Albert Barnes Commentary Psalms 121

I will lift up mine eyes — Margin, “Shall I lift up mine eyes to the hills? Whence should my help come?” The expression would properly denote a condition where there was danger, when no help or aid was visible, and when the eyes were turned to the quarter from which help might be expected to come. What the danger was cannot now be ascertained.

Unto the hills — Hebrew, the mountains. This refers to the quarter from where I look for assistance. This (as has been shown in the Introduction) may refer to:

1. to the mountains from where one in danger expected help; or
2. to heaven, considered as high, and as the abode of God; or
3. to the hills on which Jerusalem was built, as the place where God dwelled, and from where aid was expected.

The third of these is the most probable. The first would be applicable to a state of war only, and the second is forced and unnatural. Adopting the third interpretation, the language is natural and makes it proper to be used at all times, since it indicates a proper looking to God as he manifests himself to people, particularly in the church.

From whence cometh my help — A more literal rendering would be, “Whence cometh my help?” This accords best with the usage of the Hebrew word and agrees well with the connection. It indicates a troubled and anxious state of mind—a mind that asks, “Where shall I look for help?” The answer is found in the following verse.

My help comes from the Lord – from Yahweh. This is the answer to the anxious inquiry in (Psalms 121:1). It indicates:

• A consciousness that help could come only from God;
• A belief that it would come from him; and a confident yet humble reliance on him.

Which made heaven and earth – the great Creator of the universe. He must, therefore, be able to protect me. The Creator of all can defend all.

He will not suffer thy foot to be moved - He will enable you to stand firm. You are safe in his protection. Compare the notes at Psalms 38:16. This, with the remainder of the psalm, seems to be of the nature of an answer to the anxious question in Psalms 121:1 - an answer which the author of the psalm, in danger and trouble, makes to his own soul, imparting confidence to himself.

He that keepeth thee will not slumber - He will be ever watchful and wakeful. Compare Isaiah 27:3. All creatures, as far as we know, sleep; God never sleeps. Compare Psalms 139:11-12. His eyes are upon us by day, and in the darkness of the night - the night literally; and also the night of calamity, woe, and sorrow.

Behold, he that keepeth Israel - The Keeper - the Guardian - of his people. The psalmist here passes from his own particular case to a general truth - a truth to him full of consolation. It is, that the people of God must always be safe; that their great Guardian never slumbers; and that he, as one of his people, might, therefore, confidently look for his protecting care.

Shall neither slumber nor sleep - Never slumbers, never ceases to be watchful. Man sleeps; a sentinel may slumber on his post, by inattention, by long-continued wakefulness, or by weariness; a pilot may slumber at the helm; even a mother may fall asleep by the side of the sick child; but God is never exhausted, is never weary, is never inattentive. He never closes his eyes on the condition of his people, on the needs of the world.

The Lord is thy keeper - Your Preserver; your Defender. He will keep you from danger; He will keep you from sin; He will keep you unto salvation.

The Lord is thy shade - The Lord is as a shadow: as the shadow of a rock, a house, or a tree, in the intense rays of the burning sun. See the notes at Isaiah 25:4.

Upon thy right hand - See Psalms 16:8; Psalms 109:31. Perhaps the particular allusion to the right hand here may be that that was the place of a protector. He would thus be at hand, or would be ready to interpose in defense of him whom He was to guard. It is possible, however, that the idea here may be derived from the fact that in Scripture the geographer is represented as looking to the east, and not toward the north, as with us. Hence, the south is always spoken of as the right, or at the right hand (compare the notes at Psalms 89:12); and as the intense rays of the sun are from the south, the idea may be, that God would be as a shade in the direction from which those burning rays came.