26. A pilgrim Song

A Meditation of Psalm 121

Psalms 120 to 134 are called songs of ascents. The people of Israel used to make pilgrimage to their temple in Jerusalem, which was on a hill called Zion. They might have sung these songs while climbing the hill. From the place where the women stood, men had to climb 15 more steps to get to their place in the temple. Some people think that the men sang a song from this collection of psalms while they climbed each step. That is probably why these psalms are short.

Psalm 121 may be called a pilgrim song. The context may be seen as follows: Someone is getting ready to start a pilgrimage to the temple, and around him are his family memebers to see him off. He raises his eyes to the hill of Zion, his destination, and expresses his apprehension of the dangers hiding in the hills. There were robbers hiding on the way to rob the pilgrims. In spite of the risk, the pilgrim is determined to set off because of the faith he affirms in the help that comes from Yahweh, the maker of heaven and earth (v 1-2). As soon as he stops speaking, his family members who are gathered there to see him off bless him. Their blessing is the content of the rest of the psalm (3-8). They express their sincere wish that God protect him throughout his journey. Thus they entrust him to the hands of Yahweh, and see him off. This see off ritual takes away even the slightest fear from the heart of the pilgrim, which enables him to make his trip joyfully and successfully. 

The pilgrim affirms his faith in Yahweh, and asserts that his help will come from Yahweh, and his family elaborates it further in their blessing. They tell him: The one who protects you is none other than Yahweh, the protector of the entire nation of Israel. He is not a human to sleep. He will constantly watch you both day and night. He will be as close to you just as your shade is close to you. He will even watch each and every footstep you take. Your life is fully secure in Yahweh’s hands. Even though your future remains hidden to you, it does not remain hidden to your protector. Therefore, you do not need to have any fear of the unknown.

This psalm reminds us that our life on the earth is a pilgrimage. We begin our journey from God, and our destination is also God. It is also a journey with God. It is not a journey from one place to another place as the usual journeys, but it is a journey from one state of existence to another state of existence. It involves a becoming. This journey is a growth from absolute unawareness to full awareness. It is a growth toward maturity and holiness. We need to grow individually as well as collectively. Our goal is nothing less than the perfection of the heavenly father.

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