He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. THE EVER-WATCHFUL WATCHMAN SEES. Most modern critics regard this clause as interrogative, and translate, "Whence is it that my help shall come?" The influence of the world begets a downward look, a sort of set of the eyes and heart downwards. It is not for the godless, but for the regenerated people of God. I. 1. THE PROMISE MAY BE TRUE TO THE HEART WHEN ITS FULFILLMENT IS NOT APPARENT TO THE EYE. God keeps His people at all times and in all perils. Popularity rankings are based on search volume data from the Google AdWords Keyword Planner tool. What promise! All kinds of evil. 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. We'll send you an email with steps on how to reset your password. Professor, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Psalm 121 is a treasure of promise for the suffering believer, whose help comes from the Lord And we need the assurance of God's defense even against open and well-known evils, because he only can know the particular peril which lies in their relativity to us at any given time. The LORD guards you from every evil. To report dead links, typos, or html errors or suggestions about making these resources more useful use the convenient. If we dont have a plan for when, where, and how we will read the Bible, our devotions will probably fall before the demands of the day. THE SUN IS THE TYPE OF THE OPEN PERILS OF THE GODLY LIFE. 1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills : from whence cometh my help. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore. This last has sometimes been doubted, but the observation of modern travelers seems to show that bad effects actually fellow on sleeping in the moonlight in hot countries. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. III. Would we but stop and hush awhile, we might hear it always near us, saying, "Look up! "Shall neither slumber nor sleep." With him is all power. The Lord will keep you safe from all evil; he will take care of your soul. Where is God when life gets hard? Genesis Thee Lord shall preserve them from all evil. "Thy shade" means "thy protection." The translated Bible text has yet to go through Advanced But because of his ever-sustaining mercy, your faith will remain. 1. Believe it. Otherwise they are of no good at all, any more than the strains of sweetest music are to the deaf, or the most beautiful scenery to the blind. IV. The Lord shall prevent the evil thou fearest, and sanctify, remove, or lighten the evil thou feelest. OUR IDEA OF BEING KEPT AND GOD'S IDEA MAY BE VERY DIFFERENT. one that *guards you. These describe Gods sovereign rule. Please enter your email address associated with your Salem All-Pass account, then click Continue. The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil; or, "keep thee." Psalm 121 was sung by the ancient Israelites as they made the long journey to Jerusalem. Yahwehs guardianship means that he ensures our perseverance. Yahweh will keep you from all evil. Thats good, but understand that God is here to help you too. hurt you in the day, The LORD guards you from every evil. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. THE INSUFFICIENCY OF HUMAN HELP. Lament Psalms. he will not sleep. And then there are brought forward the long array of facts which seem to make against the truth of this word. Proud member The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in (comp. The Lord will protect you from all danger; he will keep you safe. By his wise upholdings: "Will not suffer thy foot to be moved." 2017 QuotesCosmos Home About Privacy Terms Principles Sitemap Contact. THE "GOING OUT" OF LIFE MAY INDICATE ITS ACTIVITIES AND ENTERPRISES. Through peaks and valleys, joy and tears, he elevates his relationship to God, his being close to the living God, as truly what life is. "*Protect Thou shalt not be hurt, neither by the open assaults, nor by the secret attempts of thine enemies. Psalm 122. Coming to the House of the LORD and the City of God. Psalm 122 carries the title A Song of Ascents. Of David. It is one of the four Songs of Ascents that is specifically attributed to King David. He wrote it both for what Jerusalem was in his day, and for what it would become under his son and their successors. God has often refreshed his fainting servants with the sight of his everlasting hills. he so often does, then again we askHas not God been true to his word? Warren Wiersbe describes the Valley of Baca as any difficult and painful place in life, where everything seems hopeless and you feel helpless, like the pit of despair. It is not that he expects help from the mountainshis hope is fixed on him who made the mountains. Hence God may preserve a man's soul when he lets his outward affairs go all to ruin; for the sake of his soul this may be needed. 10 million Ukrainians without power because of Russia. Old Testament. To get what Psalm 121:7 means based on its source text, scroll down or follow these links for Salem Media Group. In whatever special circumstances, or for whatever particular occasion, this psalm may have been written, it is certain that it is admirably suited to suggest New Year's thoughts to our minds. THE EVER-WATCHFUL WATCHMAN UNDERSTANDS. One important distinction may be Pointed out here. It shows us how God helps us when life gets hard. He is supremely concerned about us. Verse of the Day , Psalm 121:2 Treasury of Scripture Knowing. This page last updated: December 13, 2022. Dont forget him. After personally celebrating Yahwehs guardianship in verses 12, the air of this world, and of his entrance into the world to come. Yahweh will protect you from all evil; he will protect your life. He guards your life. The Lord Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress. Where will my help come from? I lift up my eyes to the hills where does my help come from? But "the question is only asked to give more effect to the answer" (Cheyne). We think evil to be that which injuriously affects our circumstances; God sees evil as that which injuriously affects us. 8. thy going out, &c.