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Jehovah Ezer: The LORD our Helper
Psalm 121 Commentary (below)
Greek/Hebrew Word Studies on Help
Commentaries on the Psalms

Related Resources: Make a joyful noise to Jehovah -

Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir's version "My Help" ("My Help - solo")

Psalm 121 instrumental video with Psalm 121 in background

I Lift Up My Eyes

Lift Up My Eyes - More mellow version)

I To The Hills Will Lift My Eyes - cyberhymnal

Mine Eyes Look Toward the Mountains - cyberhymnal

This psalm is anonymous humanly speaking but 2Peter 1:21 (note) (cp Lk 1:70, Ac 1:16, 3:18, 28:25, 2Sa 23:2, He 3:7, 8-note, He 9:8-note, He 10:15-note) still applies of course. The circumstances that led to this psalm and specifically which cause the psalmist to look to the mountains are not clearly stated. The implication of his looking for help is that he may have been in a state of anxiety or distress. On a more pragmatic level, aren't we all in need of the LORD's help to one degree or another every day? As Paul reminds us in Acts God "is not far from each one of us for in Him we live and move and exist." (Acts 17:27, 28 - see also God's Omnipresence) We need His help every moment of every day.

Click here for sermon on Psalm 121 entitled The Traveler's Psalm  by Robert Morgan.

Ascents = The Songs (Psalms) of Ascent comprised Psalm 120-134 which together appears to have formed a "hymn book" used by pilgrims going up to Jerusalem (which is elevated). Most interpreters feel that these 15 psalms were sung in the context of the great pilgrimage feasts in which the nation of Israel was called to Jerusalem three times a year to celebrate:

(1) the Feast of Unleavened Bread (commemorating the Exodus) in the Spring,

(2) the Feast of the Harvest or Weeks (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).

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"

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 God!

This phrase 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)

Lift up my eyes to the mountains-This Hebrew phrase ("lift up my eyes") frequently indicates a looking and seeing with anticipation of or disposition toward the object  specifically the mountains. Compare first a bad example Ge 39:7,

Here is a good example Ps 123:1

"To Thee I lift up my eyes, O Thou who art enthroned in the heavens!

Commenting on Psalm 123:1 C H Spurgeon writes...

We are climbing. The first step (Ps 120) saw us lamenting our troublesome surroundings, and the next saw us lifting or eyes to the hills and resting in assured security (Ps 121:1); from this we rose to delight in the house of the Lord; but here we look to the Lord Himself, and this is the highest ascent of all by many degrees. The eyes are now looking above the hills, and above Jehovah's footstool on earth, to His throne in the heavens. Let us know it as "the Psalm of the eyes". Old authors call it Oculus "Sperans" or the eye of hope. It is a short Psalm, written with singular art, containing one thought, and expressing if in a most engaging manner. Doubtless it would be a favourite song among the people of God. It has been conjectured that this brief song, or rather sigh, may have first been heard in the days of Nehemiah, or under the persecutions of Antiochus. It may be so, but there is no evidence of it; it seems to us quite as probable that afflicted ones in all periods after David's time found this psalm ready to their hand If it appears to describe days remote from David, it is all the more evident that the Psalmist was also a prophet, and sang what he saw in vision.

Ps 123:1 - Unto thee lift I up mine eyes. It is good to have some one to look up to. The Psalmist looked so high that he could look no higher. Not to the hills, but to the God of the hills he looked. He believed in a personal God, and knew nothing of that modern pantheism which is nothing more than atheism wearing a fig leaf. The uplifted eyes naturally and instinctively represent the state of heart which fixes desire, hope, confidence, and expectation upon the Lord. God is everywhere, and yet it is most natural to think of him as being above us, in that glory land which lies beyond the skies.

