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Psalm 121 | King James Audio Bible
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Psalm 121 is of the series of Psalms known as the ‘Songs of Ascents’ (Psalms 120-134). Traditionally, these psalms were sung by pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem for religious festivals. Psalm 121, in particular, has been a source of comfort, revered for its focus on God’s protection and providence.
The opening line, ‘I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help,’ draws the reader into a context of seeking help or relief. The psalmist’s gaze is directed upwards to the hills, a gesture that suggests both a literal looking up to the mountains surrounding Jerusalem and a metaphorical lifting of the soul towards divine help.
The following verse, ‘My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth,’ establishes the source of this help. By recognizing God as the creator of heaven and earth, the psalmist attributes to God both supreme power and a personal interest in human affairs. This acknowledgment of God as the ultimate source of help is cornerstone of faith, encapsulating a deep trust in the divine.
In verses 3 and 4, the psalmist writes, ‘He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.’ These verses offer security, emphasizing God’s constant vigilance and care. Imagery of God who does not sleep is powerful, suggesting unwavering, round-the-clock protection. This contrasts with human frailties; we sleep, we falter, but the psalmist assures us that God’s protective gaze is eternal, unrelenting.
The fifth and sixth verses, ‘The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night,’ further develop this theme of protection. The metaphor of the Lord as a shade is rich in meaning, particularly in the Middle Eastern context where the sun’s heat can be oppressive. This shade is not just a relief from physical discomfort but a metaphor for protection from life’s harsh realities. Reference to the moon not smiting by night speaks to fears and dangers that were often associated with the night; it is a promise of protection from seen and unseen dangers.
In the final two verses, ‘The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore,’ the psalm reaches its climax. The repetition of ‘preserve’ underscores a comprehensive safeguarding of the believer’s life. The promise extends beyond physical well-being to preservation of the soul, indicating spiritual protection. The scope of this preservation is all-encompassing – encompassing all aspects of life, at all times, and for eternity.
Psalm 121 | King James Audio Bible
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.
He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.
Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.
The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.
The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.
Psalm 121 | King James Audio Bible
- Divine Protection: A primary theme of the psalm is the assurance of God’s constant and unwavering protection, emphasized throughout the verses.
- God As The Ultimate Helper: The psalmist declares that help comes from the Lord, the Creator of heaven and earth, highlighting God’s omnipotence and willingness to aid.
- Unceasing Vigilance Of God: The imagery of God as one who neither slumbers nor sleeps conveys God’s perpetual guardianship over His people.
- Protection From All Harm: The promise that the sun and moon will not harm and that God will keep the believer from all evil underscores comprehensive safeguarding, both physical and spiritual.
- Continual Preservation: The repetition of God’s preservation in all aspects of life – ‘thy going out and thy coming in’ – symbolizes God’s constant care in every situation and time.
- Eternal Assurance: The psalm extends the promise of God’s protection into eternity, suggesting an everlasting commitment to safeguard His followers.
- Trust In God’s Care: The psalm reflects a deep trust in God’s providential care, encouraging believers to rely on Him in all circumstances.
- Comfort And Reassurance: The psalm offers comfort and reassurance, serving as a reminder of God’s presence and protection in the face of life’s challenges and uncertainties.
- Spiritual Journey: The psalm reflects the spiritual journey of the believer, affirming faith in God’s guidance through life’s metaphorical and physical journeys.
