what does psalms 121:7 mean

The Word of the Lord, as the Targum. 2017 QuotesCosmos Home About Privacy Terms Principles Sitemap Contact. 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. Commentary, explanation and study verse by verse. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust. Surely he will save you from the fowlers snare and from the deadly pestilence. Not from the evil of affliction, though from that as a penal evil; or as a real one, it being made to (120-7) The Lord keepeth thee from all evil: may the Lord keep thy soul. - We must not rely upon men and means, instruments and second causes. THE "GOING OUT" OF LIFE MAY INDICATE ITS ACTIVITIES AND ENTERPRISES. 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. "which is omnipotent.". There are luxuries, listlessnesses, selfishnesses, of our very resting-times; rod we need God for our coming in lest the self or self-indulgence should gain undue power over us.R.T. By his merciful defendings: "No plague shall come nigh thy dwelling." Psalm 121 is the second of the fifteen Psalms of ascent (Psalm 120 to Psalm 134). s guardianship also means he is constantly watching over our souls (verses 3b4). Use the scale on the left to tell how often the verses below are googled compared to each other. God watches over your life from beginning to end. Salem Media Group. 2023 Caniry - All Rights Reserved Their provision and protection came only from the Lord. Psalm 121 was sung by the ancient Israelites as they made the long journey to Jerusalem. He is able and willing to make "all grace abound" unto "all-sufficiency." Further, we see only the surface of things; God looks at the reality. Fish become rapidly putrid, and meat, if left exposed, incurable or unpreservable by salt. They are but God's instruments for our good. of A thousand things in common life, that seem to have no more Power of mischief in them than have the moonbeams. In this "God's thoughts are not as our thoughts." Enthronement Psalms. is not this psalm actual fact? It is a time congregations grant clergy as a period of rest and reflection to take leave of ones responsibilities. nor the moon by night--poetically represents the dangers of the night, over which the moon presides ( Genesis 1:16 ). This publication is written in EasyEnglish Level A (1200 words). If we could just lift up our eyes to hills and to the heavens beyond, we would catch a glimpse of the powerful God who created all of this vast universe. With him is all power. I. Psalms 121:8 The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in (comp. How "the cares of this world" need to be guarded against, and "the deceitfulness of riches" also! Thank You Father God that You are my ever-present help in troubled times and that by the blood of Christ I now have access to Your throne of grace, for mercy - to find help in time on need, in Jesus name I pray, AMEN. Disaster, disease, disappointment, defeat, occupy man's thoughts, and are, properly enough, from his point of view, classed as evils. "The redeemed of the Lord shall come with joy and singing," etc. THE EVER-WATCHFUL WATCHMAN UNDERSTANDS. Psalm 121:7 (GNT) "The darkness and the light are both alike to him."R.T. It referred to Israel's journeyings from Babylon to Judah, or from wherever their abode might be, up to the great festivals. The Israelites faced tremendous dangers as they scaled the hills around Jerusalem to come to religious festivals. God always sees in events that happen persons acting; and in their motives and moods and wills he sees evil or good. I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills. The Hebrew of verse 4 suggests a development from what precedes. How powerfully we are all drawn by world-interests! Look up, and grow strong. He is supremely concerned about us. 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. The Lord will keep us from all harm! Looking up, you see how earth-clouds are glorified. After personally celebrating Yahwehs guardianship in verses 12, the 5 The Lord watches over you. he will not sleep. Checking. 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. I. Man's enterprise may bring him into situations of bodily danger. Lament Psalms. The influence of the world begets a downward look, a sort of set of the eyes and heart downwards. 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. Psalm 121 answers this question for us. 3, 4. The one duty of the watchman is to keep ever, through his watching-time, awake and alert. (Psalms 121:3, Psalms 121:4). If Yahweh had not been my help, my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence. 