Notes on the Book of Psalms, Psalm 121
The cxxi. PSALM.
The Psalmist abasing all false and earthly subtersuges, advanceth God onelyonly in his valuation, and recommends him for sole protectour to the whole Church and every member of it, to trust in and relie upon, promising to such in his name safety against all annoyances and direction and success in their affairs and enterprises.
See the title of the 120 Psalm.Psalm cxxi. A song of degrees.
1 MAny men have many refuges and different confidences,1I Will lift up mine eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help. whereunto in time of danger they flie, and wherein they trust, but for my part I put more confidence in faithful prayer addressed towards the sanctuarie of God, that pledge of his presence scituate upon those hills Moriah and Sion in Jerusalem, than in the highest mountain or strongest Fort on earth, thence is my help and hope, and from thence will I seek and expect it in greatest danger (like as the faithful shall from heaven, where shall be their confidence, and whither the Churches prayers shall be addressed in all emergencies.)
2 Because the Lord God is there as in heaven,2My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven & earth. especially resident for mine aid and assistance, no Idol God do I mean, such as the heathen worship and expect aid from, but the onelyonly true God, that by his Allmighty power made heaven and earth, from him and onelyonly him, who both can and will bestead me and all the faithful, it is that I hope for help, and so shall they.
3 Be thou confident of it for thy self,3He will not suffer thy foot to be moved, he that keepeth thee will not slamber. and let others for themselves be so too that are his, and trust faithfully in him, that he will protect and have a care of such, that they shall not miscarry by any power or malice on earth, no accident or emergencie can befal thee, that he is not privy to, whose eie is never off his church & every member of it, yea, upon every member of that member, from head to foot
4Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.4 Take it for a truth infallible, That God, that by his covenant of grace hath taken upon him the guidance and guardianship of his faithful Church and people will never break his word, his protection is not as mans is, subject to miscarriage, and who himself had need be protected, but he is omniscient as well as omnipotent, he sees and knows all things allwayes, so that nothing at no time acts without him, nor can act against him to the prejudice of his people.
5The Lord is thy keeper, the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.5 And what he is to all his whole Church, that he is to every one, each member may apply the covenant and promises to it self that are made to the bodie, touching grace and protection, that God is particularly his undoubted helper and preserver, yea, that allwayes at all times in all perils he is at hand to shelter and shield him.
6The sun shall not smite thee by day; nor the moon by night.6 Night and day will God protect thee from whatsoever would annoy thee, no created Being whatsoever of it self hath or shall have power to offend thee: The creatures above thee in the heavens, sun, moon and stars, whose influences and operations thou of thy self canst not avoid by any humane wisdom or power, are yet subject to God & under him, & shall have no more power to hurt thee through his gracious providence and protection over thee, than a worm under thy feet.
7The Lord shall reserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.7 Fear neither less nor more, great nor small, for God shall certainly protect thee as well from one evil as another, especially thy soul, whether respecting life temporal or eternal, shall have a special guard, fear that least, because as it is most of wroth in it self, so also in Gods esteem and valuation.
8 God is every where in all places at all times;8The Lord shall preserve thy going out, and thy coming in, from this time forth and even for evermore. thou needest not put cases of fear and doubt to thy self of this though not that may befal me, and then though not now, for whatsoever thou doest, and whither ever thou goest, God is with thee and it, and will ever be so to keep thee from evil, and bless thee with good, and to prosper thee in all thy wayes of well-doing, believe it stedfastly, and live comfortably in the faith thereof.