Promised by the Lie, Fulfilled by the Truth

Promised by the Lie, Fulfilled by the Truth
(Ps 121)

(all major Scriptures are from NASB, unless otherwise noted, Shorter quotations verses are either NASB, or paraphrased by myself.)

Ps 121 God Provides

7 The LORD will protect you from all evil.

1 I will lift up my eyes to the mountains;
From whence shall my help come?
2 My help comes from the LORD,
Who made heaven and earth.

from Mount Moriah, Site of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem
by Lambert Dolphin
(found at Temple Mount Organization site - emphasis mine)

(This is not to be construed as an endorsement of that site)

Jerusalem does not lie on any important trade routes nor is there any natural reason why this city should be one of the most important places in the world for more than four thousand years. Jerusalem lies at the crest of a low range of hills which are a barrier to winter rains from the Mediterranean Sea which is only 30 miles to the West. Immediately to the East, annual rainfall drops nearly to zero in the Judean Wilderness. The elevation to the East also drops rapidly to the Dead Sea, falling to 1290 feet below sea level, in less than 15 miles as the crow flies.
Jerusalem's importance as a site chosen by God for His special purposes dates from the call of God to Abraham to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice on Mount Moriah, in the city of Jebus, as recorded in Genesis 22. (This important event in the life of Abraham is known to the Jews as "the Akeda" or "the binding of Isaac.")
The topographic map shows that Mount Moriah is not a single peak, but an elongated ridge which commences to rise at its Southern end at the junction of the Kidron and Hinnom Valleys, at the original City of David, (elevation approximately 600 meters). The ridge then climbs in elevation to a maximum of 777 meters just Northeast of the present Damascus Gate of the Old City. The Temple Mount, prominent in most photos of Jerusalem occupies an area of about 45 acres. However the elevation of the bedrock outcropping on the Temple Mount within the Dome of the Rock Muslim shrine is only 741 meters.
A distinctly separate "mountain" is Mount Zion (elevation 772 meters) which lies about 600 meters to the West. In ancient times a deep valley, the Tyropean Valley, or Valley of the Cheesemakers, separated Mt. Zion from Mt. Moriah. Today many layers of ruined city and rubble from Jerusalem's many destructions completely fills this valley. In fact at the Western Wall, the Kotel, or Jewish prayer plaza, about half of the old wall of the Temple Mount lies below the present ground level. (Sometimes Scripture calls all of Jerusalem "Zion" or "Mt. Zion"). Outside the present old city walls, the traditional tomb of David and site of the Upper Room are located on present-day Mt. Zion, as well as the Church of the Domitian and the Institute of Holy Land Studies.
East of Mt. Moriah a few hundred meters is the Mount of Olives which is about 100 meters higher than the high points of Mt. Zion or Mt. Moriah. Jesus ascended to heaven from the summit of the Mt. of Olives according to Acts 1:1-12 and will make his triumphant return to earth from the same location, according to Zechariah 14:4. At the Western base of the Mount of Olives just above the Kidron Brook is the Garden of Gethsemene. This was not only the place of Jesus' arrest and final prayers, it was a popular spot where he and his disciples often met and slept.

3 He will not allow your foot to slip;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
4 Behold, He who keeps Israel
Will neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD is your keeper;
The LORD is your shade on your right hand.

Right hand (yamiyn[3225] yad[3027]) the open hand, the hand of strength and power and means.

(Fausset's) The right hand of God denotes His omnipotence. Being the more proficient hand, the right hand side was the place of honor.

In trial, the accuser stands at the right hand of the accused, but our Advocate is also at our right hand.

(ISBE) The hand signifies power in many cases. Also speaks to the side, and to direction (right == south, left == north) The left and right hands also speak to values, the right signifying the good and blessed, the left the bad and unlucky.

In battle, a friend or protector will take his place at the right hand side to guard it as the more valuable side. It is also, as the more valuable side, the side most prone to attack by the enemy. Finally, it is the unprotected side, as the shield would be on the left arm. It is the point of both danger and honor, of power and of strength.

(Matthew Henry) The right hand is the working hand. As we turn that hand to our duty, we find God ready to assist and give success.

What applies to the whole of His people applies to you personally. Who keeps Israel, keeps you! "The Shepherd of the flock is the Shepherd of every sheep, and…not one…shall perish." (Matthew Henry) Though many may try to undermine His people by fraud or by force, yet He will keep them from being frightened, and they will not fall into trouble. He keeps as close to us as our shadow.