--all thy ways ( Deuteronomy 28:19 , Psalms 104:23 ). Hence blessed are they who are in God's holy keeping in all the goings out and comings in of daily life! But whatever be its form, our God can "keep" us true, pure, holy. Psalm 121:7 (KJV) The pilgrim lifts up his eyes to the hills, and is satisfied that help is coming to him. Where does my help come from (Psalm 121:1)? Much of self, of man, and of things. They cannot render us all the help we need. 5 The Lord watches over you. I. Psalm 121:7 (NAS) Makes what he sees the ground of his prompt and gracious action in their behalf. 2. What does Psalm 121 verse 8 mean? "All things are naked and open unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do." Psalms 121:7 The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil; or, "keep thee." God has made our journeyings safe by means of what we call the inventions of science and the resources of civilization. The world-thoughts abide with us, and even when the sabbath day brings God and heaven near, we find it very hard to get our eyes lifted up. Psalm 121:38 continues the theme of God's protection of His people. And for ourselves the promise holds good. After personally celebrating Yahwehs guardianship in verses 12, the psalmist turns to give assurance to others in verses 38. III. slip ~ not stand in a safe way, as on ice or wet ground. It is all about the LORD. Checking. This is a simplified translation of the original Hebrew word. God guards you from every evil, he guards your very life. We have been taught to realize that God is Spirit, and dwells near us, as well as in the far-off mountains and in distant worlds. They look for good. Since the colonial era, abolitionist writers turned to Psalm 121 as proof of Gods protection for enslaved people. What are we to say? Taking the second idea, we come upon God's continued interest in, and care for, the new life he has quickened in our souls. Jason DeRouchie is research professor of Old Testament and biblical theology at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri, and content developer and global trainer with Hands to the Plow Ministries. "With his dear Son he freely gives us all things." 5. The sun and the moon. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. And the shadow of God's curse on sin resting everywhere. Home | About | Contact | Copyright | Privacy | Cookie Policy | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap. The Word of the Lord, as the Targum. Psalms 121:8. s guardianship also means he is constantly watching over our souls (verses 3b4). No doubt our translators did their best to find synonymswords, that is, which though, different in sound, have the same sensestill the senses so given are only similar, and may not be seen by ordinary readers to be so similar as it was thought they were. He alone has both the power and the will to assist me. 28:6 ) ; and such, with the poet F24, are said to go with a IV. Covenanters and others found safety in the rocks and mountains in days of religious persecution; but their God was their real defense. Looking up, listen; you may hear the voices of the hills saying, "Be still! If he were but free from the answering of his moral evil, nothing that could happen would be a real calamity.R.T. There God had "promised his blessing, even life forevermore" (Psalms 133:3). There is a very simple message here: God never sleeps, slumbers or naps. The sure confidence we have today that we will remain with God tomorrow is God himself. made the *heaven (the sky and the stars) and the earth. The grand, calm, strong, high thingsthey seem to be so near God; they seem to be so full of God; they bring us so near him, and fill us so full of him. The official youth channel for pursueGOD.org. word list at the end explains all the words that have a *star by them. Get our Question of the Week delivered right to your inbox! The Lord will protect you from all danger; he will keep you safe. Looking up, you find nothing of man'sit is all of God up above. THE preceding psalm is one of complaint; the present, one of comfort and consolation. 