Useful Bible Studies > Songs of Ascent Commentary

Psalm 121

· To get the maximum benefit from this study, please open your Bible and read Psalm 121 first.

As the poet went on his journey, he would hear many stories about the roads to Jerusalem. The roads were difficult and dangerous.

There were both lions and bears that lived in Israel (1 Samuel 17:34). Sometimes these large wild animals attacked sheep. And sometimes they killed people (1 Kings 13:24; 2 Kings 17:25-26).

One important road to Jerusalem was the road from Jericho. But there were robbers on that road (Luke 10:30). Those robbers would not just take a man’s possessions. They were cruel men, who did not hesitate to cause pain or even to murder.

And there were many other troubles too. Some routes to Jerusalem are through the desert. The sun is hot, and there is no shelter or water. Groups of enemy soldiers frequently entered Israel. They would take away anyone whom they caught (for example, 2 Kings 5:2).

People would also worry about the many things that they did not know about. There were strange stories about evil spirits who lived in the desert. Also, many people chose to walk by night, to avoid the sun’s heat. But then they might worry about all the things that they could not see because of the darkness.

The poet had heard many such stories. But he had decided not to worry. He had no reason to worry. He was God’s servant, so God was his master. The poet was walking to Jerusalem in order to *worship God. And God was able to protect him.

So the sight of the hills caused joy, not fear. Every traveller would see those hills as he approached Jerusalem. And among those hills was the one where God’s house (called the temple) was. God was in his temple, and he defended Israel from there. But God is not like a weak false god, who can only be in one place. Israel’s God is the God who made heaven and earth. And God is present everywhere. So God was also with the poet as he walked.

The poet could know God as his personal guard. And so could each traveller who, like the poet, had given himself or herself completely to God.

So the heat of the sun did not need to cause fear. God is a shelter from such real dangers.

But God also protects from dangers that are not real. There are many silly stories about the dangers of the moon. But the person who trusts God does not need to be afraid of the moon.

So the Psalm promises God’s complete protection upon his servants. He protects them from danger. He defends their lives. He is with them on all their journeys. His protection is both immediate and permanent.

Next part: A lesson from Psalm 121

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