O Thou that dwells in the heavens, just sets forth ,the unsophisticated idea of a child of God in distress: God is, God is in heaven, God resides in one place, and God is evermore the same, therefore will I look to him. When we cannot look to any helper on a level with us, it is greatly wise to look above us; in fact, if we have a thousand helpers, our eyes should still be toward the Lord. The higher the Lord is the better for our faith, since that height represents power, glory, and excellence, and these will be all engaged on our behalf. We ought to be very thankful for spiritual eyes; the blind men of this world, however much of human learning they may possess, cannot behold our God, for in heavenly matters they are devoid of sight. Yet we must use our eyes with resolution, for they will not go upward to the Lord of themselves, but they incline to look downward, or inward, or anywhere but to the Lord: let it be our firm resolve that the heavenward glance shall not be lacking. If we cannot see God, at least we will look towards him. God is in heaven as a king in his palace; he is here revealed, adored, and glorified: thence he looks down on the world and sends succours to his saints as their needs demand; hence we look up, even when our sorrow is so great that we can do no more. It is a blessed condescension on God's part that he permits us to lift up our eyes to his glorious high throne; yea, more, that he invites and even commands us so to do. When we are looking to the Lord in hope, it is well to tell him so in prayer: the Psalmist uses his voice as well as his eye. We need not speak in prayer; a glance of the eye will do it all; for - -

"Prayer is the burden of a sigh,
The falling of a tear,
The upward glancing of an eye
When none but God is near."

Still, it is helpful to the heart to use the tongue, and we do well to address ourselves in words and sentences to the God who heareth his people. It is no small joy that our God is always at home: he is not on a journey, like Baal, but he dwells in the heavens. Let us think no hour of the day inopportune for waiting upon the Lord; no watch of the night too dark for us to look to him.

When the out-look is bleak
Remember the up-look.

The psalmist looks first at what he can see but recognizes shortly that his real help comes from the One Who is unseen. And so he looks with eyes of faith, even as did Moses who

by faith... left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king, for he endured as seeing Him Who is unseen. (He 11:27- note) (Ask yourself "Why did Moses endure? What enabled him to not be fearful of a tyrannical human magistrate? Observe the text again if unsure.)

What storm are you in now, dear child of the Living God? Where are your eyes - on the storm or on Jehovah, the One Who is in control of the storm and Who is described as your Helper in this psalm? From television pop psychologists to the unbelievable proliferation of "self-help" books, the world is screaming at us to seek help from deep within ourselves, when all the time (Psalm 121:6 "by day...by night") we have access to Jehovah our Helper. Let us not neglect His help as did Judah. Jehovah, speaking to faithless Judah, declared

My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, to hew for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water. (Jer 2:13)

Beloved, are you at this very present time in need of help? Then lift your eyes not to the creation but unto your Creator, Who stands ready to run to your cry for help (cp Ps 46:1-note, Ps 46:2-note)

Corrie Ten Boom would say to us...

Looking to Jesus and experiencing rest in Him is the same idea brought out by Solomon in Proverbs 18:10...

The Name of the LORD (Jehovah) is a strong tower. The righteous runs into it and is safe. (see notes)

Comment: Notice that truth precedes behavior. In other words first we note Who God is - a strong tower (metaphorically or figuratively speaking). But it is not just enough to know Who He is. It is not enough as some falsely teach just to "Let go and let God", which absolves us of any human responsibility. The righteous man is a wise person, because he or she makes the choice to believe God and to run into the "cleft of the Rock", knowing that He is the believer's personal Shield and Defender (our Strong Tower). Acting on the truth about God ("running into" the truth about Him, believing that truth, acting accordingly) brings us safely into His presence. It is notable that the Hebrew word for safe actually pictures one being elevated above the roaring waves of the trial or affliction, just like a coastal home elevated on stilts escapes the surging seas of an on rushing hurricane.

Although the psalmist can see the mountains (or has a memory of actually having seen them) surrounding Jerusalem, here he sees with the eye of faith. As one sage has asked

Are, to us, the things unseen the solid things, and the things visible the shadows and the phantoms? We see with the bodily eyes the shadows on the wall, as it were, but we have to turn round and see with the eyes of our minds the light that flings the shadows.