6 The sun will not smite you by day,
Nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD will protect you from all evil;
He will keep your soul.

Against all evil

The LORD will guard your going out and your coming in
From this time forth and forever.

Calvin "How few are to be found who yield to God the honor of being a keeper, [so as to be] assured of their safety, and led to call upon Him in the midst of their perils! On the contrary, even when we seem to have largely experienced what this protection of God implies, we instantly tremble at the noise of a leaf falling from a tree, as if God had quite forgotten us… We should gather together whatever may be found throughout the whole Scriptures concerning the providence of God, until this doctrine - 'that God always keeps watch for us' - is deeply rooted in our hearts; so that depending on His guardianship alone we may bid adieu to all the vain confidences of this world."

1 I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From whence shall my help come? 2 My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.
1-2	Two possibilities for viewing the mountains 1) Looking Homeard: A number of commentators see this as referring to the hills around Jerusalem, the holy mountains. By this view, the author has his eyes set on Mount Moriah, the holy hill; on the 'special presence of God in His church, and with His people' (Matthew Henry).
		Ps 28:2	Hear my cry when I lift my hands towards the sanctuary.
		Is 63:9	[Christ,] The angel of His presence saved them; In His love and mercy He redeemed them and carried them all the days of old.
	Another commentary (K&D) considers this to be the voice of one longing to be among the holy mountains of Zion, and that, as he longs for Zion, his question answers itself in reminding him of that which makes Zion's mountains both significant and holy: the God who alone can help. He learns that he must look beyond the instrument to the God who makes the instrument what it is. Mr. Henry writes "If He do not help, no creature can help; if He do, no creature can hinder." The Maker of heaven and earth can do anything, He is sufficient, no matter how terrible our difficulties.
		Jer 3:23-24	Surely, the hills are a deception. Surely, in the LORD our God is salvation. But the shameful thing has consumed the labor of our fathers since our youth, their flocks and herds, their sons and daughters.
		from Mount Moriah, Site of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem by Lambert Dolphin (found at Temple Mount Organization site - emphasis mine) (This is not to be construed as an endorsement of that site) Jerusalem does not lie on any important trade routes nor is there any natural reason why this city should be one of the most important places in the world for more than four thousand years. Jerusalem lies at the crest of a low range of hills which are a barrier to winter rains from the Mediterranean Sea which is only 30 miles to the West. Immediately to the East, annual rainfall drops nearly to zero in the Judean Wilderness. The elevation to the East also drops rapidly to the Dead Sea, falling to 1290 feet below sea level, in less than 15 miles as the crow flies. Jerusalem's importance as a site chosen by God for His special purposes dates from the call of God to Abraham to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice on Mount Moriah, in the city of Jebus, as recorded in Genesis 22. (This important event in the life of Abraham is known to the Jews as "the Akeda" or "the binding of Isaac.") The topographic map shows that Mount Moriah is not a single peak, but an elongated ridge which commences to rise at its Southern end at the junction of the Kidron and Hinnom Valleys, at the original City of David, (elevation approximately 600 meters). The ridge then climbs in elevation to a maximum of 777 meters just Northeast of the present Damascus Gate of the Old City. The Temple Mount, prominent in most photos of Jerusalem occupies an area of about 45 acres. However the elevation of the bedrock outcropping on the Temple Mount within the Dome of the Rock Muslim shrine is only 741 meters. A distinctly separate "mountain" is Mount Zion (elevation 772 meters) which lies about 600 meters to the West. In ancient times a deep valley, the Tyropean Valley, or Valley of the Cheesemakers, separated Mt. Zion from Mt. Moriah. Today many layers of ruined city and rubble from Jerusalem's many destructions completely fills this valley. In fact at the Western Wall, the Kotel, or Jewish prayer plaza, about half of the old wall of the Temple Mount lies below the present ground level. (Sometimes Scripture calls all of Jerusalem "Zion" or "Mt. Zion"). Outside the present old city walls, the traditional tomb of David and site of the Upper Room are located on present-day Mt. Zion, as well as the Church of the Domitian and the Institute of Holy Land Studies. East of Mt. Moriah a few hundred meters is the Mount of Olives which is about 100 meters higher than the high points of Mt. Zion or Mt. Moriah. Jesus ascended to heaven from the summit of the Mt. of Olives according to Acts 1:1-12 and will make his triumphant return to earth from the same location, according to Zechariah 14:4. At the Western base of the Mount of Olives just above the Kidron Brook is the Garden of Gethsemene. This was not only the place of Jesus' arrest and final prayers, it was a popular spot where he and his disciples often met and slept.
