Salmos 121
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Salmos 121:1-4
121:1-8 All of the VERBS are IMPERFECTS. They denote ongoing and continual Divine care and protection. There is a possibility, depending on how many speakers there are in this Psalm, that in Ps. 121:3 the IMPERFECTS are used in a JUSSIVE sense (i.e., prayer requests, NJB, NET). 121:1 "I will lift up my eyes" This is imagery denoting how a person looks to YHWh and trusts Him (cf. Ps. 123:1; 141:8). ▣ "to the mountains" Notice it is PLURAL, which may denote creation, cf. Ps. 87:1 the temple on Mt. Moriah (i.e., PLURAL OF MAJESTY, see SPECIAL TOPIC: MORIAH) imagery of strength, stability, and longevity protection (cf. Ps. 125:1-2) if the MT intro., "songs of ascent" means pilgrim songs on the way to Jerusalem, then for a pilgrim to see the hills of Judah meant they were close to the temple it is possible it was meant to be a contrast to Ba'al worship done on the high places (cf. 2 Kgs. 23:4-14). Some looked to the fertility gods but the faithful followers looked to YHWH alone. See SPECIAL TOPIC: MONOTHEISM YHWH is associated with several mountains. Mt. Moriah, Genesis 22, later the site of Solomon's temple. See SPECIAL TOPIC: MORIAH Mt Nebo, where YHWH took Moses' life after showing him the Promised Land Mt. Sinai/Horeb, the place of YHWH giving the Law to Moses, Exodus 19-20 the mountain in the north (i.e., Zaphon), Ps. 48:2; Isa. 14:13c In the ANE, the gods were always associated with mountains because of their height their grandeur their permanence their protection ▣ "From where shall my help come" Psalm 121:2 makes it obvious that the help is not a physical mountain but the God of creation (cf. Ps. 121:2) and covenant (cf. Ps. 121:4). 121:2 "the Lord" This is the covenant name for Israel's Deity—YHWH. SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, D. ▣ "Who made heaven and earth" This refers to the physical creation of this planet (cf. Ps. 102:25; 115:15; 124:8; 134:3; 146:6). This is an allusion to Genesis 1. Notice how YHWH is characterized. Creator, Ps. 121:2 Sustainer, Ps. 121:3a; 66:9 individual, cf. Ps. 121:7b,8 corporate, cf. Ps. 121:4 vigilant observer, Ps. 121:3b shade, Ps. 121:5-6 (see SPECIAL TOPIC: SHADOW AS A METAPHOR FOR PROTECTION AND CARE) perpetual keeping (the VERB, BDB 1036, KB 1581, is used in Ps. 121:3,4,5,7 [twice], and 8) 121:3 "He" This may refer to a second speaker who answers vv. 1-3. ▣ "foot to slip" This is common Hebrew imagery which speaks of a godly life as a clear, straight, level road/path/way (cf. Ps. 139:24) speaks of evil as a deviation from the clearly marked (i.e., revelation) path of God or a stumbling on the path SPECIAL TOPIC: THE PATH, THE WAY ▣ "He who keeps you" This Psalm is characterized by the use of this root, "keep" (BDB 1036, KB 1581). v. 3 ‒ Qal ACTIVE PARTICIPLE v. 4 ‒ Qal ACTIVE PARTICIPLE v. 5 ‒ Qal ACTIVE PARTICIPLE v. 7 ‒ Qal IMPERFECT v. 7 ‒ Qal IMPERFECT v. 8 ‒ Qal IMPERFECT The covenant God of Israel watches and keeps His people! ▣ "will not slumber" God is always watching His creation His people Not like Ba'al, who sleeps, cf. 1 Kgs. 18:27; Ezek. 6:13; 18:6,12,15. It is possible "sleep" was imagery for YHWH's inactivity (cf. Ps. 7:6; 44:23; 73:20; 78:65). However, in His time He does act for His people. Psalm 121:4 repeats this same truth in a corporate sense. God has a plan for Israel. SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN
Salmos 121:5-8
120:5 It is possible this strophe represents another speaker. 121:6 This is imagery for military attack demonic attack (see SPECIAL TOPIC: THE DEMONIC IN THE OT) Notice the phrase "protect/keep from all evil" in Ps. 121:7a. It is surely possible that this phrase is a Hebrew idiom for all problems. 121:7 "He will keep your soul" What a wonderful promise of individual care and protection! He is "with" and "for" faithful followers. We are not alone and our life has purpose! SPECIAL TOPIC: NEPHESH 121:8 This is Hebrew imagery for God's watchful care over all of the life of His faithful followers (cf. Deut. 28:6; Ps. 139:1-6). Notice the typical Hebrew way of using two opposites as a way to include all. heaven ‒ earth, Ps. 121:2 sun ‒ moon, Ps. 121:6 in ‒ out, Ps. 121:8 121:8a "your going out and your coming in" This is imagery for daily life (cf. Num. 27:17; Deut. 31:2; 2 Kgs. 11:8; also note Ps. 139:2-3). 121:8b There is surely an element of eternity in this verse, as there is in Ps. 23:6. The afterlife is veiled in the OT but the progressive revelation of the NT clarifies the truth! ▣ "forever" See SPECIAL TOPIC: FOREVER ('olam).