Psalms 121 - 123

August 13, 2025, Stephen Burt

Welcome to this week’s study of the psalms. My name is Stephen Burt, and I hope that you receive the instruction and blessing that I did from this study.

Psalm 121

A song of ascents.

1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—

where does my help come from?

2 My help comes from the LORD,

the Maker of heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot slip—

he who watches over you will not slumber;

4 indeed, he who watches over Israel

will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The LORD watches over you—

the LORD is your shade at your right hand;

6 the sun will not harm you by day,

nor the moon by night.

7 The LORD will keep you from all harm—

he will watch over your life;

8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going

both now and forevermore.

Psalm 122

A song of ascents. Of David.

1 I rejoiced with those who said to me,

“Let us go to the house of the LORD.”

2 Our feet are standing

in your gates, Jerusalem.

3 Jerusalem is built like a city

that is closely compacted together.

4 That is where the tribes go up—

the tribes of the LORD—

to praise the name of the LORD

according to the statute given to Israel.

5 There stand the thrones for judgment,

the thrones of the house of David.

6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:

“May those who love you be secure.

7 May there be peace within your walls

and security within your citadels.”

8 For the sake of my family and friends,

I will say, “Peace be within you.”

9 For the sake of the house of the LORD our God,

I will seek your prosperity.

Psalm 123

A song of ascents.

1 I lift up my eyes to you,

to you who sit enthroned in heaven.

2 As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master,

as the eyes of a female slave look to the hand of her mistress,

so our eyes look to the LORD our God,

till he shows us his mercy.

3 Have mercy on us, LORD, have mercy on us,

for we have endured no end of contempt.

4 We have endured no end

of ridicule from the arrogant,

of contempt from the proud.

Takeaways:

Psalm 121, possibly written by Hezekiah, is considered, along with both psalms 122 and

123, to be one of the “Pilgrim Psalms” that would have been sung by those journeying

to the temple for annual feasts. The psalm teaches that while the pilgrims are traveling

they will receive the assurance that God is faithful to protect His followers from harm.

Today, as in the pilgrims of old, we know that God knows who we are and what we

need and is there to provide help and protection.

Psalm 122, written by David, is a song of joy for the opportunity to worship in the house

of the Lord. It admonishes us to consider how we approach our attendance at worship.

Do we go to church with a sense of anticipation and joy for what God will reveal to us or

do we attend out of obligation or habit? The psalmist also gives an intercessory prayer

for a peace that leads to prosperity for others and the house of God. Do we make a

rigorous habit of praying for others in our prayer time or are our prayers only for our own

benefit?

Psalm 123, again possibly written by Hezekiah, is a cry for mercy from God. He

continually looks to God for deliverance from the contempt and ridicule that comes from

the prideful and arrogant. We often look to others, especially those whom we consider

to be important in the eyes of the world, for our validation when we should be seeking

meaning and purpose in doing God’s work. Only the God, who knows and loves us

more than any person, will never let us down or make us feel little and unimportant.

Prayer:

Dear Lord. Hear our prayer of petition for you to continue to guide and protect us on our

daily path. Teach us your way and help us to join with others in worship and praise for

You with great anticipation and joy. Give us the ability to think of others before

ourselves and bring them before you in prayer. Please help us to find our value through

following Your will, going where you lead and being faithful to your calling.

In the name of Jesus Christ,

Amen.