Salmos 121

Salmos 121

Pentecost- the expression of gratitude for the provision of grain) in the early Summer and (3) the Feast of Booths or Ingathering (Tabernacles - expression of thanksgiving for the final harvest) in the Fall. (Ex 23:14, 15, 16, 17+; Isa 30:29). It is also very possible that these psalms of ascent were among those sung by the returning exiles from Babylon as they ascended the mountains to Jerusalem and home (Ezra 2:1; 7:7). David Barker has this introductory note on the "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. Historically, this title has created a plethora of interpretations and approaches to this collection of psalms, but recent scholarship has come to a general consensus that the title points to songs of pilgrimage. 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. The term עָלָה is apparently related to the pilgrim’s ascent of Mount Zion to Jerusalem for worship. However, it may also reflect the processional ascents to the temple by the pilgrims themselves in the final stage of their pilgrimage, or by the processional choirs who led the gathered pilgrims in worship and celebration (cf. 2Sa 6:12; 1Ki 13:33; 2Ki 23:2; Neh 12:37; Ps 42:4; Isa 26:2; 30:29; Jer 31:6; Mic 4:2). Also these songs are likely to have been among those sung by the returning exiles from Babylon as they ascended the mountains to Jerusalem and home (Ezra 2:1; 7:7). Most of the songs have Jerusalem as a central focus of celebration,9 and the themes of unity, brotherly love, family, and prosperity of life were natural expressions of a worshiping pilgrimage community… The collection evidently has been carefully structured so as to create a progression. These psalms begin with a prayer of distress from one who is far from home (Ps 120) and concludes with a call to praise in the sanctuary of Zion (Ps 134). (Psalm 121: The Lord Watches Over You - Bibliotheca Sacra 152:606 April 1995) (Bolding added) Notice that this psalm can be "subdivided" in to (1) The Anticipation of Divine Help (Psalm 121:1-2) in which the psalmist speaks in the first person ("I," "my," Psalm 121:1-2) and (2) The Assurance of Divine Help (Psalm 121:3-8), which is written in the second person singular ("you," "your"), which might have been to allow this segment to be sung antiphonally. Looking at this psalm another way, the second six verses explain the Divine help mentioned in the first two verses. The explanation in the second could represent a dialogue between two parties (some commentaries suggest the psalmist and a priest). Alternatively the psalmist could be "preaching" or dialoguing with himself (between the godly man and his inner self) as we see in Psalms 42 and 43. where David is also seeking "help". It should be noted that in addition to a dialogue between a man and his soul, other writers have interpreted as a dialogue between a layman and a priest in the liturgy of the temple, or a group of pilgrims and their spiritual leader. LIFTING ONE'S EYES: IT'S A CHOICE I will - This signifies that the psalmist makes a choice of his will (a volitional choice) to look up to God. How often when faced with a test, trial or affliction, I choose to look down in self-pity or around at adverse circumstances, rather than gazing upward to my Omnipotent Father! I will also indicates the psalmist recognizes that the godly man stands in continual need of and dependence upon Jehovah's help. Keen writes that He waits — he expects — he obtains. The truest vision is soul-vision. Looking up in solicitation, contemplation, expectation. “Up,” from the mud and mire of earth, and the sins and sorrows of self. (Keen, J O: Biblical Illustrator)