	2) Looking afield: The pilgrim en route to Jerusalem must pass many hills and mountains to come at last to Zion. From Canaanite times, these high places had been the places where the Baals were worshiped. They were the centers for idolatrous worship, and were all too often adopted by Israel.
		1Ki 11:7	Solomon built a high place for Chemosh on the mountain east of Jerusalem.
		1Ki 14:23	they built high places, sacred pillars and Asherim on every high hill and beneath every good tree.
		2Chr 21:11	Libnah revolted, and made high places in the mountains of Judah, leading Judah astray.
		Ez 16:24-25	you built a shrine and made a high place in every square, at the top of every street.
	These shrines, or their remains were ever present (and some still are) distractions to the one who came to the great Feasts of Israel. Not only on the approach, but within the walls of God's chosen city. This is clearly the view taken by the Living Bible:
		1 Shall I look to the mountain gods for help? 2 No! My help is from Jehovah who made the mountains! And the heavens too! (TLB)
	We are not free of this tendency to look far afield. Calvin writes of this verse: "such is the inconstancy natural to us, that so soon as we are smitten with any fear, we turn our eyes in every direction, until faith, drawing us back from all these erratic wanderings, direct us exclusively to God." We are all prone to be deceived and cheated by the counterfeit. This is part of the message of Ps 120; that we have been lied to by friend, foe, and self. Had God not opened our eyes, we'd still be in the midst of the lie. As it is, our flesh ever wants to follow that lie, but God corrects us, and will not permit us to persevere in our wandering ways, having saved us.
3 He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber. 4 Behold, He who keeps Israel Will neither slumber nor sleep.
3-4	He is Israel's keeper.
	He who keeps (shamar [8104]) to have charge of, to keep watch, to save life, a watchman. To be kept and guarded. Vines: To tend and take care of, as Adam was assigned to do for the garden (Ge 2:15). It's interesting to see this, given that Adam was created in God's image! It's also worthwhile to bear this idea in mind as we consider the fact that we are being equipped to attain to the full stature of the image of Christ. Part of our purpose, as God's people is to tend and take care of our brothers and sisters, even as God does for us. Same word used to describe God's watchfulness to see that His covenants are kept by His people, the keeping of His ways. Not only is the watching noted, but the responsibility that comes to the watchman. Further speaks of retaining, as Jacob's dream was remembered by Isaac, or as Egypt retained their grain at Joseph's advice. This word appears in verses 3, 4, 5 (your keeper), 7 (protect), 8 (guard). Again, the Living Bible gets to the core of this passage, giving great expression to the nature of the assurances given:
		3 He will never let me stumble, slip, or fall. For he is always watching, never sleeping.
	'There's no way He'd let my foot slip, no way He would be asleep. Though He keeps His whole people, yet He wearies not. This reflects what Pastor was speaking of Sunday, God's rest on the seventh day was not due to weariness. It was merely to stop and enjoy the fruit of His labors. By contrast, the gods of the heathens were thought to sleep on occasion. (Think about Elijah and the prophets of Baal. His comment must have cut them to the quick!) God is contrasted to these false images as never sleeping, never leaving His care over His people. "God keeps watch unceasingly over our safety." (Calvin). The benefits promised of the false gods, are fulfilled by the One true God. What the worldly seek after and desire in their worldly ways, but never obtain, the true believer finds abundantly supplied in God alone. God is our guardian. God Himself. "Those must needs be well kept that have the Lord for their keeper." (Matthew Henry). If he is our guardian, what doubt can we have that He will act on our behalf, for His every intent is for our good, and no evil will happen to us, except such afflictions as He sees is good for us, and will do us good. Can you see how the afflictions of Job were for his good?
The LORD is your keeper; The LORD is your shade on your right hand.
5	He is your keeper.