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. Use this table to get a word-for-word translation of the original Hebrew Scripture. The "holy hills," that stand round about Jerusalem, are intended (Psalms 87:1; Psalms 125:2). "Our help cometh from the Lord."S.C. you help. The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. Mr. Martin says, "Of the effects of the moon on animal life very many instances could be cited. No; my confidence is in God only. He never sleeps, so he never stops with someone). He would not only pay the price for the sins of Israel, but for the sin of the whole world. "From whence shall my help come?" Consequently, some of the things which we call evil God does not so call, because their influence on us is good. We are in the worldin a thousand subtle ways we are kin with the world, subject to its influences, caught by its whirl of excitement, absorbed by its pressing claims, and easily we become of the world as well as in it. 3. Watch the video above and talk about it with a group or mentor. Is this Jehovah or Yahweh or YHWH or Yahua? The one that *guards Israel will never sleep. Psalm 121:7 (HNV) Psalms 121:8 The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore. But it is true also in the moral sphere, it is the calamity side of evil which absorbs man's attention. v2 My help comes from the *LORD. F26; and so one that, wherever he comes We go out in the morning refreshed, vigorous, full of conscious power, and in some peril of stir-reliance. I lift up my eyes to the hills where does my help come from? From the times of David's persecution, he fled to the mountain country of Judaea and the south; but God preserved him, not the hills. Certainties; duties, difficulties, vexations, trials, temptations, opportunities. Read the psalm and change "you" or "your" to II. What a holy power upon us the mountains have! Jehovah will keep thee from all evil; He will keep thy soul. The Lord Mountains have a peculiar power to solemnize and to impress us all; and precisely what they bring to us is that sense of God which assures of his love, and help, and lead.R.T. The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in (comp. And he wants to help you through lifes most difficult circumstances. The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil; he shall preserve thy soul. The Lord himself shall see to if, whether during the heat of the day or the chill of the night, it matters not. In Psalm 121:3b-4 we are told, [God] who keeps you will not slumber. Thanksgiving Psalms. This psalm teaches us to comfort ourselves in the Lord, when difficulties and dangers are greatest. Many calamitous, or what appear calamitous, events to us are not evils in the sight of tied, but, under his control, issue in our eternal good.S. TO OUR EXPERIENCES OF SORROW AND OF GLADNESS. As we contemplate the awful number of victims to such causes as we have named, and the yet worse ruin which comes from moral causes, it is not to be wondered at that some regard this psalm as rather a pious imagination than the declaration of actual fact. If God keeps us in being, and gives us new days, then we may confidently hold him to his promise, "As thy day so shall thy strength be." Moses was sent to feel the inspirations of Sinai. They appeal to both poetic and religious feeling. The restored exiles may well gain and keep full confidence in God, seeing that he had kept their national life through such anxious and imperiling times. It is this down-looking that makes us so weak. air of this world, and of his entrance into the world to come. What, then, would be any man's hope of preserving moral health and safety, if we might not cherish the assurance of the psalmist, that God understands all secret perils that gather about us, and will not let the moon smite us by night? The right hand is the working hand; let them but turn to their duty, and they shall find God ready to give them success. The promise that the Lord watches over His people extends from every day to eternity (Psalm 121:8). Buchanan, writing with the Cuchullin hills all about him, says. "Not let your foot slip" (verse 3) means "not let you The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. God's people are, after all, the happiest people under the sun. But because of his ever-sustaining mercy, your faith will remain. Psalm 121:7 (NCV) Now, in this beautiful psalm we have a notable instance of such different rendering. ADONAI will guard you against all harm; he will guard your life. Arama interprets it of a man's going out into the The LORD will keep you from every kind of harm. It has been remarked by a learned Bible scholar that part of the common complaints which are often brought against our English Bible is really owing to the likes and dislikes as to the usage of words in which we English people allow ourselves. Thank him. The peoples voice in the psalm cries to God for deliverance on three counts. If the soul be kept, all is kept. Our English dislike of using the same word repeatedly accounts for this change, and causes the loss of impressiveness which the repeated reverberations of the one emphatic word "keep" were intended to produce. "*Protect Might stood for right, and hence the "going out and coming in" of Israel in those days was ever attended with much peril. No one can snatch Gods sheep out of his hand (John 10:2730), and the one who has justified will never again condemn (Romans 8:3334). THE PROMISE MAY BE TRUE TO THE HEART WHEN ITS FULFILLMENT IS NOT APPARENT TO THE EYE. The LORD will preserve thee from all evil: he will preserve thy soul. Disease, accident, death, the overwhelming by earthquakes, lightning, flood, storm; by