Psalm 121 is one of the most popular chapters in the book of Psalms. The psalm primarily talks about God’s protection, but it is also an invitation to trust God. In this post, let us go through Psalm 121 and discover 5 powerful lessons that will help us better understand God’s divine protection, love, and grace.

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What is Psalm 121?

Psalm 121 is a song of ascents and is part of the Psalms of Ascent, which include Psalms 120 to 134. All these psalm chapters bear the superscription “a song of ascents” or “a song of ascent.” While there are different theories as to the main purpose of these Psalms, most scholars will tell you that these Psalms are used for the pilgrimage of people going to Jerusalem. Thus, Psalm 121 is considered to be a pronouncement of blessing for one who is about to go on a journey.

Today, Psalm 121 is a common psalm read and recited during long journeys. Thus, if you’re going on a trip, this psalm is a great psalm to read or recite before you start your trip.

What does Psalm 121 say?

To give you an idea, here’s how Psalm 121 is written:

​¹ I will lift up my eyes to the hills—
From whence comes my help?

² My help comes from the LORD,
Who made heaven and earth.

³ He will not allow your foot to be moved;
He who keeps you will not slumber.

⁴ Behold, He who keeps Israel
Shall neither slumber nor sleep.

⁵ The LORD is your keeper;
The LORD is your shade at your right hand.

⁶ The sun shall not strike you by day,
Nor the moon by night.

⁷ The LORD shall preserve you from all evil;
He shall preserve your soul.

⁸ The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in
From this time forth, and even forevermore.

You can divide Psalm 121 into two categories:

• Verses 1-2: the question of  the traveler
• Verses 3-8: declaration of God’s protection

What are the lessons we can learn from Psalm 121

Psalm 121 is a well-known passage from the Book of Psalms in the Bible. It is often referred to as the “Song of Ascents” and is a comforting and reassuring reflection on God’s protection and guidance. 

So, what are the lessons we can learn from Psalm 121? Here are 10 of them:

1. Our help comes from God

Throughout the book of Psalm, you’ll read about God’s divine and supernatural protection. One of the chapters you’ll read about this is in Psalm 121. So, it should not come as a surprise that this psalm is a favorite chapter to recite for people who seek God’s protection especially when traveling great distances.

Whether you are traveling or not, Psalm 121 is a beautiful psalm that talks about God’s protection. From the very first verse, we read how our help is coming from God. We read:

1 I will lift up my eyes to the hills—
From whence comes my help?

2 My help comes from the LORD,
Who made heaven and earth.

Psalms 121:1-2

Psalm 121 doesn’t specify what type of danger the writer was experiencing. This tells us that this psalm applies to any danger we might face. In the face of danger, the psalmist asks where his help will come and he affirms that his help comes from the LORD, Yahweh, the Most High God.

But who is Yahweh that we should trust Him? Psalm 121:2 tells us that it is Yahweh who made heaven and earth! Can you just imagine how powerful this statement is?

As followers of Jesus Christ (Yahshua), we can come to the Creator of heaven and earth and ask for help. We can always come boldly before the Throne of Grace and ask for protection that we all need.

Notice, the psalmist mentioned about the hills. God is the Creator of all things including the hills. If this is the case, then God has complete control of the hills and thus, it is only logical for us to call on Yahweh when we need help and protection as we travel through the hills in our lives.

2. God doesn’t sleep

We read:

3 He will not allow your foot to be moved;
He who keeps you will not slumber.

4 Behold, He who keeps Israel
Shall neither slumber nor sleep.

Psalms 121:3-4

Human beings are made of flesh and blood. Our physical body is subject to exhaustion. Sooner or later, we need to sleep to recharge our tired bodies. Yet, we can see here that God isn’t like that. He doesn’t slumber nor sleep!

What’s more, God is not like the pagan gods. The pagans believe that their gods sleep and thus, they need to do various rituals and ceremonies

God guards His people 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. There’s not a moment of weakness. There’s not a moment we’ll be unguarded. God casts His watchful eyes on us. We can all sleep sound tonight knowing that God watches over us.

3. God is our Keeper

We read:

5 The LORD is your keeper;
The LORD is your shade at your right hand.

6 The sun shall not strike you by day,
Nor the moon by night.

Psalms 121:5-6

What a powerful and comforting statement — because God is our Keeper, He will keep us away from danger. He personally guards and keeps us.

Notice that Yahweh is our shade at our right hand. Shade represents God’s tender care while our right hand represents our actions. This means that whatever we do, as long as it is of faith, God will prosper and protect it. This tells us as well that God will protect our source of income and the works of our hands.

Notice that God will not only protect us from wicked people, but also from natural calamities, which are represented by the sun and moon that could strike us. Also, this tells us that those who worship the sun and moon will never defeat or overcome God’s people!

Moreover, the sun represents the day and the moon represents the night. So, whether it is day or night, God will be there to protect us.

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4. God will preserve us

We read:

7 The LORD shall preserve you from all evil;
He shall preserve your soul.

8 The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in
From this time forth, and even forevermore.

Psalms 121:7-8

The Hebrew word for preserve here is shamar, which means to preserve, protect, and attend. However, it could also mean a hedge. This tells us that God builds a hedge around His people so that no evil and harm could befall them.