Mountains - In another psalm of ascent we read that

As the mountains surround Jerusalem, So the LORD surrounds His people From this time forth and forever." (Ps 125:2-note)

Although I feel the mountains have some allusion to Jerusalem, one source rightly notes that

there is no certainty about the location of these hills. Anderson thinks they are the mountains on the route from Jerusalem to the psalmist’s home, and Taylor takes the journey to be the reverse of this. Some believe that these are the hills of or near Jerusalem, while others see an allusion to the “high places” where the pagan gods were believed to live. (Ed note: and where idolatry was practiced by many of the Israelites)" (Bratcher, R. G., & Reyburn, W. D. A Translator's Handbook on the Book of Psalms. Page 1051. New York: United Bible Societies)

If by the mountains the psalmist was referring to places of false worship, Jehovah's warning in Jeremiah would apply:

Surely, the hills are a deception, a tumult on the mountains. Surely, in the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel. (Jer 3:23)

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Lift Up Your Eyes - A woman whose work demanded constant reading began to have difficulty with her eyes, so she consulted a physician. After an examination he said, "Your eyes are just tired; you need to rest them."

"But," she replied, "that is impossible in my type of work."

After a few moments the doctor asked, "Do you have windows at your workplace?"

"Oh, yes," she answered with enthusiasm. "From the front windows I can see the noble peaks of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and from the rear windows I can look out at the glorious Allegheny foothills."

The physician replied, "That is exactly what you need. When your eyes feel tired, go look at your mountains for 10 minutes—20 would be better—and the far look will rest your eyes!"

What is true in the physical realm is true in the spiritual realm. The eyes of the soul are often tired and weary from focusing on our problems and difficulties. The upward look—the far look—will restore our spiritual perspective. At times we feel overwhelmed by life's troubles. If we look to the Lord in His Word and in prayer, however, He will put our problems in perspective and renew our strength. Let's lift up our eyes! (Psalm 121:1). —Henry G. Bosch  (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)

From whence shall my help come?: The question does not express doubt, despondency or despair, but is simply asked to introduce the answer which follows. Note that Psalm 121 is often misunderstood especially when read in the KJV.

Keil & Delitzsch in their Commentary on the Old Testament write that

"To render “from which my help cometh” (as Luther does) is inadmissible."

In other words, the KJV renders the verse not an interrogative but as a statement of fact as follows:

"A Song of degrees. I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help."

Without going into technical details, suffice it to say that the Hebrew word translated "whence?" or "where?" always conveys the idea of a question. This section should therefore be read as a question:

"From whence cometh my help?"

It is rendered in this manner by most of the modern translations. For example the CSB plainly states

"I look up to the mountains – does my help come from there?"

Which is answered by the declaration

"Not from the hills or the creation, but from the God of creation."
 

HELP
Hebrew: 'Ezer

Help is the Hebrew noun 'ezer (root verb = 'azar) (click) referring to assistance or to the one who provides the assistance ("helper"). 'Ezer (actually the verb form 'azar) is used in the OT to refer to military assistance such as God’s help in battle (1Chr 12:18).

'Ezer (actually the verb 'azar) is used of Jehovah’s personal assistance for those who cannot help themselves (Ps 10:14-note; Ps 72:12-note).

David declares

Jehovah is my strength and my shield. My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. Therefore my heart exults, and with my song I shall thank Him. (Ps 28:7-note;cf Ps 86:17-note).

Spurgeon comments: "Heart trust is never disappointed. Faith must come before help, but help will never be long behindhand. Divine help is given us every moment, or we would go back into perdition; when clearer help is needed, we have only to put faith into exercise, and it will be given us." (Bolding added. Treasury of David)

Greek: Boetheia

The Septuagint (LXX) has the Greek word boetheia (click here) which is used only twice in the NT, once in a well known passage in Hebrews 4:16-note "Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help (boetheia) in time of need."

The second use of boetheia by Luke gives us a great word picture of "help", describing the storm tossed ship in (Acts 27:17), writing that

after they had hoisted (the lifeboat) up, they used supporting cables (boetheia) in undergirding the ship and fearing that they might run aground on the shallows of Syrtis, they let down the sea anchor, and so let themselves be driven along.