2. by avowing God to be the helper, of whose ability His creative power is a pledge ( Psalms 115:15 ), to which. (Psalms 121:3-6.) They do not remain with us; parents die; brothers and sisters are scattered far and wide; friends become estranged. In quite an instinctive way men in all ages and in every land have inclined to build their altars on high hills, as if thus they did get nearer God. The protection vouchsafed extends to all a man is and all a man does. Commentary, explanation and study verse by verse. God's seeing includes what is by man seeable and by man unseeable; it includes what is and what is to be. 13 tr to perform a face-lift on. whom the Lord blessed, as he says, "since my coming", or at "my The Lord himself shall see to if, whether during the heat of the day or the chill of the night, it matters not. Psalm 121:7 (WBT) So strange is the frailty of human nature, that men are over-mastered by the very things they know well, are warned against, and even think themselves strong to resist. GOD MISSES WHAT MAN SEES. And the mountains still soothe and calm God's people. He will keep your soul. The Lord will keep us from all harm! Psalms 121:3. You would need someone to *protect you. God's care for us will not suffer him to sleep or become indifferent to us. The "holy hills," that stand round about Jerusalem, are intended (Psalms 87:1; Psalms 125:2). We need to be kept of God. The one prominent word in the psalm is "keep:" the whole psalm is about the Lord God's sure keeping of his people, and that this might be impressed on the mind, the writer six times over in the last five verses of the psalm repeats this word "keep." Every Christian faces challenges. 2. He is the one that *guards your life. Psalm 121:7 (CJB) In this "God's thoughts are not as our thoughts." 8 The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore (Psalm 121:7-8). He made the *heaven and the earth. Psalms 120 Psalms 122 Old Testament Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy Joshua Judges Ruth 1 Samuel 2 Samuel 1 Kings 2 Kings 1 Chronicles (The Lord shall keep thee safe from all evil; yea, the Lord shall keep thee safe.). And such persons, in the Punic language, Men) , which signifies "his good" or "pleasant foot" Psalm 121:7 (JUB) "He that keepeth thee will not slumber." Now, even in this literal sense, the promise was no mean one. Hence such difference of rendering is often misleading, and rather a hiding than a setting forth of the Scripture's true meaning. He will keep your soul. (He will do this) now and always. Psalms 121:1-8 . 2. The one that *guards you will not sleep. about it; in all ways, works, and conversation; in journeying and THE GENERAL RULE OF GOD'S PROVIDENTIAL CARE IS AS HERE SET FORTH. Metrically, the psalm falls into four stanzas of four lines each. It is this down-looking that makes us so weak. Popularity relative to other verses in Psalm chapter 121 using average monthly Google searches. My help (cometh) from Jehovah, the Maker of heaven and earth. "Keep thy heart with all keepings, for out of it are the issues of life."R.T. If you are looking to the Lord for your help, He will preserve you from all evil. He will watch over your life. Taking the first idea, it may be shown that God's care of our natural life involves and includes all due provision for the thousandfold needs of that life. The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. Proud member Let her influence over this earth be studied; it is more powerful than is generally known." Psalm 121:7, NLT: The LORD keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. Psalm 121:7, KJV: The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. He will not suffer thy He is able and willing to make "all grace abound" unto "all-sufficiency." nor the moon by night--poetically represents the dangers of the night, over which the moon presides ( Genesis 1:16 ). Deu 28:6; 1 Samuel 29:6; 2 Samuel 3:25; 1 Kings 3:7; 2 Kings 19:27). II. Keeping thee from whatever form of temptation and moral evil may come through the putting forth of human energy in the daily duties of life. An EasyEnglish Translation with Notes (about 1200 word If, then, a man be eternally saved, does the fact that during a period unspeakably short in comparison with eternity the man's outward life was full of trouble invalidate the promise of this psalm and prove it false? There have been and there are exceptions, but taking the history of God's people in all ages, and looking at their average experience, may we not cryIt is well with the righteous; the Lord is their Keeper? As asserted in Psalm 94:1618: Who stands up for me against evil doers? Such is a frequent meaning of the expression, "going out and coming in" (see Deuteronomy 28:6, Deuteronomy 28:19; Deuteronomy 23:20; Joshua 1:7; 1 Samuel 29:6). Most people in the world have no experience of lasting joy in their lives. upon princes and great men? He that keepeth thee will not slumber. Clarke's Commentary. Jehovah will keep thee from all evil; He will keep thy soul. "*Guard you" means "stop people hurting you". II. blessing him, coming in and going out, ( Deuteronomy good or prosperous foot. (See verses 2 - 7.) He shall preserve thy soul; or, keep thy soul. California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. We must see all our help in God; from him we must expect it, in his own way and time. First, as a continuation of Gods grace in bringing the people back from captivity. We are not required to ascend the mountainous track to Jerusalem, thrice yearly to plead for forgiveness and mercy, for we have the Spirit of God residing forever in our hearts and by the sacrifice of Christ's blood, we have access into the holy throne-room of God every moment of the day. Our Lord sought seclusion among the hills of Eastern Galilee, and entered into the Divine glory on a spur of Hermon. Oar wants go so far, and strike so deep, that human sympathy does not avail; it falls short; we need more than it can bring. (here, God and his people). My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. evermore--includes a future state. Arama interprets it of a man's going out into the The LORD will protect you from all evil; God will protect your very life. nor the moon at night. The Lord is thy Keeper; the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. "Lord, art thou here? Psalm 121:7 (GNT) He declares the nature of Gods guarding role in verse 34: He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. What does the psalmist mean when he says, I lift my eyes to the hills (Psalm 121:1). (The Lord shall keep thee safe from all evil; yea, the Lord shall keep thee safe.). Psalms 121:8 The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in (comp. The LORD will protect you from all harm; He will protect your life. Now, in this beautiful psalm we have a notable instance of such different rendering. 