Letters to Israel from God – #1

Date: The Monarch Era, 1000 – 700 BC
Duration of promise: “forevermore”

Psalm 121

1. I will lift up my eyes to the hills—from whence comes my help?
2. My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
3. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber.
4. Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
5. The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade at your right hand.
6. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.
7. The LORD shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul.
8. The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore.

Conservative scholars explain Psalm 121:7 –
“The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life,” by distinguishing between physical hardship and ultimate spiritual destruction. They argue the promise guarantees eternal preservation of the soul and absolute victory over spiritual evil, rather than exemption from physical suffering or historical adversity.

• • • Spiritual Preservation Over Physical Immunity: The Hebrew word for “keep” or “preserve” is shamar. Conservative commentators emphasize that God “keeping [Israel’s] life” means Israel is never ultimately separated from God, even if it endures severe physical harm, exile, or persecution.
    • Eschatological Victory: The preservation mentioned is viewed as eschatological. God protects Israel through the temporary trials of this life, leading it into eternal glory at the appointed time. Evil may inflict temporary pain, but it cannot possibly defeat Israel’s ultimate destiny.
    • Hebrew Context of “Evil”: The Hebrew word for evil is ra, which can mean calamity, moral corruption, or distress. Commentators like Albert Barnes note that God preserves His people from the dominion of all evil, acting as a perpetual shield against spiritual forces that seek to destroy their faith.
    • Corporate Guardianship: Psalm 121 explicitly notes the Lord as the “Maker of heaven and earth” who watches over the entire nation of Israel. Scholars view the psalm as a declaration that while Israel faced historical oppression [and judgment for sin], God ultimately prevented the total annihilation and spiritual destruction of His covenant people, and He will restore them as He promised.

May the Keeper of Israel be praised!

Sources (with edits): The NKJV Bible; hebrewwordlessons.com; verachristian.com; reddit.com; bibleref.com; thelehrhaus.com