Psalm 121; Psalms 123-125; Psalms 128-130   Listen

A note about the introduction to these Psalms
In all of these Psalms (120-134) the introduction to each says "A Song of Ascents." We're not certain what these Hebrew superscriptions mean. The Hebrew word for "ascents" means "steps of ascent." The Mishnah (Jewish collection of writings on Jewish thought and tradition) assigns the collection of fifteen songs with the fifteen steps of the temple, suggesting that the Levites sang these songs of ascents. Perhaps, but it may rather be that the songs were so subtitled because they were sung in the three annual festival processions, as the participants "ascended" to Jerusalem. Those three annual festivals were Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits and Tabernacles (see notes on Exodus 34:10-28).

God doesn't sleep (Psalm 121)

A Song of Ascents.
1 ¶ I will lift up my eyes to the hills—
From whence comes my help?
2 My help comes from the LORD,
Who made heaven and earth.
3 He will not allow your foot to be moved;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
4 Behold, He who keeps Israel
Shall neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The LORD is your keeper;
The LORD is your shade at your right hand.
6 The sun shall not strike you by day,
Nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD shall preserve you from all evil;
He shall preserve your soul.
8 The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in
From this time forth, and even forevermore.

For insight regarding the term "A song of Ascents," click here to see the introduction to these Psalms.
The author of this Psalm is not given. God will preserve Israel. This Psalm emphasizes God's faithfulness in being responsive to Israel. The key to this passage is verse 1, "I will lift up my eyes to the hills— From whence comes my help?" Whenever Israel looked to God, God was faithful to deliver them; he was always available.

Notice verses 3-4; in other documents discovered in Mesopotamia and determined to be written during this same period, a "sleeping god" is a common term and is used to describe one who is unresponsive to the prayers of the person who is calling out for help. You may recall when Elijah was ridiculing Baal in I Kings 18:27 (see notes) for his lack of abilities he said, "...perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened." Of course, Israel's problem was always that they went after other gods. All of their failures as a nation were as a result of not calling upon the one true God of Israel.

To whom do you look for provision (Psalm 123)

A Song of Ascents.
1 ¶ Unto You I lift up my eyes,
O You who dwell in the heavens.
2 Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters,
As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress,
So our eyes look to the LORD our God,
Until He has mercy on us.
3 Have mercy on us, O LORD, have mercy on us!
For we are exceedingly filled with contempt.
4 Our soul is exceedingly filled
With the scorn of those who are at ease,
With the contempt of the proud.

For insight regarding the term "A song of Ascents," click here to see the introduction to these Psalms.
In verse 3, the psalmist states a contrast between the wicked and those who have been deemed righteous by God, "Have mercy on us, O LORD, have mercy on us! For we are exceedingly filled with contempt." Through God's mercy, He has taken away our contempt and made us righteous.

It's a good thing God was on our side (Psalm 124)

A Song of Ascents. Of David.
1 ¶ “If it had not been the LORD who was on our side,”
Let Israel now say—
2 “If it had not been the LORD who was on our side,
When men rose up against us,
3 Then they would have swallowed us alive,
When their wrath was kindled against us;
4 Then the waters would have overwhelmed us,
The stream would have gone over our soul;
5 Then the swollen waters
Would have gone over our soul.”
6 Blessed be the LORD,
Who has not given us as prey to their teeth.
7 Our soul has escaped as a bird from the snare of the fowlers;
The snare is broken, and we have escaped.
8 Our help is in the name of the LORD,
Who made heaven and earth.

For insight regarding the term "A song of Ascents," click here to see the introduction to these Psalms.
Without God on our side, some really bad things could have happened. But God delivered us. Note the analogy given by David in verse 7 of the bird escaping from the snare. David must have felt this way finally after Saul was dead.

Do good, O LORD, unto those that be good (Psalm 125)

A Song of Ascents.
1 ¶ Those who trust in the LORD
Are like Mount Zion,
Which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
So the LORD surrounds His people
From this time forth and forever.
3 For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest
On the land allotted to the righteous,
Lest the righteous reach out their hands to iniquity.
4 Do good, O LORD, to those who are good,
And to those who are upright in their hearts.
5 As for such as turn aside to their crooked ways,
The LORD shall lead them away
With the workers of iniquity.
Peace be upon Israel!

