Psalm 121:5-8

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 121:5

The Lord is thy keeper ,.... This explains more fully who it is that keeps Israel and particular believers, and confirms the same; not a creature, but the Lord; the Word of the Lord, as the Targum, in Psalm 121:7 , Christ, the Word and Wisdom of God; who is the keeper of his people by the designation of his Father, who has put them into his hands to be kept by him; and by their full will and consent, who commit the keeping of their souls to him; for which he is abundantly qualified,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 121:6

The sun shall not smite thee by day ,.... With its rays, which it shoots forth like darts, and which fly swiftly, and pierce and hurt: hence Apollo, the same with the sun, is represented with a bow and arrows F15 Macrob. Saturnal. l. 1. c. 17. ; so the rays of the sun seem to be called in Habakkuk 2:11 ; nor the moon by night ; this clause should be supplied, as a learned man F16 Scheuchzer. Physic. Sacr. p. 976, 977. observes, thus, "neither shall the moon cool thee by... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 121:7

Thee Lord shall preserve them from all evil ,.... The Word of the Lord, as the Targum. Not from the evil of affliction, though from that as a penal evil; or as a real one, it being made to work for good: but from the evil of sin; not from the being or commission of it; but from its dominion and damning power, or from a final and total falling away by it: and from the evil of the world; not from tribulation in it, nor from the reproach or persecution of it; but from the wickedness and lusts... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 121:8

The Lord shall preserve thy going out, and thy coming in ,.... In transacting all the business of life, in going in and out about it; in all ways, works, and conversation; in journeying and travelling; in all affairs, civil and religious; and not only preserve, but prosper in all, Psalm 1:3 ; the Lord blessing him, coming in and going out, Deuteronomy 28:6 ; and such, with the poet F24 Virgil. Aeneid. l. 8. "Adi pede sacra secundo"; & l. 10. "adsis pede diva secundo." , are... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 121:6

The sun shall not smite thee by day - Thus expressed by the Chaldee: "The morning spectres shall not smite thee by day, during the government of the sun; nor the nocturnal spectres by night, during the government of the moon." I believe the psalmist simply means, they shall not be injured by heat nor cold; by a sun-stroke by day, nor a frost-bite by night. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 121:7

The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil - Spiritual and corporeal, natural and moral. He shall preserve thy soul - Take care of thy life, and take care of thy soul. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 121:8

Thy going out and thy coming in - Night and day - in all thy business and undertakings; and this through the whole course of thy life: for evermore. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 121:6

Verse 6 6.The sun shall not smite thee by day. By these forms of expression the Psalmist magnifies the advantages which result to us from our having God present with us; and, by the figure synecdoche, under one particular, he declares in general that the faithful shall be safe from all adversities, defended as they are by Divine power. The language is metaphorical, the cold of night and the heat of day denoting all kind of inconveniences. The sense then is, that although God’s people may be... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 121:8

Verse 8 8.Jehovah will keep thy going out and thy coming in. The sense is, Whatever thou shalt undertake or engage in during thy life shall come to a happy and successful termination. God no doubt directs by his Holy Spirit the, deliberations of his servants; but it appears to me, that this passage is rather to be referred to prosperous issues. If, however, any one would give it a more extended meaning I have no objection. It is enough for me to embrace that sense which is indisputably certain... read more

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