Eyes on the Hills: Trust, Worship, and Deliverance in the Journey of Faith

Be God's Glory
Jun 26
11 min read

Welcome to Day 177 of The Glory Team Bible Reading plan and we are in the book of Psalms. Psalms 121–124 are part of the Songs of Ascents, a collection of psalms (120–134) sung by pilgrims as they traveled to Jerusalem for the feasts. These four chapters emphasize trust in God, the joy of worship, the need for divine mercy, and the deliverance that only God can provide. The psalmist’s focus moves from personal assurance in God’s protection (Psalm 121), to communal joy and unity in worship (Psalm 122), to a plea for mercy from a place of deep distress (Psalm 123), and finally to a grateful acknowledgment that survival and victory are only possible because of the Lord’s help (Psalm 124). Each chapter builds on the idea that the journey of faith is one of dependence on God's unwavering care, justice, and power.

Psalm 121 is a personal declaration of trust in God's constant protection. The psalmist begins by lifting their eyes to the hills and affirming that true help comes not from the mountains but from the Lord, the Creator of heaven and earth. Unlike human guardians, God never slumbers or sleeps—He is a vigilant protector who watches over His people day and night. The psalm assures the traveler that God will keep them from harm, preserving their life and watching their every step. Whether going out or coming in, God's care is everlasting. This psalm is a comforting reminder that believers can rely on the Lord’s presence and protection at all times.

Psalm 122 is a joyful celebration of going to the house of the Lord in Jerusalem. The psalmist expresses gladness at the invitation to worship and reflects on the beauty and strength of Jerusalem as the city where the tribes of Israel come together in unity to praise the Lord. Jerusalem is also described as the place of justice and government, where David’s throne was established. The psalm includes a heartfelt prayer for peace within the city and prosperity for those who love it. It concludes with a personal commitment to seek the good of Jerusalem for the sake of fellow believers and the house of the Lord. This psalm reveals how worship and community are central to a life of faith.

Psalm 123 is a humble prayer for mercy from those suffering under contempt and ridicule. The psalmist lifts their eyes to God, describing Him as enthroned in the heavens, like a master over servants whose gaze is fixed on Him in dependence. This image conveys complete trust and expectation, waiting for God to respond with grace. The plea becomes more urgent as the psalmist recounts the ongoing scorn and arrogance they face from the proud. Their only hope is God’s mercy, which is sought with sincerity and patience. This psalm reflects the cry of a heart that knows deliverance comes only through divine compassion.

Psalm 124 is a song of gratitude, praising God for delivering Israel from certain destruction. The psalmist imagines what would have happened if the Lord had not been on their side—enemies would have overwhelmed them like a raging flood. The vivid metaphors of floodwaters, traps, and wild beasts show how dire the situation was and how miraculous the escape became. But because God intervened, they escaped like a bird from a snare; the trap was broken. The psalm concludes with a bold declaration that their help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. This chapter powerfully celebrates God as a deliverer who turns disaster into freedom.

Origin & Meaning of the Name:

The name "Psalms" comes from the Greek word Psalmoi, which means "songs" or "melodies." This term was used in the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures. In Hebrew, the book is called "Tehillim", meaning “Praises.” Though many of the Psalms are laments or cries for help, the overarching theme is one of worship, adoration, and praise to God. The name reflects the book’s purpose as a collection of poetic songs meant to be sung or recited as expressions of worship and relationship with God.

Purpose of the Book:

The primary purpose of the Book of Psalms is to provide a rich devotional and liturgical guide for God’s people. It gives voice to the full range of human emotion—joy, sorrow, gratitude, confusion, repentance, and hope—and models how to bring those emotions to God in prayer and praise. Psalms teaches believers how to worship, how to lament, and how to trust in God in every season of life. It also contains prophetic elements pointing to the coming Messiah and affirms God's faithfulness, justice, and covenant with His people.

