Psalm 121 (120):3Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Thus, the Lord honored even those who worked from the eleventh hour, despite the limited impact of their contributions (Matthew 20:6). He did so to establish a basis for bestowing rewards for their efforts. Therefore, the prophet asserts, “Let not thy foot stumble; He that keepeth thee shall not falter,” which indicates that once we fulfill our responsibilities, what is contingent upon Him will follow. It is further revealed that even after we fulfill our duties, we still rely on His aid to achieve security and maintain our steadfastness. Who then causes his foot to falter? It is those who pursue transient gains lacking a solid foundation, such as an obsession with wealth or worldly desires. This is why such individuals frequently vacillate and fall into peril. These pursuits are never stable or enduring; they are subject to constant fluctuation and change, worse than the rolling waves, passing more swiftly than flowing streams, and dispersing more easily than sand.

Yet, unless you raise your eyes through the Scriptures, you will not draw near and be enlightened by Him.

Therefore, sing this: if you wish to know how to secure your footing on the pathway to avoid weariness in your ascent and to prevent stumbling: pray this prayer, “Let not my foot be shaken!” Psalm 120:3 What guides our steps? Why did the one who was in Paradise falter? Before pondering that, reflect on how the feet of one among the angels were unsteady, leading from an angelic state to a devilish fall; he stumbled due to pride. Hence, it is pride that causes our feet to falter; pride ultimately leads to our downfall. Conversely, charity propels us to walk, to grow, and to ascend. Thus, the psalmist rightly seeks God’s assistance to benefit from the trials of affliction, avoiding the peril of swelling pride in his plea: “Let not my feet be moved!” And God responds, “Let him who guards you not slumber.” Be attentive, my beloved. It’s as if the man, ascending and singing the song of degrees, declares, “Let not my foot be shaken,” and God answers, “You plead, ‘Let not my foot be shaken’; remain vigilant, and your foot shall stand firm.”

Choose Him who neither slumbers nor sleeps, and your foot shall stand firm. God is watchful at all times; if you desire a protector who never sleeps, embrace God as your guardian. You cry, “Do not let my feet be shaken”; indeed, but He also advises you not to fall into slumber. Perhaps you were inclined to seek earthly guardians and wondered, “Who can I find that will not slumber? Which man stays awake? Where shall I turn? Where shall I find refuge?” The psalmist answers, “He that keepeth Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps.” Psalm 120:4 Would you desire a guardian who never slumbers? Behold, He who watches over Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps; for Christ is the protector of Israel. Become Israel. What does the name Israel signify? It is defined as ‘Seeing God.’ How does one behold God? First through faith, and then through sight. If you are unable to perceive Him with your physical eyes, then see Him in faith.

Who is it that neither slumbers nor sleeps? Searching among humans leads to deception; you will not find such a one. Therefore, hope not in man; all men are given to slumber and sleep. When does one sleep? When he wears the flesh of frailty, and when does he slumber? At death. Thus, do not place your trust in humanity. Mortal beings may slumber; they sleep in death.

And you ask, “Who can help me except Him who neither slumbers nor sleeps?” Listen to this: “The Lord Himself is your keeper.” Psalm 120:5 It is not humanity that slumbers and sleeps; rather, it is the Lord who protects you. How does He safeguard you? The Lord stands as your defense at your right hand. There seems to be a deeper significance here; otherwise, one could simply say the Lord will keep you without the qualifier, “at your right hand.” For how long does God attend to our right hand and not our left? Did He not create us entirely? The same Creator of the right hand also fashioned the left. If it pleased Him to focus solely on the right hand, why mention “your right hand” specifically rather than just saying “the right hand”? This suggests that He is concealing something here for us to discover through diligent inquiry.

I ask you to consider what the Gospel means when it states, “let not your left hand know what your right hand is doing.” Matthew 6:3 If you grasp this teaching, you will discern the meanings of both hands and recognize that God created both the left and the right. However, the left hand is symbolic of the temporary, while the right signifies the eternal and immutable promises of the Lord. If He, who grants everlasting life, also enriches our present existence with temporal blessings, then He alone is the maker of both our left and right hands.

Let us return to the psalm, “The Lord is your defense at your right hand.” Psalm 120:5 The term “hand” implies power. How can we substantiate this? The might of God is often referred to as His hand. John affirms, “He gave them the right to become children of God.” John 1:12 From whom have you received this power? From those who have faith in His name. If you believe, then this power to be considered among the children of God has been bestowed upon you. To be among the children of God signifies belonging to the right hand. Consequently, your faith represents the strength of your right hand, that is, the authority given to you to be counted among the children of God, is the might of your right hand.

May the Lord preserve you at the strength of your right hand. Psalm 120:6 I have asserted this, and I believe you comprehend it. Had you not learned this or that from the Scriptures, you would not express your understanding aloud. Since you grasp what follows, the Lord upholds you in the strength of your right hand—in your faith—wherein we have been empowered to become children of God and stand at His right hand. Why does God protect us? Due to the threat of offenses. From where do offenses emerge? They arise on either side, as both commandments hinge on love for God and love for neighbor. Matthew 22:37-40 The Church is cherished for the sake of the neighbor, and God for His own sake. God can be seen as the sun, while the Church is akin to the moon. Those misled who conceptualize God in ways inconsistent with the truth, particularly those influenced by the errors of heretics like Arius, are mistaken. If one believes in the Son or the Holy Spirit to a lesser degree than the Father, that person has offended God and finds himself scorched by the sun.