This procedure of passing supporting cables under the ship to hold it together and keep the beams from separating is known as frapping, (frap is a nautical term that means to draw tight, to lash down or together). So in the midst of the storm the sailors wrapped cables around the ship’s hull and winched them tight. Thus supported, the ship would be better able to withstand the severe pounding of wind and sea.

Beloved, do you see the word picture inherent in the Biblical use of (boetheia) in Psalm 121? From time to time all of saints encounter unexpected storms and are in need of the Captain of the vessel to batten down the hatches, sending His help that we might be able to endure the stormy trial or temptation. Here in Psalm 121 the psalmist is seeking help...he doesn't give us his name nor the reason he is seeking help (unless Psalm 120 can be taken as the immediate context).

Alexander Maclaren writes that

There will be no reception of the Divine help unless there is a sense of the need of the Divine help. God cannot help me before I am brought to despair of any other help. If we conceit ourselves to be strong we are weak; if we know ourselves to be impotent, Omnipotence (see Omnipotent) pours itself into us. (Biblical Illustrator)

Spurgeon reminds us that

No help comes from anywhere else but from the eternal hills. Let us lift up our eyes, therefore, hopefully expecting help from the hills; it is on the road, it "cometh." The psalmist with the eye of faith could see it coming, so he watched its approach.

Yesterday’s promise secured strength for what we have to do today, but this promise guarantees help when we cannot act alone. The Lord says, “I will help you.” Strength within is supplemented by help from without. God can raise up allies in our warfare if it seems good in His sight. Even if He doesn’t send human assistance, He Himself will be at our side, and this is even better. “Our august Ally” is superior to thousands of human helpers.
 

His help is timely, for He is a very present help in time of trouble (Psalm 46:1-note).

His help is wise, for He knows how to give what is good for us.
His help is effective, though futile is the help of friends.
His help is more than help, for He carries all the burdens and supplies, all the needs.

“The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” (Heb 13:6-note).

Because He has already been our help, we feel confidence in Him for the present and the future.
Our prayer is, “Lord, be my helper” (Psalm 30:10-note).

Our experience is, “The Spirit also helps in our weaknesses” (Romans 8:26-note).

Our expectation is, “I will lift up my eyes to the hills—from whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth” (Ps. 121:1).

My help comes from Jehovah (note) (yhwh) - The Helper is none other than Yahweh, the great "I Am", the unchanging, eternal, self-existent, living God, the “I am that I am,” the covenant-keeping God.

"The meaning of the name yhwh may best be summarized as “present to act (usually, but not only) in salvation.” The revelation of the name is given to Moses, “I am who I am” (Ex 3:14), and later in a self-presentation, “I am the Lord” (Ex 6:2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8). The name yhwh specifies an immediacy, a presence." (Elwell, W. A: Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House) (See related study on the Name Jehovah)

In NT terms one could just as readily say "My help comes from Jesus" for He proclaimed Himself identical with Jehovah when He said to the Jews

Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I Am. (Jn 8:58)

Comment: John uses 7 “I AM's" to describe Jesus: BREAD (Jn 6:35,41,48, 51), LIGHT (Jn 8:12), DOOR (Jn 10:9), GOOD SHEPHERD (Jn 10:14), RESURRECTION & LIFE (Jn 11:25), WAY (Jn 14:6), VINE (Jn 15:1, 5).

Who made heaven and earth - He is able.  He has all the power needed to protect the psalmist. This assurance is repeated in Ps 124:8-note ( "Our help is in the Name of Jehovah, Who made heaven and earth."). Only the Creator can be the Helper of His creation. His attributes such as His omnipresence and omnipotence assure us that He has the ability to follow through on His promise to help us. He Who spoke the heavens is to be "my" personal Helper! Is this not an awesome, humbling thought? The next time you are in a tight spot, recall this verse to your mind. The transcendent (exceeding usual limits) Creator is also the ever-present Watcher of each of His children! Ponder this truth.

