The following authors and the psalms attributed to them are listed below. There is an ascent in the psalm itself which rises to the greatest elevation of restful confidence. Devout jews recite portions of this psalm when they leave or enter their homes. Psalm 121 trusting in gods providential care ray fowler. As god prevents his believing people with his blessings, and meets them of his own accord, so they, on. But davids help didnt really come from the hills, of course. Seventythree of the 150 bear his name, and tradition states that the unattributed ones are also from him talmud, berakhot 9b. The prayers of david, son of yishai, are ended kalu. I will lift up mine eyes unto the mountains, from whence my help shall come. The book of psalms is a book in both the hebrew and christian bibles consisting of 150 poems originally written to be chanted or sung and accompanied by musical instruments. Israeli hasidic singersongwriter yosef karduner composed a popular hebrew version of psalm 121, shir lamaalot 2000, which has been covered by many israeli artists and is a staple amongst synagogue youth groups in israel and canada. And we continued on in that series for about six months ending at psalm 20 at which point we turned our attention to the book of ecclesiastes.
Im not sure but i believe this beautiful psalm was written by david when he was fleeing from king saul into the wilderness of ein gedi. Psalms are the inspired responses of human hearts to gods revelation of himself in law, history, and prophecy. Psalm 121 tlb shall i look to the mountain gods for. His gracious power will overshadow us at every step we take. It speaks of gods help, protection, and vigilant watchcare. Who does the author believe that some of the psalms, not attributed to a specific penman, were written by. Psalm 121 is a treasure of promise for the suffering believer, whose help comes from the lord verse 2. Psalm 121 is the 121st psalm of the book of psalms. Study psalm 121 using matthew henrys bible commentary concise to better understand scripture with full outline and verse meaning. Were it not placed among the pilgrim psalms we should regard it is a martial hymn, fitted for the evensong of one who slept upon the tented field. Dwellers in valleys are subject to many disorders for which there is no cure but a sojourn in the uplands, and it is well when they shake off their lethargy and resolve upon a climb. Why praying the psalms is so enriching and one way to do it.
Oct 12, 2018 psalms is the longest book of the bible see what the longest book actually is. Rosenmuller regarding it as a psalm to be sung on the return to. World wide study bible psalms 121 christian classics. A prayer and 5 truths from psalm 121 debbie mcdaniel christian blog and commentary on crosswalk. Although king david did not write all of the psalms, he is its most prolific author with eighty of them credited to him. The hymnal of israel, book v psalms 107150 previous page next page psalm 121 bible commentary on the book of psalms, chapter 121, by. May the road rise up to meet you a sermon on psalm 121. These were the chief dangers of travelers, whether pilgrims or others. Psalms 121 commentary matthew henry commentary on the. If you travelled from home to jerusalem, you would go through dangerous places. In fact, only about half of the psalms are associated with him73 out of all 150, to be precise though the latin vulgate and septuagint credit a.
This is the second of the series of psalms which are titled a song of ascents. As such it has brought comfort, encouragement, and blessing to gods people throughout the ages. Probable occasion when each psalm was composed contains the psalm, the scripture it was written after, the occasion on which it was composed, and the year. All of our resources exist to guide you toward everlasting joy in jesus christ. Answered feb 11, 2019 author has 330 answers and 169. At the very beginning of the bible, in genesis 12, abraham, this father of faith figure, is called out from the land where his family had. Read psalms 121 commentary using matthew henry commentary on the whole bible complete.
Other writers include moses, heman the ezrahite, ethan the ezrahite, solomon, asaph, and the sons of korah. I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. The talmud states that rabbi meir would say, all the praises stated in the book of psalms were recited by david, as it is stated. To see what other bible studies we have available, go to bible devotions. Psalms chapter 146 kjv king james version 1 praise ye the lord. Psalms that explore gods protection for us when we are in trouble. The beginning in the english, in the king james version, is i will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from. As a song sung by travelers, this is particularly relevant for the trust placed in god through the journey. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. Psalms 121 commentary john gills exposition on the whole bible.
I will sing praises unto my god while i have any being. Psalms chapter 121 kjv king james version this psalm has been my support in times of need when i am fasting, asking god for deliverance, guidance and protection from fears and work of the enemy. Psalms is the longest book of the bible see what the longest book actually is. Aug 22, 2016 a new perspective on an old question psalm 121.
If you want to know how to pray the psalms and what it looks like to pray the psalms daily, here is one process for doing so that will enrich your prayer life greatly. The beginning in the english, in the king james version, is i will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my. Nothing is known, or can be known, of the author or of the occasion on which it was composed. As jews made pilgrimages to jerusalem, these are the songs sung while traveling the roads slowly leading up to jerusalem, culminating in their arrival at the temple. Some scholars suggest that pilgrims sang this psalm en route to jerusalem and its temple. Those who wrote the book of psalms created songs that run the gamut of human emotion from cries for help while suffering in a severe trial to exalting gods name and praising him for his many wonderful works. Listed in the area where one would typically find the author of the psalm we see. The book of psalms has several different authors and the content was written over an extended period of time. Jan 27, 2012 psalm 121 is a treasure of promise for the suffering believer, whose help comes from the lord verse 2. Some call this the soldiers psalm, and think it was penned in the camp, when david was hazarding his life. The psalms are meant to be sung and prayed, but so often we just read through them on our own for words of encouragement. I will lift up mine eyes to the hills from whence cometh my help, my help cometh from the lord, the lord which made heaven and earth. Psalm 121 is the second psalm in the psalms of ascent. Structure the book of psalms is arranged in five books.
