I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. The pilgrims' even-song as they caught the first sight of the hills (Psalms 121:1) round Jerusalem. In Psalms 122:1 they reach a further stage-namely, the gates of Jerusalem. In Psalms 121:1 Israel speaks; in Psalms 121:3 she is... [ Continue Reading ]
My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. MY HELP COMETH FROM THE LORD, WHICH MADE HEAVEN AND EARTH - and who has at command, therefore, inexhaustible means of help for His people (). They who have such a Helper need never despair, however dark may seem their circumstances.... [ Continue Reading ]
He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. HE WILL NOT SUFFER THY FOOT TO BE MOVED: HE THAT KEEPETH THEE WILL NOT SLUMBER. The Hebrew negative [ 'al (H408)] is here subjective, expressing the hope of the speaker-`I trust He will not suffer thy foot to be move... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. BEHOLD, HE THAT KEEPETH ISRAEL SHALL NEITHER SLUMBER NOR SLEEP. The terms in which the pilgrims committed themselves to Yahweh's care before going to rest the last evening of their journey. The Hebrew negative [ lo' (H3808)] is here... [ Continue Reading ]
The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. THE LORD IS THY KEEPER; THE LORD IS THY SHADE. "Thy shade," thy protecting shelter: a natural image to pilgrims suffering under the sun's intense heat in the East. Compare , margin. UPON THY RIGHT HAND - the position best adapte... [ Continue Reading ]
The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. THE SUN SHALL NOT SMITE THEE BY DAY - with heat. NOR THE MOON BY NIGHT - with cold. The moon, as 'ruling the night' (), has all the influences associated with night attributed to it. Compare the words of Jacob, to whom Psalms 121:4 al... [ Continue Reading ]
The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. THE LORD SHALL PRESERVE THEE FROM ALL EVIL: HE SHALL PRESERVE THY SOUL. THE LORD SHALL PRESERVE THY GOING OUT, AND THY COMING IN. The thrice-repeated "shall preserve," or 'keep thee,' attests the greatness of man's unbelief,... [ Continue Reading ]