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Discover the Arts! Each day a different image from the Literary, Performing, or Visual Arts representing a portion of Scripture
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2015 June 2



Monastery of San Francesco di Civitella in the Sabine Mountains (1812)
Joseph Anton Koch (1768-1839)
Neoclassical Style and German Romanticism
The Hermitage, St. Petersburg, Russia
Image Source: Web Gallery of Art


     Explanation: In Psalm 121 the Psalmist speaks of the unique help which comes only from the LORD. The painting above is of populated hills from which help might come in an emergency; but the Psalmist expected help from a stronger and more reliable source -- the LORD.

          [ THEMATICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY RELATED SCRIPTURES: Psalms of Ascents: Psalms 120-134. Psalm 120. Psalm 121. Psalm 122. Psalm 123. Psalm 124. Psalm 125. Psalm 126. Psalm 127. Psalm 128. Psalm 129. Psalm 130. Psalm 131. Psalm 132. Psalm 133. Psalm 134. Hallel Psalms: The Egyptian Hallel -- Psalms 113-118: Psalm 113. Psalm 114. Psalm 115. Psalm 116. Psalm 117. Psalm 118. The Great Hallel [Group of Psalms] -- Psalms 118-136: Psalm 118. Psalm 119. Psalm 120. Psalm 121. Psalm 122. Psalm 123. Psalm 124. Psalm 125. Psalm 126. Psalm 127. Psalm 128. Psalm 129. Psalm 130. Psalm 131. Psalm 132. Psalm 133. Psalm 134. Psalm 135. Psalm 136. The Great Hallel [Single Psalm] -- Psalm 136. An Individual Hallel -- Psalm 145. The Concluding Hallel -- Psalms 146-150: Psalm 146. Psalm 147. Psalm 148. Psalm 149. Psalm 150. ]

          [ CHRONOLOGY: GENERAL. Patriarchs (Traditional). Judges # 1. Judges # 2. Kings # 1. Kings # 2. Prophets # 1. Prophets # 2. NT # 1. NT # 2. NT # 3. ]

          [ MAPS: Maps # 1. Maps # 2. Maps # 3. Maps # 4. Maps # 5. ]

          [ COMMENTARIES, ETC: GENERAL: Bible Study Tools; Bible Hub: Study Light; Blue Letter Bible // PSALMS: Monergism: Precept Austin: The Treasury of David; John Gill; John Calvin - Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

          [ MUSIC: GENERAL: The Cyber Hymnal // PSALMS: Genevan Psalter (Instrumental). VARIOUS ARTISTS: Psalm 121 - #1. Psalm 121 - #2.Psalm 121 - #3. Psalm 121 - #4. Psalm 121 - #5. Psalm 121 - #6. Psalm 121 - #7. Psalm 121 - #8. Psalm 121 - #9. Psalm 121 - #10. Psalm 121 - #11. Psalm 121 - #12. Psalm 121 - #13. Psalm 121 - #14. Psalm 121 - #15. Psalm 121 - #16. Psalm 121 - #17. Psalm 121 - #18. Psalm 121 - #19. Psalm 121 - #20. Psalm 121 - #21. Psalm 121 - #22. ]

     The Psalmist begins with a personal word, saying that he looks, not to the hills, but to the LORD who made heaven and earth, for help (1-2). The Psalmist then broadens this lesson and applies it to others. He tells them that the LORD will not allow his foot to be moved, that the LORD who keeps them will neither slumber nor sleep, and that the LORD who keeps the nation (Israel) will neither slumber nor sleep (3-4). The Psalmist then tells his readers that the LORD is their keeper and their shade, so that the sun will not smite them by day, nor the moon by night (5-6). He tells them that the LORD will preserve them from all evil; he will preserve their soul. He will preserve their going out and their coming in from this time forth and forevermore (7-8).


THE PSALTER:

BOOK FIVE OF FIVE:

Psalms 107-150.


Psalm 121

1 A Song of degrees.

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.

3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.
4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.
6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.

7 The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.
8 The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.


* NOTE: On Opening and Closing Comments in the Psalms.
[Some commentators take the Psalm in Habakkuk 3 to be a standard model for the Psalms.
Habakkuk's Psalm begins with the name of the composer (Habakkuk) and a musical notation ("upon Shigionoth").
It closes with a dedication or a "send to" notice ("To the chief singer on my stringed instruments").
I have arranged similar material, where it is found in the Psalter, in accord with the model in Habakkuk.]





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