He will be our keeper, our shade upon our right hand psalms 121. My help will come from the lord,who made heaven and earth. Our message series is called stepping stones to gods heart, and between new years and easter we are looking at the fifteen psalms 1204 known as the psalms of ascent. Our adult sunday school class started considering the book of psalms in january of 2015. In fact, david only wrote about half of the psalms73 out of all 150, to be precise though the latin. In fact, the word psalm comes from the greek word psalmoi, meaning songs sung to a harp. A pilgrimage reading of psalm 121 167 dialogue within the pilgrims inner self, or an antiphonal song between pilgrims, or between a pilgrim and someone giving blessing,19 there is clearly a shift from the first person to the third person at verse 3.
The inspired writer, whoever he was, seems, in the opening of the psalm, to speak in the person of an unbelieving man. For each psalm, it is stated who the author is, if known. In fact, psalms includes more authors than any other book of the bible. Study the bible online using commentary on psalms 121 and more. Some call this the soldiers psalm, and think it was penned in the camp, when david was hazarding his life in the high places of the field, and thus trusted god to cover his head in the day of battle.
Saints of all ages have appropriated this collection of prayers and praises in their public worship and private meditations. Before you read the notes on psalm 121, consider performing a simple inductive study on this great psalm, so that you might experience the joy of personal discovery of its rich treasures. My help will come from the lord,the creator of heaven and earth. The story of psalm 121 is in the note on psalm 120. Thomas benton, in annotations on the book of job and the psalms, 1732. Psalms 121 commentary, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this versebyverse commentary contain gems of information found nowhere outside the ancient jewish writings. Psalms 121 commentary spurgeons verse expositions of. Every human emotion is covered in these hymns of aspiration to god. At the very beginning of the bible, in genesis 12, abraham, this father of faith figure, is called out from the land where his family had lived for years and hes invited to follow god into the unknown. Open with a short prayer, inviting god to teach us. Psalm 121 is a psalm about trusting in gods providential care. Psalm 121 is, in a way, a statement of simple faith. I look up to the hills,but where will my help really come from.
The last and highest degree of this song is attained in psalms 121. You can learn more from a book if you stop and ask it questions than if. Malcolm cox, evangelist, author, musician and bible teacher. In fact, david only wrote about half of the psalms73 out of all 150, to be precise though the latin vulgate and septuagint credit a few more to him. According to tradition, king david gave us the book of psalms. Grotius is of opinion it was written by david, at the time of the battle with. This is known as a superscription and song of the asents is present for psalms 1204.
David guzik commentary on psalm 121, which is another song of ascents, declaring. Psalm 121 bible commentary john gills exposition of the bible. The moon here really strikes and affects the sight, when you sleep exposed to. The book of psalms is estimated to have been written between 1440 bc and 586 bc. The book of psalms is a record of petitions or laments, thanksgiving, and praise to god by his people. Perhaps some internal connexion might be traced between all the fifteen psalms of degrees.
Not from the evil of affliction, though from that as a penal evil. Psalm 121 the lord is your keeper introduction psalms 1204 are each labeled as a song of ascent. It is a part of the bible worthy to be read, studied and sung again and again. Dec 21, 2016 psalms is a book, so technically, solomon wrote a fraction of a book of psalms. Dewette and rosenmuller suppose that it was composed in the exile.
After personally celebrating yahwehs guardianship in verses 12, the psalmist turns to give assurance to others in verses 38. Now this psalm 121 being one of the songs of degrees, was probably composed to. At that time psalms appears also to have been used as a title for the entire section of the hebrew ot canon more commonly known as the writings see lk 24. Some call this the soldiers psalm, and think it was penned in the camp, when david was hazarding his life in the high places of the field, and thus. It is a soldiers song as well as a travellers hymn. The last and highest degree of this song is attained in ps 121. In fact many families read this psalm out loud together before going on a trip. Most people in the world have no experience of lasting joy in their lives. Hassell bullock, encountering the book of psalms, p. Author this psalm is anonymous humanly speaking but we can be. Feb 10, 2019 listed in the area where one would typically find the author of the psalm we see. Although there are various ideas on the meaning of t. Many collections preceded this final compilation of the psalms.
But as i read through the psalms, i saw that many of them are attributed to. What the psalmist really means, though in figurative language, is that nothing. As we grow in god, we may see a confluence of our dreams and desires, our hopes, gods providence, and gods direction. Were it not placed among the pilgrim psalms we should regard it as a martial hymn, fitted for the evensong of one who slept upon the tented field. God will protect his church and his saints always, even to the end of the world. Probable timeline of when each psalm was written study. Before you read the notes on psalm 121, consider performing a simple inductive study on this great psalm, so that you might experience the joy of. Study the bible online using commentary on psalm 121. Yes, however, i think the intention of the question is how many psalms did solomon write. The book of psalms is the longest book in the bible and takes the form of poetry that has been widely used as prayers and songs.
It describes a liturgy that took place when pilgrims would depart from their villages to travel up to jerusalem for the annual feasts of passover, pentecost, and tabernacles. Some call this the soldiers psalm, and think it was written by david in the midst of. My help cometh from the lord, which made heaven and earth. Perhaps some internal connexion might be traced between all. While the poetic books of job, ecclesiastes, and song of solomon read as whole pieces, psalms is a collection of 150 small units in one booksomewhat like todays hymnals. The spirit, who is their preserver and comforter, shall abide with them for ever. In contrast to popular thinking, david did not write all of the psalms in the book of psalms.
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