Psalms 121:1

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 addressed by the Spirit in the Psalmist. Thrice Yahweh is called "He that keepeth Israel." Also in the conclusion thrice it is said "the Lord shall keep." The Hebrew for "keep" ( shaamar (H8104)) alludes to Samaria-the Psalmist th...

l_I will lift up my eyes to the mountains. _The inspired writer, whoever he was, seems, in the opening of the Psalm, to speak in the person of an unbelieving man. As God prevents his believing people with his blessings, and meets them of his own accord, so they, on their part, immediately east their eyes directly upon him. What then is the meaning of this unsettled looking of the Prophet, who casts his eyes now on this side and now on that, as if faith directed him not to God? I answer, that the thoughts of the godly are never so stayed upon the word of God as not to be carried away at the first impulse to some allurements; and especially when dangers disquiet us, or when we are assailed with sore temptations, it is scarcely possible for us, from our being so inclined to the earth, not to be moved by the enticements presented to us, until our minds put a bridle upon themselves, and turn...

PSALM CXXI _The resolution of a godly man_, 1, 2. _The safety and prosperity of such, as they and theirs shall_ _be under the continual protection of God_, 3-8. NOTES ON PSALM CXXI This appears to be a prayer of the Jews in their captivity, who are solicitous for their restoration. It is in the form of a _dialogue_. Ver. Psalms 121:1. The person who worships God speaks the _two_ first verses, "I will lift up mine eyes - my help cometh," - Psalms 121:1. Ver....

I WILL LIFT UP MINE EYES - Margin, “Shall I lift up mine eyes to the hills? Whence should my help come?” The expression would properly denote a condition where there was danger; when no help or aid was visible; and when the eyes were turned to the quarter from which help might be expected to come. What the danger was cannot now be ascertained. UNTO THE HILLS - Hebrew, the mountains. To the quarter from where I look for assistance. This (as has been shown in the Introduction) may refer (1) to the mountains from where one in danger expected help; or (2) to heaven, considered as high, and as the abode of God; or (3) to the hills on which Jerusalem was built, as the place where God dwelt, and from where aid was expected. The third of these is the most probable.

EXPOSITION THE preceding psalm is one of complaint; the present, one of comfort and consolation. The pilgrim lifts up his eyes to the hills, and is satisfied that help is coming to him. He then proceeds to cheer himself with assurances of God's sleepless care and protection. Metrically, the psalm falls into four stanzas of four lines each. PSALMS 121:1 I WILL LIFT UP MINE EYES UNTO THE HILLS. The "holy hills," that stand round about Jerusalem, are intended (Psalms 87:1; Psalms 125:2). There God had "promised his blessing, even life forevermore" (Psalms 133:3)....

I WILL LIFT UP MINE EYES UNTO THE HILLS,.... Not to the hills and mountains in Judea, looking about to see if the inhabitants of them, or any bodies of men, appeared upon them to his help in distress; rather to the hills of Moriah and Zion, where the ark of God, the symbol of his presence, was, and to whom he looked for assistance and deliverance: or to heaven, the holy hill of the Lord, and to him that dwelleth there; see Psalms 3:2. The lifting up of the eyes is a prayer gesture, John 11:41; and is expressive of boldness and confidence in prayer, and of hope and expectation of help and salvation, Job 11:15; when, on the contrary, persons abashed and ashamed, hopeless and helpless, cannot look up, or lift up their eyes or face to God,...

Psalms 121:1. _I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help._ It is wise to look to the strong for strength. Dwellers in valleys are subject to many disorders for which there is no cure but a sojourn in the uplands, and it is well when they shake off their lethargy and resolve upon a climb. The holy man who here sings a choice sonnet looked away from the slanderers by whom he was tormented to the Lord who saw all from his high places, and was ready to pour down succor for his injured servant. Help comes to saints only from above, they look elsewhere in vain: let us lift up our eyes with hope, expectancy, desire, and confidence. Satan will endeavor to keep our eyes upon our sorrows that we may be disquieted and discouraged, be it ours firmly to resolve that we will look out and look up, for there is good cheer for the eyes, and they that lift up their eyes to

A SONG OF DEGREES Literally, "of ascents." Perhaps chanted by the people as they went up to Jerusalem to the feasts. See, for example (Psalms 112:1); (Psalms 112:2)....

PSALM 120-134 The Psalms of Degrees Fifteen brief Psalms follow, called songs of degrees, or, ascents. They were in all probability used by Israel going up to Jerusalem three times a year to celebrate the feasts of the Lord--”Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, a testimony for Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the LORD.” They are indeed Psalms of “the goings-up” for we rise higher and higher as we read through them. Prophetically they give us again the steps from trial and suffering to the glorious consummation. As they are so simple in language and construction no lengthy annotations are needed. Psalms 120:1 begins with distress, picturing again the suffering of the righteous godly remnant. In Psalms 121:1 the Keeper of Israel, the Covenant Keeping God, is revealed

CXXI. YAHWEH'S CARE FOR HIS PEOPLE. Psalms 121:8. going out _i.e._ to the feast at Zion, and COMING IN to thy home far away, perhaps in heathen lands....