Authorship & Sources Supporting the Author:

The Book of Psalms is a collection of 150 individual psalms written by multiple authors over many centuries. The most well-known contributor is King David, to whom 73 psalms are directly attributed (e.g., Psalm 3, 23, 51). David is referred to as “the sweet psalmist of Israel” in 2 Samuel 23:1, confirming his significant role. Other contributors include:

Asaph (Psalms 50, 73–83) – a Levitical choir leader (see 1 Chronicles 6:39 and 2 Chronicles 29:30).
The Sons of Korah (Psalms 42–49, 84–85, 87–88) – descendants of a Levitical family assigned to temple worship (1 Chronicles 9:19, 2 Chronicles 20:19).
Solomon (Psalms 72 and 127) – David’s son and successor.
Moses (Psalm 90) – one of the oldest psalms; supports Mosaic authorship (see Deuteronomy 31:22, where Moses is said to write songs).
Heman the Ezrahite (Psalm 88) and Ethan the Ezrahite (Psalm 89) – associated with wisdom and temple service (1 Kings 4:31, 1 Chronicles 15:17–19).

Some Psalms are anonymous, yet they align with themes and styles used by these known authors. Historical Jewish tradition and early church writings, such as those by Origen and Jerome, also affirm the Davidic authorship of many psalms.

Key People:

God (Yahweh) – the central figure, described as Creator, Deliverer, Shepherd, King, and Judge.
David – both author and subject in many psalms, especially as a representative of the Messianic king.
The Messiah – referenced prophetically (e.g., Psalm 2, 22, 110) and fulfilled in Jesus Christ, as confirmed in the New Testament (Acts 2:25–36, Hebrews 1:5).
Enemies of Israel – including surrounding nations and personal adversaries, used to contrast God’s protection and judgment.
The righteous and the wicked – recurring symbolic characters representing those who follow God’s law versus those who rebel.

Conclusion

The Book of Psalms is a spiritual treasure chest that has shaped worship, theology, and prayer for thousands of years. With its vivid language, raw emotion, and deep faith, it connects head and heart, doctrine and devotion. It offers comfort in suffering, strength in trials, and joy in worship. Whether used in personal reflection, congregational worship, or prophetic meditation, Psalms continues to speak to every believer’s walk with God. Ultimately, it points to the greatness of God and His eternal plan of redemption through the Anointed One—Jesus Christ.

What is God's Name in these Chapters?

In this portion of our journey we want to dive deep into the character of God described in His name. By identifying who God is, we can further relate to Him personally and build a stronger relationship and connection with Our Father.

Names are important. They give significance to places, people, and things. We identify with so much based off what it's name is. This is considerably notable when it comes to the names of God.

"Jehovah" is considered a Latinized version of the Hebrew name "Yahweh" (represented by the consonants YHWH) where the vowels of the Hebrew word "Adonai" (meaning "my Lord") were added to the Tetragrammaton (YHWH) when pronounced by Jewish readers who avoided saying the sacred name directly; essentially, Christian scholars combined the consonants of YHWH with the vowels of Adonai to create the pronunciation "Jehovah" in the Latin alphabet.

Looking for the Names of God from the previous chapters? Due to the overwhelming amount of names we had to dedicate a special place for them for the sake of space. Click the link to see them:

REVIEW GOD'S NAMES FROM PREVIOUS CHAPTERS

God is revealed in Psalm 121 as an ever-present protector who never grows weary. He is attentive, reliable, and intimately involved in the lives of His people. The psalmist emphasizes that God does not sleep or slumber, highlighting His constant vigilance over us. His care is personal and comprehensive—He guards our steps, shields us from harm, and preserves our life both now and forever. This shows us that God is not distant, but a faithful guardian actively keeping watch over every detail of our lives.

Psalm 121 refers to the Lord as the “Maker of heaven and earth”, which in Hebrew context points to El Elyon (God Most High), the sovereign Creator who has all authority. The lesson God teaches here is about trust—looking beyond the visible “hills” for help and instead placing full confidence in Him. We are reminded that the source of our help and safety is not found in people or places but in the all-powerful God who created everything and promises to protect us every step of the way.

