“I will lift up my eyes to the hills—from whence comes my help?” Psalm 121:1
Some translate David’s words as, “Shall I lift up my eyes to the hills?” In other words, “Should I expect my help to come from earthly powers, influential people, or mighty rulers who seem strong like mountains?” The answer is no. Jeremiah 3:23 reminds us, “In vain is salvation hoped for from hills and mountains.” Our confidence must be in God alone. [2]
Others translate the verse, “I will lift up my eyes above the hills.” This reminds us to look beyond human instruments to God, who alone gives them the ability to help. [3]
In James 1:17, it is written, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”
David declared, “I will lift up my eyes to the hills,” probably referring to the hills on which the temple stood. The temple in Jerusalem is where atonement for sin was accomplished. [4]
Once our sin is removed, we can enjoy fellowship with God. In Isaiah 59:2, it is written, “Your iniquities have separated you from your God. Your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.” In Ephesians 2:13, it is written, “Now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” Christ was crucified, died, entombed, and resurrected in Jerusalem. We lift up our eyes to Jesus. He is our Savior and Redeemer.
“My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:2
Our confidence grows as we remember that God created heaven and earth. He created the universe by His Word. He started the entire human race after creating one man. He certainly has the power to help us. [5]
“He will not allow your foot to be moved. He who keeps you will not slumber.” Psalm 121:3
According to Psalm 91:11, God gives His angels charge over us, to keep us in all our ways. His angels have kept me from death by cars, motorcycles, planes, trains, ships, and by gun violence. Have you ever been rescued miraculously from a near death experience?
“Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper. The Lord is your shade at your right hand.” Psalm 121:4-5
The One who “keeps Israel” is also “your keeper.” The Good Shepherd watches over the whole flock and also cares for each sheep individually. Not even the weakest believer is forgotten. He does not grow tired or become disillusioned with His ministry to us. [6]
The Lord is described as our shade. Just as a shadow stays close to a person and protects him from the burning sun, God stays close to His people to comfort and protect them. Since the right hand is the working hand, God is always ready to help us while we work for Him. [7]
“The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.” Psalm 121:6
The sun and moon are blessings from God, yet because sin has affected creation, they can also bring harm. God protected Israel in the wilderness with the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. In Genesis 31:40, Jacob remembered suffering from heat during the day and frost at night, but God preserved his life. [8]
According to Revelation 6:12, a sign of the last days is the sun being darkened and the moon becoming like blood (red). In Revelation 8:12, the sun and moon are also darkened temporarily. In Revelation 9:2, the sun is darkened due to smoke. In Revelation 16:8, the heat of the sun is intensified on earth so that it scorches people. In Revelation 7:16, the saints who were saved by the blood of the Lamb out of the great tribulation no longer experience the sun’s scorching. In Revelation 21:23, the New Jerusalem has “no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.”
Matthew Henry suggests that the burning sun may symbolize persecution. “While the dangers of the night represent hidden plots and secret betrayals. God protects His people from both.”
“The Lord shall preserve you from all evil. He shall preserve your soul.” Psalm 121:7
God preserves our soul from all evil. Our soul is eternal. It is the part of us that never dies. In Luke 16:19-31, Jesus told the tale of two men. One died and his soul rested with Abraham in heaven, while the other died, and his soul ended up in the torments of Hades.
The greatest disaster that anyone can be rescued from is eternity in hell. Jesus Christ, God’s Son, came down from heaven and took on human flesh. He lived a sinless life among us. He died and resurrected for us (the perfect sacrifice for our sins), to save us from hell. The greatest rescue!
“The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore.” Psalm 121:8
God also rescues us many times throughout our earthly lives from harm. And when we do experience harm, He turns it around for our good. [9] In Romans 8:28, it is written, “We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” In Genesis 50:20, Joseph told those who had sought to harm him, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.”
In 2 Corinthians 13:7, Paul prayed for his fellow Christians not to do evil: “Now I pray to God that you do no evil... that you should do what is honorable.” In Galatians 5:22-24, “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” God’s indwelling Holy Spirit helps us to behave not as a reckless sinner does but as a Christ-like saint.
“From this time forth, and even for evermore.” God’s protection is lifelong and eternal. He guides His people throughout life, remains with them in death, and safely brings them into His heavenly kingdom. He will continue to protect His church and His people until the end of the world. The Holy Spirit, our Comforter and Preserver, will remain with us forever. [10]
[1] “The Song of Ascents” (Psalms 120–134) are songs to sing as one journeys toward God
[2-10] Material developed, added to and edited from Matthew Henry’s Commentary
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