the ferocity or the folly of men, and by any of the ten thousand ills which flesh is heir to. God has made our journeyings safe by means of what we call the inventions of science and the resources of civilization. For to men in this world God's voice is ever calling. One really obvious way that God tries to get your attention is repetition. It is a protection for life. The theme of Psalm 121 is God's care of His people. there. He made the *heaven and the earth. You would need someone to *protect you. What does I lift my eyes to the hills mean? His sleepless vigilance is added. He will be our Keeper, our Shade upon our right hand (Psalms 121:5). The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore. There God had "promised his blessing, even life forevermore" (Psalms 133:3). Context Summary. GOD MISSES WHAT MAN SEES. Hush the life-fever! "All things are naked and open unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do." To succeed in earthly things we must engage the whole heart and powers in them. Psalm 121:7 (DBY) He shall preserve thy soul; or, keep thy soul. ", I. Psalm 121:1-2 I lift up my eyes to the mountains where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. Latin writers call the right side "latus aperture.". They do not remain with us; parents die; brothers and sisters are scattered far and wide; friends become estranged. word list at the end explains all the words that have a *star by them. 30:30); and such a foot Joseph had wherever he went, ( II. The Lord will protect you from all harm; He will protect your life. Psalm 121:7-8 The Lord will keep you from all harm he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. The Lord will protect you from all harm; He will protect your life. This may be applied to the national life of Israel. Read it He alone has both the power and the will to assist me. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. I. The LORD will keep you from every kind of harm. All sins shall be forgiven, except the sin against the Holy Ghost; for Jesus will save all except the sons of perdition. Beyond them he must look. 3. I was surprised to find that the word combination depicting the stumbling step in verse 3 is never used in Scripture of physical falling. Psalm 121:7 (NRSA) Far from the busy crowd. As they ascended the hilly slopes of Jerusalem, their faces were steadfastly set towards the place that represented the Presence ofthe Lord, the Ark of the Covenant, in the most holy place in the Temple of God, and the Mercy Seat whereby their sins could be covered until the promised Messiah of Israel came as the perfect Sacrifice. God's care for us will not suffer him to sleep or become indifferent to us. A Look up, and you shall prove how God "wipes away all tears from our eyes."R.T. The LORD will protect you from all evil; God will protect your very life. To get what Psalm 121:7 means based on its source text, scroll down or follow these links for the original scriptural meaning , biblical context and relative popularity. But "the question is only asked to give more effect to the answer" (Cheyne). Deu 28:6; 1 Samuel 29:6; He 2. Why is it good and pleasant for Gods people to be united (Psalm 133:1)? Too often we are just shortsighted. he so often does, then again we askHas not God been true to his word? Hashem shall preserve thee from kol rah; He shall preserve thy nefesh. ", II. It might have been written by a Daniel, as he sat at his open window, and looked away over the broad, fiat plains of Babylon toward the distant mountain-land of Israel. The LORD keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. They knew their strength and their help. "Man goeth forth to his work and to his labor until the evening;" then he cometh in for rest. For Israel was a people that had known what it was to go out to drear and dreadful exile, and that more than once. Learn more. Christians believe in good. "Lord, art thou here? We do not see that the sense is obscured in this instance, but we think the emphasis and force are lessened. v7 The *LORD is the And for ourselves the promise holds good. 6-8. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. 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. Psalms 121:3. He will keep your soul. The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. Quarrelsomeness breaking friendship is evil. It is a revelation to us to discover that God's supreme interest is not in eyelets, as ours is. The voice calls continually, "Lift up your heads, for your redemption draweth nigh!". *covenant is when two or more people agree together. Psalm 121:7, NASB: The LORD will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul. What does Psalm chapter 121 mean? Psalm 25 is an alphabet psalm, like Psalms 9 and 10. Psalm 121:7 (GNTA) Prayers for Gods deliverance in moments of despair. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for slip ~ not stand in a safe way, as on ice or wet ground. v4 It is certain that The Lord keep thee from all evil; the Lord keep thy soul. Copyright 2002-2023 Got Questions Ministries. "This God is our God forever and ever, he will be our guide even unto death" (Psalms 48:14). After personally celebrating Yahwehs guardianship in verses 12, the psalmist turns to give assurance to others in verses 38. One important distinction may be Pointed out here. THE GREATNESS OF OUR NEED. Popularity relative to other verses in Psalm chapter 121 using average monthly Google searches. To report dead links, typos, or html errors or suggestions about making these resources more useful use the convenient. Metrically, the psalm falls into four stanzas of four lines each. Psalms 121:8. Old Testament. Psalms 121:7. Meat, when exposed to the moonbeams, becomes quickly tainted. hills (verse 1). Where does my help come from (Psalm 121:1)? California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. THE preceding psalm is one of complaint; the present, one of comfort and consolation. Who do you turn to in times of crisis? The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil; or, "keep thee." The goal is to recharge the spiritual batteries and accomplish something special that time would not allow during the daily routine of clergy. "Going out" was a synonym for sorrow; "coming in," for gladness and joy. Informal to take unlawfully or dishonourably; steal. III. so long as thou hast "goings out" and "comings in." Clearly it is but a poetical way of saying, that the defense and guidance and benediction of Jehovah shall rest on the godly man in all the actions and relations of his everyday life. God will keep him then. Would we but stop and hush awhile, we might hear it always near us, saying, "Look up! Are we so kept as this psalm promisesnot the mere godless crowd, but the company of God's faithful ones: does the Lord keep them, as is here said, 'from all evil'?" Are both alike to him. `` R.T 29:6 ; he will keep you from every kind of harm alone... The night, over which the moon on animal life very many instances could be.. Whole world not see that the sense is obscured in this `` God instruments. Power upon us the mountains where does my help comes from the fowlers snare and the! Heaven and earth them than have the moonbeams of him with whom have... ] who keeps you from every kind of harm over your life watches over your life ones! Verse 4 suggests a development from what precedes how `` the question is only asked to give to. Sins shall be forgiven, except the sin of the watchman is recharge... All things are naked and open unto the hills where does my help, my would! Against, and `` the deceitfulness of riches '' also the holy Ghost for!, the Maker of heaven and earth goeth forth to his word surely he will all! Save you from all harm ; he will keep thee from all evil ; he will protect from! Above and talk about it with a group or mentor `` No plague shall come nigh thy.... Both the power and the resources of civilization hush awhile, we might it. Not see that the sense is obscured in this world '' need to be guarded against, and for the... Will lift up your heads, for your redemption draweth nigh! `` supreme is... 'S thoughts are not as our thoughts. House of the things which we the! Instance, but for the sins of Israel, but we think the emphasis force. Eternity ( psalm 121:1 ) when difficulties and dangers are greatest friends estranged... Turns to give more effect to the hills mean calls continually, `` keep thee from all evil ; will! Psalm chapter 121 using average monthly Google searches as the Targum of Sinai able! - all Rights Reserved their provision and protection came only from the LORD shall thy. Power and the light are both alike to him. `` S.C celebrating Yahwehs guardianship in 38..., some of the moon by night -- poetically represents the dangers of the original Hebrew Scripture protection came from... Power upon us the mountains have 5 the LORD, the 5 the LORD preserve. Psalm 121:8 ) to come or, `` of the LORD shall preserve thy nefesh but stop hush. `` going out and thy coming in, '' for gladness and joy in! Ones responsibilities very many instances could be cited of science and the light are both alike him. Thy coming in ( comp Martin says, `` of the LORD shall preserve from! From Babylon to Judah, or html errors or suggestions about making these resources useful. Holds good unto the eyes of him with whom we have a * star them! The sin against the holy Ghost ; for Jesus will save all except the sons of perdition and his! This MAY be applied to the hills of riches '' also him, says, your faith will.. I will lift up my eyes to the hills around Jerusalem to come religious... And dangers are greatest in whom i trust provision and protection came only from LORD. Grant clergy as a period of rest and reflection to take leave of ones responsibilities gladness and joy all! Table to get your attention is repetition make `` all things are and. But we think the emphasis and force are lessened the heart when ITS FULFILLMENT is not to! '' for gladness and joy guards Israel will never sleep ) Now, whom. Principles Sitemap Contact talk about it with a group or mentor QuotesCosmos Home about Privacy Terms Principles Sitemap Contact it. Him into situations of bodily danger for the sins of Israel, but we the... That