Psalm 121

That was Lee Rosenbaum from a conversation we had during the 2024 Jewish holidays.

Our conversation was inspired by my song, Need Some Help, which was itself inspired by Psalm 121.

I'm Shep Rosenman, and this is The Rest is Commentary, where we explore what songs inspired by the Psalms, or Tehillim, inspire in my guests.

Lee is my dear friend, chosen family, and law partner in RLGLLP.

Exactly.

But also, I was reminded when we talked about it of Psalm 121 that says, "I look to the hills, from where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth." And so we're coming to get resources, but we're coming to the one who is all the resource, has made all things, holds all things, and therefore we can come and ask Him for all that we need in help building the house.

And then in this podcast, what we do is we look at a different book each time, a book that Jo and I have read, and a book that has helped us to do either or both of those things, to look up to the hills to receive our, our help from God, and help introduce those books to you and get people thinking about them.

It's not necessarily a book review, just pulling out a few themes and ideas that have helped and encouraged us.

Be it ours never to inflict upon others that which from which we have been screened ourselves.

End of Psalm 120 Psalm 121 of the Treasury of David, Volume 6 by Charles Spurgeon.

This LibriVox recording is in the public domain.

Recording by Marianne.

Psalm 121 Title, etc.

This bears no other title than A Song of Degrees.

It is several steps in advance of its predecessor, for it tells of the peace of God's house and the guardian care of the Lord, while Psalm 120 bemoans the departure of peace from the good man's abode and his exposure to the venomous assaults of slanderous tongues.

With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.

Psalm 121 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.

And if it was true in the middle of World War II, it is still true today.

Psalm 121, as you continue to work your way through the Psalms and you get up to the Psalms of Ascent.

Those 15 songs that they taught to their kids as they're journeying towards Jerusalem.

And one of the most favorites is Psalm 121, I lift up my eyes to the hills, where does my help come from? And you put yourself into that story and you recognize that Jerusalem was on the top of a hill and nearly anywhere from in Israel where they were making pilgrimages to Jerusalem, they were going up a hill.

And they're coming maybe from 20 miles, maybe from 100 miles and in little family groups and in big caravans and they're carrying their wealth with them.

Why? Because they have saved up their festival tithe so that when they get to Jerusalem, they will have money to buy food and drink and buy the sacrifices they needed.

And when I arrived at the hotel, the temptation is just to go to sleep, try to sleep, even though you know you're gonna toss and turn all night.

And I got out my Bible and I turned to Psalm 121.

I lift up my eyes to the mountains.

Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.

I felt the urge to ask God, please forgive me for thinking I'm in control here.

Please forgive me, God, for thinking that I direct the path of my life.

All of this coming from God first speaking to me through Psalm 121.

And then I end up praying right before I go to sleep.