In Psalm 122, God is portrayed as the center of worship, unity, and peace. His character is one of holiness and order—He establishes places of justice and invites His people into joyful fellowship. The psalmist celebrates God’s presence in Jerusalem, a city not just of beauty but of divine appointment, where worship and communal praise are lifted up. God is shown as One who values community and desires His people to dwell together in unity, with hearts focused on honoring Him.

While specific Hebrew names of God are not mentioned, the repeated use of “the house of the Lord” refers to Yahweh (the covenant-keeping God), emphasizing His relationship with His people. The lesson taught is that worship and peace are vital parts of spiritual life. God calls us to prioritize gathering with others in His presence, to pray for the peace of God’s people, and to pursue the good of the places He dwells among us. He blesses unity and seeks a people who long to be in His courts.

In Psalm 123, God is revealed as the enthroned King who reigns from heaven with mercy and justice. The psalmist lifts his eyes to Him as a servant does to a master, acknowledging God's sovereignty and compassion. God’s character is gentle yet powerful—He sees the suffering of His people and responds not with indifference but with grace. He is approachable even in seasons of deep distress, and He is attentive to the pleas of the humble.

There are no specific Hebrew names mentioned, but God’s role as Master and enthroned One echoes Adonai (Lord and Master). The lesson is that in moments of oppression, ridicule, or weariness, our eyes must stay fixed on God. He teaches us patience and dependence, calling us to trust in His timing and mercy rather than reacting to the contempt of the world. It’s a reminder that our posture must be one of humility and expectation before our gracious King.

Psalm 124 displays God as a mighty Deliverer and Rescuer. The psalmist acknowledges that if God had not been on their side, their enemies would have overtaken them. His character is powerful, faithful, and attentive—He breaks traps, restrains forces of destruction, and ensures the survival of His people. God is not passive; He actively intervenes, rescues, and preserves those who belong to Him.

While no Hebrew names are explicitly mentioned, the phrase “Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth” again points to El Elyon and Yahweh, the covenant God with supreme authority. The lesson here is that victory belongs to the Lord alone. God is teaching us to recognize His hand in our deliverance and to give Him the glory when we escape situations we could never have survived on our own. Trusting in His name brings rescue and praise.

Christ in Every Book of the Bible

Christ is the theme throughout the Bible. From Genesis to Revelation, God reveals His Son, Jesus Christ.

Christ is the Seed of the woman Genesis 3:14 , He is the Passover Lamb Exodus 12:3, The Atoning Sacrifice Leviticus 17:11, The Smitten Rock Numbers 20:8, 11, The Faithful Prophet Deuteronomy 18:18, Christ is the Captain of the Lord's Host Joshua 5:15, The Divine Deliverer Judges 2:18, The Kinsman Redeemer Ruth 3:12, Christ is the anticipated as the Anointed One,1 Samuel 2:10, The Son of David 2 Samuel 7:14, The Coming King 1 & 2 Kings, Builder of the Temple 1 & 2 Chronicles (1 Chronicles 28:20), Ezra represents Christ as the Restorer of the Nation Ezra 6:14, 15, Nehemiah shows Him as the Restorer of the Temple Nehemiah 6:15, and Esther portrays Him as the Preserver of the Nation Ester 4:14, Christ is seen as the Living Redeemer Job 19:25, The Praise of Israel Psalm 150:6, The Wisdom of God Proverbs 8:22, 23, The Great Teacher Ecclesiastics 12:11, The Fairest of Ten Thousand Song of Solomon 5:10. Christ is the Suffering Servant Isaiah 53:11, The Maker of the New Covenant Jeremiah 31:31, The Man of Sorrows Lamentations 3:28-30, The Glory of God Ezekiel 43:2, The coming Messiah Daniel 9:25, The Lover of the Unfaithful Hosea 3:1, The Hope of Israel Joel 3:16, The Husbandman Amos 9:13, the Savior Obadiah 21, the Resurrected One Jonah 2:10, the Ruler in Israel Micah 5:2, the Avenger Nahum 2:1, the Holy God Habakkuk 1:13, the King of Israel Zephaniah 3:15, the Desire of Nations Haggai 2:7, the Righteous Branch Zechariah 3:8, and the Sun of Righteousness Malachi 4:2.

