Ps 121

Trusting God’s promises

Setting: Pilgrimage to offer sacrifices at the temple in Jerusalem was a strenuous journey, especially for Jews coming from abroad. The ‘psalms of ascent’, 120 to 134 were composed specially for these occasions.

Read Psalms 120 and 121

1) Can you summarize in a few words what you may remember from last week about Psalm 120?

What did the pilgrims pray in Ps 120  regarding conflict(s)?

2) In 121:2, the psalmist lifts his eyes to the ‘mountains’. What do mountains in the Bible represent metaphorically? e.g. Isa 2:2; Hab 3:6 *

• Since the song addresses pilgrims on their way to one mountain (sg.), what could be the reason for them to raise their eyes to the mountains (pl.)?
  • Because they are so beautiful or should be called upon for help?
  • Or because they are obstacles to overcome? cf Mt 17:20

3) What assistance does Psalm 121 offer to pilgrims to overcome these mountains?

• Which attributes of God do these promises emphasize?
  • vv1-2: our helper…
  • vv3-4: our keeper…
  • vv5-6: our protector…
  • vv7-8: our preserver…

4) vv5-8: What is the difference between protection and preservation?

• When sheep are led to their pasture and back to their fold for rest and safety, what do they need to be ‘preserved’ from? Lk 15:3-7
• Which verb appears several times?
  • Why does this Psalm stress the fact that God himself is watching and keeping the pilgrim? cf Ps 120:1-2
• Does this mean that Ps 121 promises to believers that they will be spared from sufferings and trouble?
  • Why not? cf e.g. Acts 14:22
  • Instead, what are believers really protected from? e.g. Jn 10:9; Jn 10:27-28; 1Cor 10:13

5)  Personal and application

• What helps (or hinders) you to believe these promises in times of distress?
  • How do you discern what God promises and whether it is really for you? How does that differ from just wishful ‘positive thinking’?
  • Can you share any examples?
  • How can our faith in the true promises of the true God get strong? cf Ro 10:16-17; 1 Thes 2:13)
• Related to question 1: How can you use Ps 121 when the next storm hits you?

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* The prophets often describe kingdoms of the nations as ‘mountains’ where idols were worshiped, in contrast to mount Zion where the Jewish pilgrims traveled to worship the living God. cf Ps 68:16; Isa 13:1-5; 41:14-15; Jer 50:5-6