Who would assert that the Church exists solely in one locality, disregarding its presence throughout the world? And who would heed those who declare, “Here is Christ” or “There,” as you have just heard when the Gospel was read? For He who paid the ultimate price has redeemed the entire world. He takes offense, in a manner of speaking, at His neighbor, and gets burned by the moon. Thus, anyone who errs in the essence of truth suffers burns from the sun throughout the day because of their misunderstanding of Wisdom itself.

Therefore, God created one sun that shines upon both the good and the wicked, a sun visible to all. However, there is another, uncreated and unborn, through which all things were made, representing the intellect of Immutable Truth; thus, the wicked proclaim, “The sun has not risen upon us.” He who understands Wisdom correctly is not burned by the sun. One who refrains from sinning against the Church and against the Flesh of the Lord, and against that which is temporal, is not scorched by the moon. Yet, every person, even those who profess faith in Christ, harbors some misunderstanding unless what we pray for here is realized in them: “The Lord is your defense at the hand of your right hand.” He continues, “Lest the sun smite you by day and the moon by night.” Psalm 120:6 Here, your defense is at your right hand, safeguarding you from the scorching of the sun by day and the moon by night. Understand, dear ones, that this is spoken symbolically. Indeed, if we consider the visible sun, it burns during the day; does the moon burn at night? But what is truly a source of harm? Sin. Heed the Apostle’s words: “Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is offended, and I burn not?” 2 Corinthians 11:29

For the Lord will guard you from all evil. Psalm 120:7 From the scorching of the sun, from the afflictions of the moon, from all malice—He will protect you, He who serves as your defense at the arm of your right hand, who neither slumbers nor sleeps. And for what reason? Because we find ourselves in a realm of trials: the Lord will shield you from all evil. The Lord will safeguard your soul—your very essence. The Lord shall protect your comings and goings now and forever. Psalm 120:8 Not your body; the martyrs endured suffering in their bodies, yet the Lord preserves their souls; for the martyrs did not relinquish their spirits. The persecutors who tormented Crispina, whose feast we commemorate today, hardened themselves against her; they fiercely opposed this gentle and affluent woman, yet she stood firm, for the Lord was her shield at the arm of her right hand. He was her Guardian. Is there anyone in Africa, dear brethren, who is unfamiliar with her? Known for her illustrious lineage, rich heritage, she possessed all these things symbolically in her left hand, resting beneath her head. The enemy approached to strike her directly, yet she raised the left hand, situated under her head, as a defense. Her head was elevated, and her right hand embraced her from above.

Instead, persist in a steadfast and stable manner, following the virtue and the teachings of Christ's commandments; for these will guide you along a smooth and secure path in this life.

Goldsmith wisely reminds us that to achieve our goals, we must take action, however small it may seem. Similarly, God seeks to save not those who are idle, careless, or lazy, but rather those who are active and diligent. This also signifies that even after we have done what we can, we must seek His favor to remain secure. Who, then, stumbles into confusion? It is the one who ventures into treacherous matters that lack a solid foundation, such as an obsession with material wealth and the allure of worldly pleasures.

Basil distinguishes between two forces within the soul: one that is bodily and driven by instinct, and the other that is rational and capable of contemplating true goodness. When one’s ability to contemplate remains vigilant, as the prophet teaches, they simultaneously manage bodily desires while contemplating higher and nobler pursuits. However, if idleness leads to a cessation of contemplation, the bodily passions will thrive in that inertia, lacking restraint, and drawing the soul toward their impulses and actions. Thus, according to Divine understanding, the mind serves as the guardian.

Stivatius adds that confusion stems from worldly distractions that give rise to temptations and occasions for sin. The foot represents the mind that mediates our adherence to the commandments, while the guardian is the angel of peace, our faithful protector. Consequently, the Holy Spirit counsels all who seek refuge from life's tumultuous sea to completely distance themselves from worldly undertakings: do not allow your foot to stumble into confusion, which entails anxieties and earthly amusements that may lead the mind into sin. The watching angel remains inactive—caught in a state of confinement—when we divert our entire focus toward inappropriate desires.

Exercise wisdom in your thoughts: if Christ, despite being Omnipotent, sought refuge in Egypt to escape Herod, it serves as a lesson for the reckless, who should not foolishly rush into temptation, for it is said: do not let your feet be unsettled, and the angel assigned to you will not awaken. All actions should be for the glory of God and the salvation of the soul, that God's name may be honored and His will executed. God's vigilant watch signifies His constant care for the salvation of the devout, ensuring that the head remains unscathed. The right hand symbolizes the land of the righteous, where the faithful, through God’s protection from the malevolent spirits, arrive united. The sun and day represent a time of prosperity, during which one should recall the rich man from the Gospel, tormented in Gehenna. Conversely, the moon and night denote trials and tribulations, prompting remembrance of Lazarus the beggar, whose sufferings were transformed into everlasting comfort. The Entry symbolizes Christ's Incarnation through the Most Pure Virgin, while the Exodus denotes His birth, which remains eternally preserved, incomprehensible, and inexpressible. The prophet celebrates with joy the piety of the Israelite people during that era, who traveled from neighboring lands to Jerusalem for prayer. The holy city, with its magnificent structures, and the harmonious lives of its inhabitants, exemplifies the piety and glory of the king's throne, reflecting the faith of those who cherish the beauty of the holy Church, established through divine grace and adorned with the precious blood of Christ the Savior, which allows the faithful to ascend to their heavenly homeland after this life. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, the prophet rejoices, O Christ the Savior, recognizing Him as the gateway for the faithful into the Kingdom of Heaven. The Old Testament Church was rooted in the Law of Moses. Christ, our God, liberated Adam from hell, and hell itself was emptied. Christ founded the New Testament Church, where the Holy Spirit welcomes the faithful.