The King of the Jews Matthew 2:2, the Servant of the Lord Mark 10:45, the Son of Man Luke 19:10, and the Son of God John 1:1. Christ is the Ascended Lord Acts 1:10, the believer's Righteousness Romans 1:17, Sanctification 1 Corinthians 1:30, Sufficiency 2 Corinthians 12:9, and Liberty Galatians 2:4. He is the Exalted Head of the church Ephesians 1:22, the Christian's Joy Philippians 1:26, and the Fullness of Deity Colossians 2:9. In the Thessalonian epistles Christ is the believer's Comfort 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17 and Glory 2 Thessalonians 1:12. The Christian's Preserver 1 Timothy 4:10, Rewarder 2 Timothy 4:8, Blessed Hope Titus 2:13, and Substitute Philemon 17. He is the High Priest Hebrews 4:15, the Giver of Wisdom James 1:5, the Rock 1 Peter 2:6, and Precious Promise 2 Peter 1:4. John represents Christ as the Life 1 John, the Truth 2 John, and the Way 3 John, Jude portrays Christ as the Advocate and Revelation shows Him as King of Kings and Lord of Lords Revelation 19:16. The whole Bible is literally all about Christ!

Questions:

Let's expand how these chapters expanded your faith and your relationship with God.

Questions About God's Character: What do these chapters reveal about God’s faithfulness to His word and promises?

What do Psalms 121–124 reveal about God's role as our protector and deliverer?
How does God's attentiveness (He "does not slumber or sleep") impact your trust in Him?
In what ways is God portrayed as both a personal helper and a national deliverer?
How does God's mercy show up in Psalm 123, and what does this say about His heart toward the oppressed?
How does Psalm 122 describe God as a God of unity and peace?
What do these Psalms teach us about God's consistency and faithfulness through all circumstances?
How do the psalmists' descriptions of God help you relate to Him more personally in your own struggles?

Questions About Themes:

What is the significance of “lifting your eyes to the hills” in Psalm 121, and what theme does it introduce?
How do these chapters emphasize the theme of communal worship and unity among God’s people?
What does the metaphor of a bird escaping from a snare in Psalm 124 teach us about spiritual freedom?
How is the theme of dependence on God highlighted across all four psalms?
What recurring theme of journey or pilgrimage is reflected in these “Songs of Ascents”?
How is the theme of God’s help contrasted with human strength or effort in these chapters?
What themes of justice, deliverance, and divine intervention are emphasized, especially in Psalm 124?

Reflective Application Questions:

Where in your life do you need to lift your eyes and trust God as your helper (Psalm 121)?
How can you intentionally pursue peace and unity in your community, as modeled in Psalm 122?
In what areas are you crying out for mercy, and how can Psalm 123 guide your posture in prayer?
Can you recall a time when God delivered you from a situation you couldn’t escape on your own?
What practical steps can you take to remain watchful of God’s daily protection over your life?
How does gathering with fellow believers bring strength to your spiritual walk, as seen in Psalm 122?
How might recognizing God’s past help and deliverance strengthen your faith in current challenges?

These questions can help deepen understanding of the themes of these chapters, while encouraging trust in God's sovereignty, justice, faithfulness, and timing. We hope thoughts to these questions invite you to reflect on your own journeys, grow in faith, and understand more about God's nature.

Reference Guides:

Life Application Study Guide

A Popular Survey of the Old Testament by Norman L. Geisler

The Power of God's Names by Tony Evans