John Calvin Commentary Psalms 121:1-2

"I will lift up mine eyes unto the mountains: From whence shall my help come? My help [cometh] from Jehovah, Who made heaven and earth." — Psalms 121:1-2 (ASV)

I will lift up my eyes to the mountains. The inspired writer, whoever he was, seems, in the opening of the Psalm, to speak in the person of an unbelieving man. As God precedes his believing people with his blessings, and meets them of his own accord, so they, on their part, immediately cast their eyes directly upon him.

What then is the meaning of this unsettled looking of the Prophet, who casts his eyes now on this side and now on that, as if faith did not direct him to God? I answer that the thoughts of the godly are never so fixed upon the word of God as not to be carried away at the first impulse to some allurements. Especially when dangers disquiet us, or when we are assailed with severe temptations, it is scarcely possible for us, since we are so inclined to the earth, not to be moved by the enticements presented to us, until our minds put a bridle upon themselves and turn them back to God.

The sentence, however, may be explained as if expressed in a conditional form. Whatever we may think, the Prophet would say, all the hopes which draw us away from God are vain and delusive. If we take it in this sense, he is not to be understood as relating how he reasoned with himself, or what he intended to do, but only as declaring that those waste their efforts who, disregarding God, gaze into the distance all around them and make long and devious circuits in search of remedies for their troubles.

It is indeed certain that in speaking this way of himself, he exhibits to us an ailment with which all mankind are afflicted. But still, it will not be unsuitable to suppose that he was prompted to speak in this manner from his own experience. For such is the inconstancy natural to us, that as soon as we are struck with any fear, we turn our eyes in every direction, until faith, drawing us back from all these erratic wanderings, directs us exclusively to God.

All the difference between believers and unbelievers in this respect is that, although all are prone to be deceived and easily cheated by deceptions, Satan bewitches unbelievers by his enchantments. In contrast, regarding believers, God corrects the vice of their nature and does not permit them to continue going astray.

The Prophet's meaning is very clear: although all the worldly aids, even the mightiest, should offer themselves to us, we ought not to seek safety anywhere but in God. Indeed, when men have long wearied themselves searching for remedies, now in one place and now in another, they will eventually find from experience that there is no certain help but in God alone. By the mountains, the Prophet means whatever is great or excellent in the world, and the lesson he teaches is that we ought to consider all such support as nothing.

Furthermore, these two verses ought to be read together, conveying this meaning: When I have lifted up my eyes to the mountains, then I will eventually experience that I have fallen into a rash and fruitless mistake, until I direct them to God alone and keep them fixed upon him.

It should also be observed that God is not honored in vain in this place with the title of Creator of heaven and earth; this is intended to tacitly rebuke the ingratitude of men when they cannot rest contented with his power. If they truly acknowledged him as Creator, they would also be persuaded that, as he holds the whole world in his hand and governs it as seems good to him, he possesses infinite power. But when, hurried away by the blind impetuosity of their passions, they turn to other things besides him, they deprive him of his right and dominion.

This is how we ought to apply this title of God to the matter at hand. The point is that while we are naturally more anxious than necessary in seeking relief and remedies for our calamities, especially when any imminent danger threatens, we act foolishly and mistakenly in running up and down through tortuous mazes. Therefore, we ought to restrain our understanding so that it does not turn to anyone or anything but God alone.

Nor is the opinion of those who think that the Hebrew word אל, el, which we translate to, namely, to the mountains, is put for על, al, which signifies above, unsuitable. This would mean that however high men may look, they will find no true salvation except in God.