Psalm 121

Introduction.—Ps. 121 is a beautiful song of trust and confidence in God. It is one of the most cherished of Bible poems in the entire heritage of Hebrew poetry. David composed Ps. 121 in the Wilderness of Paran, immediately after learning of the death of Samuel (PP 664). When David realized that his last influential earthly friend was gone, he turned to the Lord for his sole remaining help. The psalm has been a great blessing to countless thousands who at one time or another have found themselves in circumstances more or less similar to those in which the psalmist finds himself.

Ps. 121 was sung by pilgrims on the way to the yearly festivals at Jerusalem (see PP 538; see also the Introduction to Ps. 120).

1. Unto the hills. Many commentators take these hills to refer to the mountains of Jerusalem. Because of the presence of the sanctuary, Jerusalem was viewed as the dwelling place of God, and in this sense could be considered the source of divine help. Another interpretation makes these hills refer to the mountains of Palestine on whose heights the heathen set up their idolatrous shrines. On their journey to the festival, “as they saw around them the hills where the heathen had been wont to kindle their altar fires, the children of Israel sang: ‘Shall I lift up mine eyes to the hills? Whence should my help come?’” (PP 538).

From whence. Rather, “from whence?” It is not from the hills or the mountains that God’s children receive help, but from God (see Jer. 3:23).

2. From the Lord. The answer to the question in v. 1. God is able to meet any emergency that may arise in the vast universe of His creation.

3. Will not suffer. The Hebrew negative here employed, Хal, used also in the expression “will not slumber,” makes the verse an expression of a wish or a petition: “May he not suffer thy foot to be moved: may he that keepeth thee not slumber.” These words were possibly sung by one band of pilgrims with another band responding in effect, “Nay there is no need for such a prayer, for He that keepeth Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps; Israel’s Watchman will not be caught off guard, like a human sentinel on a city wall.” God’s vigilance is unwearied. The Eternal is never exhausted and is always attentive to the needs of His earthly children.

5. Thy shade. A figure of protection strikingly forceful to one living in a country of glaring light and burning heat.

Right hand. The divine Protector is readily available (see Ps. 16:8).

6. Shall not smite. In the last days, when power will be given to the sun to scorch men with great heat (Rev. 16:8, 9), God’s people will find comfort in this promise (GC 628–630).

7. Evil. Heb. raФ, designating both moral and physical evil.

8. Thy going out. The Lord continually watches over all the undertakings of His children.

“God keep thee safe from harm and sin,

Thy spirit keep; the Lord watch o’er

Thy going out, thy coming in

From this time, evermore.”

Ellen G. White comments

1, 2 PP 538

2–8PP 664

3 5T 754

3, 4 PK 176

4 DA 65; MB 175; ML 10, 88; RC 70; 7T 17

5–7GC 629