Psalm 146 echoes this truth about God declaring "How blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God; Who made heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them, Who keeps faith forever." (Ps 146:5-note, Ps 146:6-note)

Spurgeon writes that...

He would sooner unmake them than desert his people. He that made heaven and earth could certainly find shelter for us either in heaven or in earth. He cannot, he will not leave us, he will make room for us in heaven when there is no room for us here. What a blessed thing it is to look right away from the creature to the Creator! The creature may fail you; but the Creator is an ever-springing well of all-sufficient grace

Expositor's Bible Commentary notes that

This confession (Yahweh is "the Maker of heaven and earth.") goes beyond the modern controversy of evolution and creationism. The creedal statement, also taken up in the Apostles' Creed, originally signified an apologetic statement on Yahweh's sovereignty over all realms: heaven and earth, thereby excluding any claims by pagan deities. Yahweh Alone is God (cf. Ps 115:4-note, Ps 115:5-note; Ps 115:6-note; Ps 115:7-note; Ps 124:8-note; Ps 134:3-note; Ps 146:6-note; Jer 10:11)! The sole source of "help" comes from Yahweh, Who, as Creator, has unlimited power." (Gaebelein, F, Editor: Expositor's Bible Commentary OT 7 Volume Set: Books: Zondervan Publishing)

Meditate on the truth that the same awesome, majestic God takes a personal interest in His children, so that you too will be led to proclaim Him in your experience as Jehovah "my help" ("I Am your help")! Then take a moment to worship Him by singing the familiar words of Martin Luther's hymn, A Mighty Fortress Is Our God...
 

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our Helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

Spurgeon comments

What we need is help, -- help powerful, efficient, constant: we need a very present help in trouble. What a mercy that we have it in our God. Our hope is in Jehovah, for our help comes from him. Help is on the road, and will not fail to reach us in due time, for He Who sends it to us was never known to be too late. Jehovah Who created all things is equal to every emergency; heaven and earth are at the disposal of Him who made them, therefore let us be very joyful in our infinite Helper. He will sooner destroy heaven and earth than permit His people to be destroyed, and the perpetual hills themselves shall bow rather than He shall fail whose ways are everlasting. We are bound to look beyond heaven and earth to Him Who made them both: it is vain to trust the creatures: it is wise to trust the Creator. (Treasury of David Psalm 121:2)

Warren Wiersbe writes that

"This psalm is special to my family. When our children were young and we were all in the car ready to leave on a trip or a vacation, we often read Psalm 121 and then prayed. The children became accustomed to hearing the words, "I will lift up my eyes to the hills--from whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth" (v1,2). God is our Helper. You don't have to go on a vacation or drive on a busy highway to know that. Where does your help come from? The psalmist lifted his eyes to the hills. The most stable, secure thing the Jews knew were the mountains around Jerusalem. Then the psalmist lifted his eyes higher and said, "No, I don't get my help from the hills. I get my help from the heavens. God is my Helper." Whatever your need or task is today, your help will come from the Lord, the Creator of the heavens and the earth. A God big enough to make this world and keep it going is big enough to help you with your problems today." (Wiersbe, W in his devotional: Prayer, Praise and Promises)

"I requite to remember that my, help cometh from the LORD, not only when seemingly there is no outward help from men or otherwise, but also and especially when all seems to go well with me, -- when abundance of friends and help are at hand. For then, surely, I am most in danger of making an arm of flesh my trust, and thus reaping its curse; or else of saying to my soul, "Take thine ease", and finding the destruction which attends such folly." (Alfred Edersheim)

"God’s strongest saints realize their weaknesses, and appeal to Him for strength. One Sunday morning, as Charles H. Spurgeon passed through the door back of the pulpit in the Tabernacle, and saw the great crowd of people, he was overheard saying, “O God, help!” Strong as he was, he realized that he was insufficient for so great a task as preaching the Gospel in power, unless God should be his Helper."  (from Tan, P. L. Encyclopedia of 7700 illustrations)

Perhaps you might pause for a moment and sing the following hymn (click link) as your prayer...

Abide with Me
Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.