Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 152:606 (Apr 1995)
Article: “The Lord Watches over You”: A Pilgrimage Reading of Psalm 121
Author: David G. Barker

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BSac 152:606 (Apr 95) p. 163

“The Lord Watches over You”: A Pilgrimage Reading of Psalm 121

David G. Barker

[David G. Barker is Professor of Old Testament, Heritage Theological Seminary, London, Ontario.]

From ancient times to the modern era, life with God has been viewed as a pilgrimage. Songs, stories, and poems regularly speak about the trust, courage, and vigilance needed in that pilgrimage.1

One of the most exquisite of such songs is Psalm 121. As a psalm of trust, it counsels God’s people to trust quietly in Him in all the vicissitudes of life. Through its careful artistry of antiphonal voices, and its movement through question, affirmation, and blessing, this psalm speaks of God who is both transcendent Creator and Keeper of the nation as well as imminent Watcher of each of His people. The result is that pilgrims of faith can receive strength and courage in the journey through an alien and hostile world to their destination in Zion.2

A Translation

1 A Song of Ascents
I lift up my eyes to the mountains.
From where does my help come?

2 My help comes from Yahweh,
Maker of heaven and earth.

BSac 152:606 (Apr 95) p. 164

3 He will not allow your foot to slip,
Your Keeper will not slumber.

4 Indeed, He will never slumber,
He will never sleep, the Keeper of Israel.

5 Yahweh is your Keeper,
Yahweh is your shade on your right hand.

6 By day the sun will not harm you,
Or the moon by night.

7 Yahweh will keep you from all harm,
He will keep your life.

8 Yahweh will keep your going and your coming,
From now until forever.

Background and Setting

Songs of Pilgrimage

The title of Psalm 121 reads שִׁיר לַמַּעֲלוֹת—”a song of ascents” (NIV). The psalm is the second in a collection of 15 psalms with essentially the same title.3 Historically, this title has created a plethora of interpretations and approaches to this collection of psalms,4 but recent scholarship has come to a general consensus that the title points to songs of pilgrimage.5 According to this interpretation, these psalms, among others, were sung in the context of the great pilgrimage feasts in which the nation was called to Jerusalem three times a year.

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