:4►

f121:4-6►

g121:2►

h16:7-8►

i148:3►

j121:4►

k12:5►

l7►

m69:29►

n91:14►

o146:9►

‏ Psalms 121

Summary for Ps 121:1-8: Ps 121 ^a The leader of the group of pilgrims uses word pictures to assure the group of the Lord’s presence during the journey. 121:1 ^b The mountains were known for their idolatrous worship (Deut 12:2 ^c), and Israel was enticed to the hilltop shrines (Hos 4:13 ^d). This verse can be understood as a rhetorical question expecting a negative answer: The gods of the hilltop shrines cannot rescue anyone. Others understand the mountains to be a symbol of the Lord’s strength (Ps 95:4 ^e). In that case, the question would be interpreted literally (Where does my help come from?), with the answer given in the next verse
Summary for Ps 121:4-6: 121:4-6 ^f The Creator (121:2 ^g) is the guardian of Israel.

• God stands beside Israel, supporting and caring for the godly (see 16:7-8 ^h).

• Both the sun and the moon were regarded as deities in the ancient Near East, but the Creator limits their power. They, too, praise the Lord (148:3 ⁱ). 121:4 ^j God watches over his own, even and especially when they face many troubles (12:5 ^k, 7 ^l; 69:29 ^m; 91:14 ⁿ; 146:9 ^o).