Salmos 121
James Montgomery Boice · Citado em PreceptAustin
Salmos 121
Boice comments that the identity of the "I… my" (vv 1-2) and the "you… your" (vv 3-8) have generated a number of different possibilities, but feels that in the final analysis… It is probably best to think of this as an internal dialogue of the psalmist with himself. We have a good example of internal dialogue in Psalms 42 and 43: “Why are you downcast, O my soul? … Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him” (Ps. 42:5, 11; Ps 43:5, italics added). Thomas Constable agrees with Boice noting that… The psalmist lifted up his eyes to the hills around Mt. Zion as he traveled to a feast there from some flatter part of Canaan. As he did so, he reflected on the source of his help. He also reminded himself that his help was the God who had made those hills along with the whole heaven and earth (cf. Ps 124:8). This was the God he was traveling to worship at the temple on Mt. Zion. Comment: While the identity of the pronouns cannot be stated dogmatically, the idea of someone speaking these truths to their own soul is very attractive. Indeed, is this not a comforting psalm to "preach" to our soul when we sense the need of the Lord's help? Matthew Henry introduces this psalm with words of exhortation… Wherever we are, at home or abroad, we are exposed to danger more than we are aware of; and this psalm directs and encourages us to repose ourselves and our confidence in God, and by faith to put ourselves under his protection and commit ourselves to his care, which we must do, with an entire resignation and satisfaction, in singing this psalm. (Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible) Lift up my eyes to the mountains - This Hebrew phrase ("lift up my eyes") is the Hebrew words nasa (lift) and 'ayin (eyes). This phrase frequently indicates a looking and seeing with anticipation of or disposition toward the object one is looking at. As discussed above, lifting one's eyes involves a choice of one's will. What or where one lifts one's eyes to look therefore reflects one's heart disposition (keeping in mind that the heart figuratively is like our "control tower" constantly monitoring and controlling what enters our "eye gate!"). Genesis, the book of beginnings, uses the phrase lift eyes 13 times (Gen 13:10, 13:14, 18:2, 22:4, 22:13, 24:63, 24:64, 31:10, 33:1, 33:5, 37:25, 39:7, 43:29) The first two uses are notable as they reflect two choices which in turn determine two destinies of two men, Lot and Abram… And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw all the valley of the Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere-- this was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah-- like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt as you go to Zoar. (Ge 13:10) And the LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, "Now lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward; for all the land which you see, I will give it to you and to your descendants forever. (Ge 13:14-15) In short, where we choose to "lift our eyes" can have significant consequences, either good or bad! Be careful where you "lift your eyes!" In another "Song of Ascents" we see a good example to imitate… To Thee I lift up my eyes, O Thou who art enthroned in the heavens! Comment: The best place to lift our eyes is to fix our eyes on the best Person, Jesus, the Author and Perfector of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). If our eyes are fixed on Him, our wills are more likely to be surrendered to His Spirit (Who enables our holy walk) and our feet are more likely to follow Him. In short, our behavior is more likely to be like Jesus (See 1 Cor 4:16, 1 Peter 2:21, 1 John 2:6, John 13:15, 1Peter 2:21, 1 Cor 11:1, 4:16). THOUGHT - So let me ask again, in our technologically entranced, visually oriented world, where are you "lifting your eyes?" May God grant us grace to lift our eyes to the mountains, especially to the God Who created those mountains. Amen Regarding the phrase lift up my eyes, A W
Salmos 121
Boice comments that Psalm 121 has been known as The Traveler’s Psalm… David Livingstone, the famous missionary and explorer of the continent of Africa, read Psalm 121 and Psalm 135, which praises God for his sovereign rule over all things, as he worshiped with his father and sister before setting out for Africa in 1840. His mother-in-law, Mrs. Moffat, wrote him at Linyardi that Psalm 121 was always in her mind as she thought about and prayed for him. J. S. Watson, a Rear Admiral in the United States Navy and the successor to Admiral Dewey, who commanded the U.S. fleet in the Philippines during the Spanish American War, wrote, “My favorite chapter is the Traveller’s Psalm, Psalm 121. The seventh and eighth verses mean more to me than any other.” William Edwards was a British magistrate caught in the Indian Mutiny of 1857. His escape after hiding out for months is a thrilling story. He wrote at one point, “Nothing new has been settled about our plans, and we are much harassed. Heavy guns were firing at Turruckabad today. We know not for what cause, but they reminded us painfully of our fearful proximity to that