Connections | Psalm 121 KJV Commentary
Zondervan Academic – Commentary on Psalm 121 Enduring Word Bible Commentary Psalm 121 Study Guide for Psalm 121 by David Guzik – Blue Letter Bible Matthew Henry Commentary on Psalm 121 – Bible Study Tools Working Preacher Commentary on Psalm 121 Sermon Writer Commentary on Psalm 121 The Pulpit Commentaries – Psalms 121 C. H. Spurgeon’s Treasury of David – Psalm 121
Christian Art | Parousia | Second Coming | Lamb Of God, You Take Away The Sins Of The World Luke 17: 26-37 (Audio Bible KJV, Spoken Word) Early Christian thought about the Parousia – the second coming – was largely influenced by the teachings of Jesus and the writings of Saint Paul. In the early Christian community, expectation of Christ’s return was strong, and many Christians believed that it would happen in their lifetime. This belief is evident in the New Testament, where the authors express a sense of urgency in their writings and encourage their readers to be prepared for Christ’s imminent return. As Christianity spread throughout the Roman Empire, the idea of the Parousia became more complex and nuanced. Theological debates arose around the nature of Christ’s return and the events that would precede it. Some theologians, such as Origen and Augustine, saw the Parousia as a spiritual event that was already happening in the Church. Others, such as the Montanists and the millenarians, believed in a literal, physical return of Christ and the establishment of a new, earthly Kingdom. In the Middle Ages, the Parousia was often associated with apocalypticism and the idea of a final, cataclysmic battle between good and evil – the last battle. The idea of the Antichrist, who would precede Christ’s return, became a popular theme in Christian literature, and the book of Revelation (Apocalypse – meaning to reveal, to uncover) was interpreted as a prophetic guide to the end of the world. Biblical Basis For The Parousia | The Second Coming The concept of the Parousia, or the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, is central to Christian eschatology and is supported by numerous biblical passages in both the Old and New Testaments. In the Old Testament, there are numerous passages that refer to the coming of a Messiah who will restore Israel and bring about the final judgment. For example, in Daniel 7:13-14, it is written: ‘I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.’ This passage describes a divine figure who comes in the clouds and is given dominion over all nations. In the New Testament, the Parousia is described in greater detail, particularly in the teachings of Jesus and the writings of Saint Paul. Jesus speaks of his return in many passages, including Matthew 24:30-31, where Jesus says: ‘And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.’ Here, Jesus describes his return in power and glory, accompanied by angels who gather Jesus’ elect from all over the world. In Saint Paul’s letters, the Parousia is also described in detail. In 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, Saint Paul writes: ‘For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.’ This passage describes a resurrection of the dead and the gathering of believers to meet the Lord Jesus in the air. The language and imagery used to describe the Parousia are often dramatic and apocalyptic in nature. The Parousia is often described as a time of judgment, when the righteous will be separated from the wicked, and God’s justice will be fully revealed. The imagery of clouds, trumpets, and angels is used to depict the power and glory of Christ’s return. Theological Interpretations Of The Parousia | Jesus’ Second Coming The concept of the Parousia has been interpreted in a variety of ways throughout Christian history. Dispensationalism Dispensationalism is a theological framework that emerged in the 19th Century and has since become popular among some evangelical and fundamentalist Christians. Dispensationalists believe that history is divided into distinct periods or ‘dispensations’, each of which is marked by a particular mode of divine revelation and a specific plan of salvation. According to dispensationalist theology, the Parousia will be preceded by a period of tribulation, during which the Antichrist will establish a one-world government and the Jews will be restored to their homeland. The Parousia itself will involve a physical, visible return of Christ, who will establish a thousand-year reign on earth before the final judgment. Preterism Preterism is a theological interpretation of the Parousia that holds that many of the prophecies in the New Testament, particularly those in the book of Revelation, were fulfilled in the first century AD. According to this view, the Parousia occurred in a spiritual sense when Christ ascended to heaven and sent the Holy Spirit to empower the Church. Preterists argue that the tribulation and other end-time events predicted in the New Testament were fulfilled in the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in AD 70. Postmillennialism Postmillennialism is a theological view that holds that the Parousia will occur after a period of history in which the Church will gradually bring about the kingdom of God on earth. According to this view, the Church will spread the gospel throughout the world, and social, political, and economic conditions will gradually improve. Eventually, Christ will return to a world that has been largely transformed by the Gospel. Amillennialism […]
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