For insight regarding the term "A song of Ascents," click here to see the introduction to these Psalms.
Peace shall be upon Israel. The reference to Mount Zion here identifies Jerusalem, and specifically the place where David authorized the building of Solomon's Temple. Today, "Zionist" is a word used to describe those who sought to reestablish a Jewish homeland in Palestine. Modern Zionism is concerned with the support and development of the State of Israel.

Blessed is every one who fears the LORD (Psalm 128)

A Song of Ascents.
1 ¶ Blessed is every one who fears the LORD,
Who walks in His ways.
2 When you eat the labor of your hands,
You shall be happy, and it shall be well with you.
3 Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine
In the very heart of your house,
Your children like olive plants
All around your table.
4 Behold, thus shall the man be blessed
Who fears the LORD.
5 The LORD bless you out of Zion,
And may you see the good of Jerusalem
All the days of your life.
6 Yes, may you see your children’s children.
Peace be upon Israel!

For insight regarding the term "A song of Ascents," click here to see the introduction to these Psalms.
We are not told the author of this Psalm. This whole Psalm elaborates upon verse 1, "Blessed is every one who fears the LORD, Who walks in His ways." The Hebrew word for "fear" in verse 1 is "yaw-ray´" and sometimes means "moral reverence," as is the case here. You will notice in this Psalm, your family will be blessed as well when you serve God.

They afflicted me from my youth (Psalm 129)

A Song of Ascents.
1 ¶ “Many a time they have afflicted me from my youth,”
Let Israel now say—
2 “Many a time they have afflicted me from my youth;
Yet they have not prevailed against me.
3 The plowers plowed on my back;
They made their furrows long.”
4 The LORD is righteous;
He has cut in pieces the cords of the wicked.
5 Let all those who hate Zion
Be put to shame and turned back.
6 Let them be as the grass on the housetops,
Which withers before it grows up,
7 With which the reaper does not fill his hand,
Nor he who binds sheaves, his arms.
8 Neither let those who pass by them say,
“The blessing of the LORD be upon you;
We bless you in the name of the LORD!”

For insight regarding the term "A song of Ascents," click here to see the introduction to these Psalms.
While the theme of this Psalm sounds like David, the author is not known. Take care of them, Lord. That's what the Psalmist is saying when we see in verse 5, "Let all those who hate Zion Be put to shame and turned back." The author's use of the word "Zion" here embodies a lifestyle of dependence upon the God of Israel. He looks to God for his protection from his enemies.

Note the reference in verse 6 to "grass on the housetops." That's a funny place to find grass. However, with regard to the construction of homes during that period, the uppermost roof was constructed of beams laid across the walls intertwined with reeds and grasses. The whole roof would then be plastered with mud to fill in the gaps and make them relatively water resistant. Seeds in the grass or mud might briefly sprout but would quickly die for lack of roots.

I have cried to You, O LORD (Psalm 130)

A Song of Ascents.
1 ¶ Out of the depths I have cried to You, O LORD;
2 Lord, hear my voice!
Let Your ears be attentive
To the voice of my supplications.
3 If You, LORD, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
4 But there is forgiveness with You,
That You may be feared.
5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,
And in His word I do hope.
6 My soul waits for the Lord
More than those who watch for the morning—
Yes, more than those who watch for the morning.
7 O Israel, hope in the LORD;
For with the LORD there is mercy,
And with Him is abundant redemption.
8 And He shall redeem Israel
From all his iniquities.

For insight regarding the term "A song of Ascents," click here to see the introduction to these Psalms.
No author is named for this Psalm. Psalm 130 is one of the seven penitential psalms, the others being Psalm 6 (see notes), Psalm 32 (see notes), Psalm 38 (see notes), Psalm 51 (see notes), Psalm 102 (see notes) and Psalm 143 (see notes). Verses 3 and 4 point out the essence of God's forgiveness. Isn't it great that God doesn't keep a running tally? Our sins are forgiven each time we ask. I John 1:9 (see notes) says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Verses 7-8 sum it up, "O Israel, hope in the LORD; For with the LORD there is mercy, And with Him is abundant redemption. And He shall redeem Israel From all his iniquities."