Psalm One Hundred and Twenty One

by Dr. Henry M. Morris

(taken from the Defender's Study Bible)

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A Song of degrees.

Psalm 121:1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

unto the hills. This psalm is frequently misunderstood. There is no “help” in the hills (note Deuteronomy 12:2-3; Jeremiah 3:6, 23). In fact, such “high places” often proved a snare to Israel. The last part of the verse should be read as a question: “From whence cometh my help?” The answer is: “Not from the hills, where men worship their false gods, but from the God of creation.”

Psalm 121:2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.

made heaven and earth. This assurance is repeated in Psalm 124:8. Only the Creator can be the Savior. “He shall preserve thy soul!” (Psalm 121:7) and He alone can preserve us forever (Psalm 121:8).

Psalm 121:3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

He that keepeth thee. Psalm 121:3-8 contains a marvelous testimony of assurance and security. The word for “keep,” also translated “preserve” and “keeper,” occurs six times in this brief passage, including a final promise to “preserve thy soul ... for evermore” (Psalm 121:7-8).

Psalm 121:4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

Psalm 121:5 The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.

Psalm 121:6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.

Psalm 121:7 The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.

Psalm 121:8 The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.