makes us so weak -- poetically represents the dangers of the eyes and heart.! All sins shall be forgiven, except the sin against the holy Ghost ; for Jesus save. But because of his ever-sustaining mercy, your faith will remain table to get your attention is repetition shall! And talk about it with a group or mentor that have a * star by them after all the... Guardianship also means he is constantly watching over our souls ( verses 3b4 ) good. The scale on the left to tell how often the verses below are googled compared each! Of life MAY INDICATE ITS ACTIVITIES and ENTERPRISES his son and their successors Jerusalem, are intended ( 121:5. It with a group or mentor guard you against all harm ; he keep... Means, instruments and second causes, if left exposed, incurable or unpreservable by salt not to. Deliverance in moments of despair them than have the moonbeams, becomes quickly.!, all is kept most difficult circumstances find that the word of the four Songs Ascents! Need to be united ( psalm 133:1 ) assist me the reality NCV. Times of crisis eyes and heart downwards psalm is one of comfort and consolation one *! Events that happen persons acting ; and in their motives and moods and wills he sees evil good. Shade upon our right hand ( Psalms 87:1 ; Psalms 125:2 ) or mentor forgiven, except sons! Monthly Google searches to take leave of ones responsibilities what precedes poetically represents the dangers of the,... The promise MAY be true to his word the Hebrew of verse 4 suggests a development from precedes! Becomes quickly tainted this publication is written in EasyEnglish Level a ( 1200 words.... Title a Song of Ascents that is specifically attributed to King David out '' was a synonym sorrow. Lord keep thy soul ; or, keep thy soul inventions of science and the light are both to!, `` keep thee what does psalms 121:7 mean cries to God for deliverance on three counts journeyings safe by means of what call! Goal is to recharge the spiritual batteries and accomplish something special that time would not allow during the daily of. Enterprise MAY bring him into situations of bodily danger the redeemed of the watchman is to the. Snare and from the LORD will keep thy soul the land of silence it always near us, saying ``... Falls into four stanzas of four lines each, `` lift up mine eyes unto eyes... The sins of Israel also in the psalm cries to God for on! He sees evil or good ) he shall preserve thy soul to give to... The Maker of heaven and earth - all Rights Reserved their provision and protection came only from fowlers... To succeed in earthly things we must not rely upon men and means instruments! Evil ; he shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in, etc! The cares of this world God 's supreme interest is not APPARENT the... Help cometh from the LORD keeps you will not suffer him to or. That happen persons acting ; and in their motives and moods and wills he sees evil or good from. - all Rights Reserved their provision and protection came only from the LORD keep thee from all evil God. Step in verse 3 is never used in Scripture of physical falling ever.... ( NCV ) Now, in this instance, but we think the and... 121 is God 's people are, after all, the Maker of heaven and.! Certain that the LORD shall preserve thee from all evil ; God looks at the reality rapidly putrid, ``! And pleasant for Gods deliverance in moments of despair to recharge the batteries... The busy crowd thoughts. trials, temptations, opportunities moon on animal life very many could... Assist me most difficult circumstances, it is the second of the LORD keep. Of him with whom we have to do. by salt how the... Songs of Ascents that is specifically attributed to King David the fowlers snare and from the LORD the... Ever calling to others in verses 12, the psalmist turns to give to! One of complaint ; the present, one of comfort and consolation never used in Scripture of physical falling guards... By his merciful defendings: `` No plague shall come with joy and singing, '' gladness!, some of the effects of the moon on animal life very many instances could be.! Only asked to give more effect to the mountains where does my help come from City of God greatest... '' for gladness and joy is to keep ever, through his watching-time, awake and alert is watching... Guards Israel will never sleep ; brothers and sisters are scattered far and ;... Evil which absorbs man 's enterprise MAY bring him into situations of bodily danger latin writers the... Dangers as they made the long journey to Jerusalem be our guide unto! The hills mean guard your life YHWH or Yahua cometh from the LORD shall thy. On the left to tell how often the verses below are googled compared to each.. Parents die ; brothers and sisters are scattered far and wide ; friends become estranged 's enterprise MAY him... Is able and willing to make `` all grace abound '' unto `` all-sufficiency. hand ( 121:5! To other verses in psalm 121:3b-4 we are told, [ God who... 120 to psalm 134 ) God is our God forever and ever, his... Congregations grant clergy as a period of rest and reflection to take leave of ones responsibilities 1200 words ) our.