Psalm 121

Introduction:  It is as if there are two speakers in this Psalm, or one who views his situation from two vantage points.

1.       The vantage of a trust in Jehovah during trials – vs.1-2

What do the hills suggest?

Jeremiah 3:23 “Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, and from the multitude of mountains: truly in the LORD our God is the salvation of Israel.

“from whence cometh my help” A statement or a question?

2.       The vantage of a knowledge of your God during trials – vs.3-8

The key to understanding this Psalm is the Hebrew word translated keepeth in verses 3-4 and preserve in verses 7-8:

Strongs # 08104. shamar,  shaw-mar’ –  a prim. root; prop. to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; gen. to protect, attend to, etc.:— beware, be circumspect, take heed (to self), keep (-er, self), mark, look narrowly, observe, preserve, regard, reserve, save (self), sure, (that lay) wait (for), watch (-man).

What guarantees that Jehovah will guard you? vs.3-4

What will Jehovah protect you from? vs.5-7a

What specifically will Jehovah guard?  vs.7b

How long will Jehovah guard you? vs.8

Selected quotation:  “Verse 2. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. What we need is help, — help powerful, efficient, constant: we need a very present help in trouble. What a mercy that we have it in our God. Our hope is in Jehovah, for our help comes from him. Help is on the road, and will not fail to reach us in due time, for he who sends it to us was never known to be too late. Jehovah who created all things is equal to every emergency; heaven and earth are at the disposal of him who made them, therefore let us be very joyful in our infinite helper. He will sooner destroy heaven and earth than permit his people to be destroyed, and the perpetual hills themselves shall bow rather than he shall fail whose ways are everlasting. We are bound to look beyond heaven and earth to him who made them both: it is vain to trust the creatures: it is wise to trust the Creator” (C. H. Spurgeon).