Psalm 121:1-4

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 121:1-8

This psalm teaches us, I. To stay ourselves upon God as a God of power and a God all-sufficient for us. David did so and found the benefit of it. 1. We must not rely upon creatures, upon men and means, instruments and second causes, nor make flesh our arm: ?Shall I lift up my eyes to the hills???so some read it. ?Does my help come thence? Shall I depend upon the powers of the earth, upon the strength of the hills, upon princes and great men, who, like hills, fill the earth, and hold up their... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 121:1

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills ,.... Not to the hills and mountains in Judea, looking about to see if the inhabitants of them, or any bodies of men, appeared upon them to his help in distress; rather to the hills of Moriah and Zion, where the ark of God, the symbol of his presence, was, and to whom he looked for assistance and deliverance: or to heaven, the holy hill of the Lord, and to him that dwelleth there; see Psalm 3:2 . The lifting up of the eyes is a prayer gesture, John... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 121:2

My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. Who helps his people out of the hands of all their enemies, and out of all their troubles and afflictions; he helps them in the performance of duty, in the exercise of grace, in bearing the cross, in fighting the Lord's battles, and on in their journey; he helps them to all blessings, temporal and spiritual; to all needful supplies of grace here, and glory hereafter; and this help he gives is quick and present, suitable and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 121:3

He wilt not suffer thy foot to be moved ,.... This is either an address of the psalmist to his own soul; or to any other good man, his friend and acquaintance, assuring of stability, and of final perseverance in grace to glory. The Lord keeps the feet of his saints from falling: he will not suffer them to be moved out of the spiritual estate in which they stand; nor off of the Foundation and Rock of ages, on which their feet are set, and their goings established; nor out of the house of God,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 121:4

Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. He that kept Israel or Jacob, when asleep, and appeared to him in a dream, and promised to keep him in all places, and did; who found his posterity in the wilderness, and kept them as the apple of his eye: he keeps his spiritual Israel, whom he has chosen, redeemed, and calls; and he that is in general their keeper, is the keeper of every particular believer, who may promise themselves the utmost safety under his care; since,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 121:1

Unto the hills - Jerusalem was built upon a mountain; and Judea was a mountainous country; and the Jews, in their several dispersions, turned towards Jerusalem when they offered up their prayers to God. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 121:2

My help cometh from the Lord - There is no help for me but in my God; and I expect it from no other quarter. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 121:3

He will not suffer thy foot to be moved - The foundation, God's infinite power and goodness, on which thou standest, cannot be moved; and whilst thou standest on this basis, thy foot cannot be moved. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 121:4

He that keepeth Israel - The Divine Being represents himself as a watchman, who takes care of the city and its inhabitants during the night-watches; and who is never overtaken with slumbering or sleepiness. There is a thought in the Antigone of Sophocles, that seems the counterpart of this of the psalmist, Ταν σανπ , Ζευπ , δυναμιν τις ανδρωνπ Ὑπερβασια κατασχοι,Ταν ουθπ ' ὑπνος αἱπ - ρει ποθπ ' ὁ παντογηρως,Ακαματοι τε θεωνΜηνες; Antig. ver. 613, Edit. Johnson.... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 121:1

Verse 1 lI will lift up my eyes to the mountains. The inspired writer, whoever he was, seems, in the opening of the Psalm, to speak in the person of an unbelieving man. As God prevents his believing people with his blessings, and meets them of his own accord, so they, on their part, immediately east their eyes directly upon him. What then is the meaning of this unsettled looking of the Prophet, who casts his eyes now on this side and now on that, as if faith directed him not to God? I answer,... read more

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