Psalms 120-134 are a collection of Psalms titled, "Songs of degrees." which means songs for going up. They were traveling songs and most likely a collection the saints sang as they made their way up to Jerusalem. The faithful left their homes and traveled to God's appointed place of worship. Depending on where you lived, it could take anywhere up to five days for some to make it (Luke 2:41). If everyone was going up to the feast, the road would be full of travelers. Families would travel together and communities linked up and a caravan of the godly making their way to the worship of God As they traveled to worship, the sang the songs of Zion.
And when they left the house, it probably didn't seem like too bad a trip. Just a couple days. But after walking all day in the hot sun, and sleeping on the ground in the cool moonlight, knowing you are going to have to do it the next day, and the day after, and the day after, and then you STILL have to come back home, it could get discouraging. Psalm 121 is a hopeful song. The underlying theme of the song is that the journey is tough. But the main theme is God will see us through.
As we make our pilgrimage to our Heavenly home, it's often a hard road. There are problems, trials, temptations and setbacks we all face on our pilgrimage. But God's people can go through life hopeful that the Lord will see us through. Psalm 121:1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. The Psalmist must lift up his eyes because he was still in the valley. He hadn't yet made it to his destination. His eyes were downcast, but with faith, he lifted them and looked to where his help comes. His help comes from the Lord. By faith, he's making his way to the worship of the Lord walking in the will of God and doing what God has commanded him to do.
He lifts his eyes up to the hills, but there are hills yet to climb. God's people don't get to skate through life with no problems. Abraham lost Sarah. Isaac lost his sight. He also lost his boys in their fighting and hatred. Jacob experienced one trial after the next. He lost his beloved Rachel as she gave birth. He lost his son Joseph, convinced he died. Joseph's brother hated him and sold into slavery. Then, falsely accused and thrown in prison. The children of Israel were slaves of the Egyptians. Naomi lost home to famine. Lost her husband and both her sons to death. Hannah couldn't have children and her husband's other wife mocked her for it. You can't read the Bible and say the people of God will live without trouble. But God's people have hope because we have a helper who is able to save.
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