When my wife and I took Hebrew, we memorized Psalm 121 for our final exam. Two decades later, I can still remember it (mostly). So, it’s been a favorite for us ever since. But not only for us, it’s a favorite for many from among the Psalms of Ascent (Psalms 120-134).
The Psalms of Ascent is one of many little collections of psalms that were enfolded into the Psalter. These 15 are all brief ditties. I like to think of them as a greatest hits collection of songs that pilgrims sang on the way to feasts in Jerusalem. Since the temple stood on the peak of Mt. Zion (the short mountain Jerusalem is built on), pilgrims always went “up” to Jerusalem. Hence the “ascents” in the title.
The key word for the psalm is “watch,” which I emphasize by capitalizing it and turning it into a name for Yahweh: Watcher. The word could just as easily be rendered as Keeper. It’s the same word that Cain rejects for himself when he complains, “Am I my brother’s Keeper?” The answer to that rhetorical question, contrary to what my Sunday school teacher said, is No. He’s not. Only Yahweh is our Keeper.
Although the word can go either way as Watcher or Keeper, I go with Watcher because of the references to eyes and vision throughout the psalm. Just know this isn’t a passive watching. It’s an active watching which the psalm makes clear.
Psalm 121
(A song for pilgrims on the road up to Zion.)
My eyes gaze at the mountains ahead of me.
Does my help come from mountain-dwelling gods?
No, my help comes from Yahweh,
The Maker of the heavens and the earth,
And the mountains that touch both.
Every step you take
Is important to him —
He keeps his Watcher’s eye on you,
Never taking a break to nap.
It’s true.
Israel’s Watcher never naps,
Never falls asleep on the job.
Yahweh is your Watcher, too.
Yahweh is so close at hand
His shadow covers you.
The so-called sun god won’t touch you
By day.
The so-called moon god won’t touch you
By night.
Yahweh is your unfailing Protector.
He’s the Watcher of your life.
He’s the Watcher over
Your comings and goings.
Today.
Tomorrow.
Forever.