Protection 4 ~ Watches

Hello Everyone!

In this posting for our series on "Protection"

we are looking at the word "watches".

Below are some verses that contain the word "watches" in the

New International Version:

"For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish."
–Psalm 1:6

"From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind; from His dwelling place He watches all who live on earth."
–Psalm 33:13-14

"He will not let your foot slip– He who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord watches over you– the Lord is your shade at your right hand;"
–Psalm 121:3-5

(The italics are mine.)

We are going to focus

on Psalm 121.

This is one of my all time favorite Psalms EVER!!

I think I have mentioned this before, but my 6th grade teacher

at Webb Elementary School in Rushville, IN ~

Mr. Marshall Axom, made

us memorized this in the King James Version!

It has always had a special place in my heart.

Here it is in full in the King James Version:

"I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
My help [cometh] from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.
He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.
Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD [is] thy keeper: the LORD [is] thy shade upon thy right hand.
The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.
The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore."

Here is a video done on Psalm 121. Thank you Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir ~ you are one of the all-time BEST!!


>>Where does our help come from?

>>Where does ALL our help come from?

>>Our help comes from the Lord ~ AMEN!!

Under the title of this Psalm, in my New International Version Bible

it shows "A song of ascents".

Each Psalm from 120 through 134 carries this title.

This word, "ascents" could be interpreted as "steps".

Here are 4 ways these Psalms could have been used:

><> These Psalms build form the first verse to the last in a step-like progression.

><> These Psalms are a starting point from which the Psalms will be sung.
The actual steps of the sanctuary leading up to the Court of the Men are understood by many as those steps upon which the Psalms will be sung.

><>These Psalms were designed to be sung by the Children Of Israel as they ascended the hills of Judea en route to the Holy City after they have been released from Babylonian captivity.

><> These Psalms were sung on any occasion that drew the Israelites to go up to Jerusalem or to the Holy Place; for they were joyous occasions that would necessitate the singing of songs.

(ref. 1)

Verse 1 ~ "A song of ascents. I lift up my eyes to the hills-- where does my help come from?"
Verse 2 ~ "My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth."

The meaning of verse 1 is not clear. Perhaps the meaning could be:

†† "If I lift up mine eyes to the hills" so as to participate in the idolatrous
worship which was prevalent in the hillsides of Judea.

†† "Shall I lift up mine eyes to the hills?" Many significant events in the life of of Israel and her forefathers took place on the mountains.

The Psalmist (this Psalm's authorship is unknown) has resolved that his help does

not come from the hills themselves; but...

"My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth."

The Message Bible states it this way:

"I look up to the mountains; does my strength come from mountains? No, my strength comes from God, who made heaven and earth and mountains."

Here is a 54 (!) picture slide show of the hills surrounding Jerusalem. They

were taken from a train, traveling from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv.

Jerusalem Hillsides

Psalm 125:2 (NASB)

"As the mountains surround Jerusalem,

So the Lord surrounds His people

From this time forth and forever."

I have always thought that verse one and two just means that I look

upward or heavenwardly. (is that a word?)

Verse 3 ~ "He will not let your foot slip-- he who watches over you will not slumber;"
Verse 4 ~ "indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep."

The sliding of the foot is a frequent description of misfortune...

and a very natural one in mountainous Canaan, where a single slip of the foot was

often attended with great danger.

The Lord God puts a garrison (or a hedge...see previous post!)

around us with His holy angels, so that even while we sleep, we are confident

of protection because He never sleeps.

The attacks of Satan never catch our God off guard!!!

(ref.1)

(Praise God!)

Verse 5 ~ "The Lord watches over you-- the Lord is your shade at your right hand;"
Verse 6 ~ "the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night."

The word shade literally means a shadow.

This is a description of the protection we receive when we

"abide under the shadow of the Almighty". (Psalm 91:1)

(ref. 1)

Just as everywhere we go our shadow goes with us, so too God "shadows" us at all

times and in all circumstances.

(ref. 2)

"At your right hand" David proclaims "I have set the LORD continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken." Psalm 16:8

Is it just me, but I often wondered why the RIGHT hand and not the left....

What do you think?

Here's what I have come up with...if you know anything else, plz comment.

∆ The right hand means power

∆ The right hand means prominence or favored position

∆ The right side means to occupy a position of recognition and prestige

∆ The right hand portrays an image of intense strength

(Please know that I am not slighting you wonderful left-handed people out there!)

Verse 7 ~ "The Lord will keep you from all harm-- he will watch over your life; "
Verse 8 ~ "the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore."

Jehovah promises to preserve our movements, from morning to evening,

from infancy to old age, from this time for and even for evermore!

Now...please allow me to reiterate that God is our Protector...

but things will happen to us, but they go through Him first and

He is not surprised or worried about our situation.

Please enjoy another CBN video which illustrates this:

Thankful for His watchful eye,

Debbie G.

ref. 1: The KJV Parallel Bible Commentary by Nelson Publishers
ref. 2: link