Psalms 121 - He watches over you

For the last two weeks my mind has been focused on Psalms 121. This is a very familiar psalm and I have read this over so many times. But one thing captured by attention, recently. I was attending this Bible Fellowship via zoom and one sister was asked to comment on this psalm. She said that there was once phrase that occurred four times in this psalm and its – He watches over you.

• Verse 3 - he who watches over you will not slumber;
• Verse 5 - The Lord watches over you— the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
• Verse 7 - he Lord will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life;
• Verse 8 - the Lord will watch over your coming and going

In fact, it appears five times, if you include, He watches over Israel in verse 4.

 

I thought that was interesting. I had not seen this before. So, I began to do a study on the different situations the Lord watches over “you” as seen from psalmist’s perspective in this short psalm.  

 

Background

 

Psalm 121 is a Song of Ascents. What are the songs of Assent? I did a small research and this is what I discovered:

The Songs of Ascent are a special group of psalms comprising Psalms 120—134. They are also called Pilgrim Songs. Four of these songs are attributed to King David (122, 124, 131, 133) and one to Solomon (127), while the remaining ten are anonymous.

The city of Jerusalem is situated on a high hill. At that time many Jews live outside Jerusalem. But they all come back to this holy city for some important festivals.  Jews usually travel to Jerusalem for one of the three main yearly festivals. As they make their way to Jerusalem,  traditionally they sang these songs on the “ascent” or the uphill road to the city. According to some traditions, the Jewish priests also sang some of these Songs of Ascent as they walked up the steps to the temple in Jerusalem.

Each of the psalms in this collection begins with the title “A Song of Ascents.” While perhaps they were not originally composed for this purpose, these psalms were later grouped together for use in traveling toward Jerusalem for the yearly Jewish festivals.

The theme of each Song of Ascent offers much encouragement for those who seek to worship God today:

Psalm 120: God’s presence during distress
Psalm 121: Joyful praise to the Lord
Psalm 122: Prayer for Jerusalem
Psalm 123: Patience for God’s mercy
Psalm 124: Help comes from the Lord
Psalm 125: Prayer for God’s blessing upon His people
Psalm 126: The Lord has done great things
Psalm 127: God’s blessing on man’s efforts
Psalm 128: Joy for those who follow God’s ways
Psalm 129: A cry for help to the Lord
Psalm 130: A prayer of repentance
Psalm 131: Surrender as a child to the Lord
Psalm 132: God’s sovereign plan for His people
Psalm 133: Praise of brotherly fellowship and unity
Psalm 134: Praise to God in His temple

Psalms 121 also pictures God’s care, protection, and vigilant watch over His people. 

“David Livingstone, the famous missionary and explorer of the continent of Africa, read Psalm 121 and Psalm 135, which praises God for his sovereign rule over all things, as he worshiped with his father and sister before setting out for Africa in 1840. His mother-in-law, Mrs. Moffat, wrote him at Linyardi that Psalm 121 was always in her mind as she thought about and prayed for him.” (James Montgomery Boice)

 

Verses 1-2 are translated differently is some versions.

 

This is how the Message Bible puts it:

 

“I look up to the mountains; does my strength come from mountains? No, my strength comes from God,  who made heaven, and earth, and mountains. “

 

It is posed as a question. Will I look up to the hills or the mountains in times of distress?

 

Mountains have many significant meanings in the scriptures and are very much part of the landscape of the Bible’s setting. 

 

When Moses climbed Mount Sinai, he found that the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain. When Jesus climbed a high mountain, he became transfigured, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. People have traditionally revered mountains as places of sacred power and spiritual attainment… a bit closer to heaven.

 

Its’ is symbol of God’s covenant with His people, God’s presence and also God’s majesty. But I don’t this the question was raised with this perspective in mind.

 

During my travels close to the Himalayan Range, I was simply awed when I saw the majestic snow-capped mountains of the Everest range. Simply overpowering and awe-struck. It was a sight of power, majesty and strength. 

 

In fact many of the temples and idols were often, as it is now these days, located on the top of hills and mountains.

 

I am reminded of what the children of Israel did when Moses delayed in the mountain. 

 

Exodus 32:4 … Then they said, “These are your gods Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.”

 

They began to focus on others things as their source of help and victory, rather than God. Something else was credited for their deliverance, someone else was given the honour, God was kept by the side-lines.

 

Sometimes, even in or lives, we tend to depend on our human wisdom, our assets, our strength instead of putting our dependence on God himself. We run to God only as a last resort, when it shou have been the reverse. And many times we take credit for our achievements, our well-being and our affluence. God is kept out of the equation.

 

The psalmist asked this question as he makes his way to the city to worship.. Will I look to all these for my help. Will I look to other “gods”, human relationships, material wealth, social standings and other earthly sources when I am in a crisis? Has all these been key to where I am now?

 

The answer is a definite NO. The alternative is also absolute and has no comparison.

 

“My strength comes from God,  who made heaven, and earth, and mountains.”

 

My strength does not come from the mountains but the maker of the mountains.  He is more powerful, He alone is my refuge and strength and He alone will see me through this life. 

 

What a blessed assurance. This all powerful God, this awesome God, this magnificent God is the source of my strength and He watches over me. Hallelujah.