place where so many are thirsting for our lives. Amidst it all, the psalms are most consoling and wonderfully suited to our cause, especially the 121st: ‘I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh our help’ [kjv].” These are only a few of what must be many thousands of instances when, in danger, God’s people have turned to Psalm 121 and found comfort… the marvelous spirit of tranquil trust in God that the psalm breathes from beginning to end. It is this trust that makes Psalm 121 such a strong discipleship song for pilgrims of all times and all countries… Protection by God, under the watchful eye of God, is the dominant idea in the psalm. (Psalms: An Expositional Commentary Psalms 107-150 - Page 1076) Expositor's Dictionary of Texts writes… Dr. Blaikie, in his Life of Livingstone, tells that this Psalm and the 135th were read by him when he parted with his family and went out first as a missionary to Africa 'I remember my father and him,' writes his sister, 'talking over the prospects of Christian missions. They said that the time would come when rich and great men would think it an honour to support whole stations of missionaries, instead of spending their money on hounds and horses. On the morning of 17 November, 1840, we got up at five o'clock. David read the 121st and the 135th Psalms and prayed. My father and he walked to Glasgow to catch the Liverpool steamer.' The old man walked back with a lonely heart to Blantyre, while his son's face was set in earnest toward the dark continent. Rod Mattoon writes… A little boy was spending his Saturday morning playing in his sandbox. He had with him his box of cars and trucks, his plastic pail, and a shiny, red plastic shovel. In the process of creating roads and tunnels in the soft sand, he discovered a large rock in the middle of the sandbox. The lad dug around the rock, managing to dislodge it from the dirt. With no little bit of struggle, he pushed and nudged the rock across the sandbox by using his feet. (He was a very small boy and the rock was very large.) When the boy got the rock to the edge of the sandbox, however, he found that he couldn't roll it up and over the little wall. Determined, the little boy shoved, pushed, and pried, but every time he thought he had made some progress, the rock tipped and then fell back into the sandbox. The little boy grunted, struggled, pushed, shoved—but his only reward was to have the rock roll back, smashing his chubby little fingers. Finally he burst into tears of frustration. All this time the boy's father watched from the living room window as the drama unfolded. At the moment the tears fell, a large shadow fell across the boy and the sandbox. It was the boy's father. Gently but firmly he said, "Son, why didn't you use all the strength that you had available?" Defeated, the boy sobbed back, "But I did, Daddy, I did! I used all the strength that I had!" "No, son," corrected the father kindly. "You didn't use all the strength you had. You didn't ask me." With that the father reached down, picked up the rock, and removed it from the sandbox. Beloved, God is our Helper. He is the helper of the hopeless, the homeless, the hurting, the harassed, and the heckled. He knows what you need emotionally, mentally, physically, spiritually, and financially. We are wise if we will tap into His strength to face our mountains and hills. He will provide for every need that you have. (Treasures From Treasured Psalms) Lift Up Your Eyes - A woman whose work demanded constant reading began to have difficulty with her eyes, so she consulted a physician. After an examination he said, "Your eyes are just tired; you need to rest them." "But," she replied, "that is impossible in my type of work." After a few moments the doctor asked, "Do you have windows at your workplace?" "Oh, yes," she answered with enthusiasm. "From the front windows I can see the noble peaks of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and from the rear windows I can look out at the glorious Allegheny foothills." The physician replied, "That is exactly what you need. When your eyes feel tired, go look at your mountains for 10 minutes—20 would be better—and the far look will rest your eyes!" Lift up your eyes, discouraged one, The Lord your help will be; New strength will come from Him who said, "For rest, come unto Me." —Anon. For the right spiritual focus, fix your eyes on the Lord. Related Resources: What Can I Do With My Worry? Overcoming Worry What does the Bible say about worry? Does the Bible say anything about insomnia? What does the Bible say about hypochondria or being a hypochondriac? What does the Bible say about restlessness? What does the Bible say about anxiety? What does the Bible say about stress? Related Resources: Make a joyful noise to Jehovah - Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir's version "My Help" I Lift Up My Eyes - Paul Wilbur Lift Up My Eyes - Brian Doerksen From whence shall my help come?: This is a question, but the question does not express doubt, despondency or despair. It is simply asked to introduce the answer which follows. Note that Psalm 121 is often misunderstood especially when read in the KJV. Matthew