Psalm 121:1 - Printer Friendly

ESV: I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?

NIV: A song of ascents. I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from?

NASB: I will raise my eyes to the mountains; From where will my help come?

CSB: A song of ascents. I lift my eyes toward the mountains. Where will my help come from?

NLT: I look up to the mountains — does my help come from there?

KJV: A Song of degrees. I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

NKJV: {A Song of Ascents.} I will lift up my eyes to the hills— From whence comes my help?

In this verse the psalmist looks up at the hills around Jerusalem as he journeys to the Holy City (Jerusalem) to observe an annual festival (Exodus 23:14–17). Perhaps the psalmist and his fellow travelers were about to spend the night camped in the hill country. This would have been a common part of making a many-day journey. Spending the night in the hills could be dangerous. Animals and other natural risks were present. More concerning would be possible bandits or other people looking to attack vulnerable travelers. It is not surprising that the psalmist would wonder about protection.

Occasionally believers today find themselves in dangerous situations and wonder how they will be protected. The world can be a frightening place. At times, crime escalates, sickness and disease spread, rogue nations threaten the peace, random shootings occur, and terrorists strike the innocent. Even in the best of situations, there is no assurance that the medical community or police officers or firefighters can keep us safe. We may ask, as the psalmist did, from where will we receive protection and safety?

The answer, seen in the rest of the chapter, comes in the typical style of the book of Psalms. Trust in God is key to feeling confident and secure (Psalm 121:2).

Psalm 121:1–2 begins another "song of ascent." These were apparently sung by those traveling to Jerusalem to observe one of the three mandatory annual feasts (Exodus 23:14–17). The writer is journeying through the hills on the way to Jerusalem to observe an annual festival. As he looks around, he sees the hills that might harbor robbers. He asks, therefore, where his protection lies. He answers that his help comes from the Lord, who created heaven and earth. This fact would comfort and encourage him as he traveled.

Songs of ascent were probably used to pass the time as pilgrims traveled to Jerusalem for one of the required feasts. In this example, someone comments about the hills, possibly worried about the presence of robbers. They express faith in God's protection. This is echoed, perhaps by others in the traveling party. They point out that God is never caught unaware, and that His loving guidance of His people will never end.

This psalm is the second identified as a "song of ascent." The songs of ascent are Psalms 120–134. These were sung as the people of Israel journeyed through the hills on their way to Jerusalem to observe the annual festivals. David is credited with authoring Psalms 122, 124, 131, and 133. Solomon is cited as the author of Psalm 127, and the rest are anonymous. The leader of the worshipers began Psalm 121 by voicing verses 1 and 2, and others responded with the verses that follow.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.