What’s more, this hedge is movable. It is not just stationary that would force you to stay in one place. It doesn’t mean that if we move around, we will not be protected by the hedge. Instead, this hedge goes wherever we go. God preserves our going out and coming in — meaning, when we travel, God also grants protection for us.

The promise is not just given yesterday or at the present time. The psalmist tells us that it would be a forevermore promise.

With this in mind, as long as we are pleasing God and it is according to God’s will, we will be protected from all forms of evil!

5. Psalm 121 has daily life application

While Psalm 121 is commonly known as a traveler’s psalm, it is actually applied to all aspects of our lives. The overarching message is that this trust in God’s protection is not limited to specific circumstances but extends to all aspects of life’s journey. Whether facing challenges, uncertainties, or joys, the psalmist encourages the reader to maintain a posture of reliance on God’s help.

After all, our life is considered as a journey. In fact, we are called pilgrims in the Bible. We read:

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

Hebrews 11:13

The word pilgrims here means that we are strangers and foreigners. This world isn’t our home. We are just traveling through life. We are simply passing by.

So, in reality, we are on this long journey called life and Psalm 121 is truly applicable to our life’s journey.

Bonus lesson: Learn to trust God

Trusting God isn’t natural for many of us. In fact, the default mode of most people is to fear, doubt, and be anxious. That’s normal. That’s what humans feel and do.

However, as faithful servants of God, we need to rise above what’s normal and natural. We serve the living and almighty God and thus, we can have full confidence in His promises.

Of course, learning to trust God isn’t easy. Especially when you are new in the faith, there will be a lot of things that would try your faith. Nevertheless, the tests in our lives are not there to take us out of the Christian race. They are there to make us stronger and better.

Every struggle and trial you face, use them as your stepping stone into reaching higher heights of trusting God. Learning to trust God takes time and thankfully, God is patient with us. As long as we are doing our best, God assures us that He will take us to where we are supposed to go.

Yes, Psalm 121 is a great promise to all the believers. However, it won’t be a promise that life will be free of dangers, calamities, and tragedies. Instead, Psalm 121 is a promise that no matter what we go through in life, God will be with us. Ultimately, our protection is knowing that God’s absolute plan for us is to give us eternal life and be part of His Family.

Frequently Asked Questions About Psalm 121 (FAQs)

1. Who wrote Psalm 121?

King David wrote Psalm 121. That’s what most scholars would tell you. So, the authorship of many of the Psalms, including Psalm 121, is traditionally attributed to King David. However, please note that the exact authorship of all the Psalms is not definitively known, and some Psalms may have been composed by multiple authors or edited over time.

Psalm 121, like many others, is not explicitly attributed to a specific author within the text. Nevertheless, there’s a high chance that it was composed, written, edited, or compiled by King David of Israel.

2. What is the main theme of Psalm 121?

The main theme is trust in God’s protection and guidance, particularly during life’s journey.

3. What are the “Songs of Ascents” in the Psalms?

Psalms 120 to 134, including Psalm 121, are known as the “Songs of Ascents” or “Pilgrim Psalms,” likely used by worshipers on their way to Jerusalem for festivals.

4. Why is Psalm 121 often considered a source of comfort?

The psalm emphasizes God’s constant watchfulness and assurance of protection, providing comfort and reassurance to believers. People who trust in Yahweh will experience comfort in the fact that He is God and that He is always in complete control.

5. What is the significance of the imagery of hills in Psalm 121?

The hills are symbolic of the source of help, possibly representing the journey to Jerusalem for worship. However, some scholars interpret the imagery of hills as a source of fear and anxiety. For example, Jesus was crucified on a hill. Thus, the psalmist was asking, where can he get his help from the dangers coming from the hills.

6. What does “I lift up my eyes to the hills” mean in Psalm 121?

This phrase expresses a sense of seeking help from God, who is often associated with the heavens. Other scholars will tell you that this means the traveler is lifting up his eyes to the hills and seeing it as a place where danger may come from.

7. What is the meaning of “The Lord is your keeper” in Psalm 121?

It signifies God’s role as a protector and guardian, ensuring the well-being of believers. Since He is the most powerful Being in the entire Universe, He is the most effective keeper. No one can even breach His defenses nor His watchful care.

8. How does Psalm 121 emphasize God’s constant watchfulness?

The psalm states that God neither slumbers nor sleeps, underlining the idea of continuous vigilance. Unlike human beings, God is not subject to frailties and weaknesses. Humans need to sleep in order to stay alive, but God doesn’t need sleep and thus, it tells us that God is constantly looking after us and ensuring that we are safe. There will never be even a single moment where God will lower His defenses for us.

9. How has Psalm 121 been used in worship and tradition?

Psalm 121 has been used as a source of inspiration and comfort in various religious traditions and is often recited or sung in times of need.

10. Does Psalm 121 have any historical or cultural significance?

It is part of the religious and cultural heritage of Judaism and Christianity and has been cherished for its timeless message of faith and dependence on God.

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