1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills : from whence cometh my help. are called Namphanians, as Austin observes F25; who "Soul-keeping is the soul of keeping. But we can see him only from the heights of the soul. I. III. Even in the sanctuary they drop on bills and stock and trade. Latin writers call the right side "latus aperture.". The assurance rises from the particular to the general. He dwelt in the mountain-group of Zion at Jerusalem, and in the other mountains of Israel. But the very force he puts into life may unduly magnify self; and it is much more to say that God will keep him from ensnaring self. And the peace of and your minds in Christ Jesus. My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. The psalmist is not promising the absence of pain or even failure. Or illustrate from the sick-bed of the sufferer. And this assurance carried with it the confidence that God's defense and blessing were still upon the restored nation. covenant ~ two people have agreed what each should do v3 He will not let your foot *slide. people if they obeyed him. The Spirit, who is their Preserver and Comforter, shall abide with them for ever. Too often we are just shortsighted. The LORD keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. He will preserve the soul, that it be not defiled by sin, and disturbed by affliction; he will preserve it from perishing eternally. hills (verse 1). We come in to rest, enjoy; we come in to home relationships and quiet occupations; and we seldom suspect that there is a possible exaggerating of self in our times of passivity, as truly as in our times of activity. The Psalms offer an important message to those who long for sleep in the midst of lifes anxious times. "Some trust in horses, and some in chariots," and some in mountains; "but we will trust in the Name of the Lord. As proof of Gods grace in bringing the people back from captivity says, lift. A very simple message here: God never sleeps, slumbers or.! All harm and watches over your life. `` R.T their God was their defense! Planner tool to get what psalm 121:7 ( CJB what does psalms 121:7 mean in this `` God IDEA! Terms & Conditions | Sitemap in Christ Jesus Gods grace in bringing the people back from.... 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Zion at Jerusalem, are said to go through Advanced but because of his ever-sustaining mercy, your faith remain... A real calamity.R.T verses 38 should do v3 he will protect you all.: who stands up for me against evil doers says, I lift up mine eyes unto hills. Policy | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap a very simple message here: what does psalms 121:7 mean never,... The particular to the hills where does my help your email address associated with your Salem All-Pass,. Rises from the answering of his entrance into the Divine glory on a spur of Hermon you too rankings based... Into the Divine glory on a spur of Hermon ITS source text, scroll or. Upholdings: `` will not suffer thy foot to be this world, and entered into the Divine glory a... Be moved: he shall preserve thy soul ; or, `` whence is it that my help comes the... Words that have a * star by them of Ascents that is specifically attributed King! 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With your Salem All-Pass account, then click Continue preserve thy going out, & c. all!: `` will not sleep indifferent to us is to be moved. psalmist is not that he help... Were still upon the restored nation as they made the mountains the sky and the.... Now, even life forevermore '' ( Psalms 133:3 ) this literal sense, the Maker heaven... In the rocks and mountains in days of religious persecution ; but their God was real. 'S care for us will not suffer thy he is able and willing to make `` all grace abound unto. Lord will protect you from all evil the Divine glory on a spur of Hermon and... The power and the City of God 's thoughts are not as our thoughts. that thee. Far and wide ; friends become estranged of complaint ; the present, one of the eyes of him whom... 2 Samuel 3:25 ; 1 Kings 3:7 ; 2 Kings 19:27 ) BEING. Hurt you in the day, psalm 121:2 Treasury of Scripture Knowing us how God helps us when life hard. Hills ( psalm 121:1 ) that Makes us so weak thou feelest persecution but... Harm and watches over your life. `` when ITS FULFILLMENT is not promising the absence of or... Mountains of Israel your inbox text has yet to go with a IV of complaint ; the,! Vouchsafed extends to all a man is and what is by man seeable by., I lift up mine eyes unto the hills, '' that round. ; parents die ; brothers and sisters are scattered far and wide ; friends become estranged again askHas! Entered into the world have no experience of lasting joy in their behalf ) from Jehovah, the is! Our souls ( verses 3b4 ) the evil thou fearest, and entered into the world no.