	Shade speaks of defense (same word). And His defense is near at hand at all times. We need not seek afar for our God. He is present in our midst.
	Right hand (yamiyn[3225] yad[3027]) the open hand, the hand of strength and power and means.
	(Fausset's) The right hand of God denotes His omnipotence. Being the more proficient hand, the right hand side was the place of honor.
		Ps 110:1	Sit at My right hand, until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.
		Mt 25:33	The sheep are placed to His right, the goats to His left. [Left is the place of dishonor.]
	In trial, the accuser stands at the right hand of the accused, but our Advocate is also at our right hand.
		Zech 3	Satan was at Joshua's right hand, accusing, but the LORD rebuked him. [Read this passage!]
		Ps 109:6	let an accuser stand at the wicked man's right hand.
		Ps 16:8	*Because He is* at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
		Ps 109:31	He stands at the right hand of the needy to save him from those who judge his soul.
		Ro 8:31-34	If God be for us, who can be against us? Who can lay a charge to His elect? Christ intercedes!
	(ISBE) The hand signifies power in many cases. Also speaks to the side, and to direction (right == south, left == north) The left and right hands also speak to values, the right signifying the good and blessed, the left the bad and unlucky.
		Ecc 10:2	the wise man's heart is to the right, the fool's heart to the left.
	In battle, a friend or protector will take his place at the right hand side to guard it as the more valuable side. It is also, as the more valuable side, the side most prone to attack by the enemy. Finally, it is the unprotected side, as the shield would be on the left arm. It is the point of both danger and honor, of power and of strength.
	(Matthew Henry) The right hand is the working hand. As we turn that hand to our duty, we find God ready to assist and give success. What applies to the whole of His people applies to you personally. Who keeps Israel, keeps you! "The Shepherd of the flock is the Shepherd of every sheep, and…not one…shall perish." (Matthew Henry) Though many may try to undermine His people by fraud or by force, yet He will keep them from being frightened, and they will not fall into trouble. He keeps as close to us as our shadow.
		SS 2:3c	'In His shade I took great delight and sat down.'
		Ps 73:2	I almost stumbled and slipped,
		Ps 72:23	but You have taken hold of my right hand.
		Ge 28:15	I am with you, and will keep you wherever you go.
6 The sun will not smite you by day, Nor the moon by night. 7 The LORD will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul.
6-7	Against all evil
		Ge 31:40	(Jacob's lament to Laban) "I was consumed by heat by day, and consumed by frost at night."
		Jonah 4:8	God caused the sun to beat on Jonah's head until he became faint and begged to die.
		Is 27:3	The LORD keeps His vineyard, and guards it night and day against damage.
		Is 49:10	the heat of the sun will not strike them down, as He who has compassion will lead them to springs of water.
	As a relatively arid land, Israel's heat by day is such as will cause sunstroke, and this can often prove fatal. Also common to the desert lands, the nights are surprisingly cold and damp, and the sudden onslaught of that cold can be as damaging to health as was the heat. Consider God's presence amongst His people in the Exodus: a pillar of cloud by day, providing shade against the desert heat, and a pillar of fire by night, giving warmth to His people. Thus, the Psalmist tells us that even though we share the common miseries of all men in this life, yet His shadow protects us from harm. Trials will come, but His divine favor will hold us from deadly harm. Another view of the parallels here, would suggest that the sun represents the open assault upon us, and the moon speaks of the hidden things of the night, the secret treacheries aimed at our lives to bring us down. He protects from all: from both sin and trouble, from both what you fear and what you feel. Affliction will happen, but its evil will have been removed by our Guardian.

The LORD will guard your going out and your coming in From this time forth and forever.
8	In all you do...
	going out (yatsa' [3318]) to go with purpose coming in (bow' [935]) to attain to
	MH: As He kept Israel in the wilderness, so you will be kept in all your voyages. His protection is 'for life, never out of date.' Calvin: Whatever you undertake in life shall come to a successful end, being as your undertakings are guided by the Holy Spirit. K&D: The life that stands under such universal and unbounded protection of eternal love can suffer no injury.
Summing Up: The Lord Provides
Calvin "How few are to be found who yield to God the honor of being a keeper, [so as to be] assured of their safety, and led to call upon Him in the midst of their perils! On the contrary, even when we seem to have largely experienced what this protection of God implies, we instantly tremble at the noise of a leaf falling from a tree, as if God had quite forgotten us… We should gather together whatever may be found throughout the whole Scriptures concerning the providence of God, until this doctrine - 'that God always keeps watch for us' - is deeply rooted in our hearts; so that depending on His guardianship alone we may bid adieu to all the vain confidences of this world."