Psalms 121 · The Lantern

A Song of degrees. I will lift up my eyes to the hills, from whence cometh my help.

My help [cometh] from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.

He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

We attribute to God, as it were, every state that corresponds to our circumstances. For this reason, when we are half asleep and behaving slothfully, God, since he judges us unworthy of his observant watchfulness over us, is said to be asleep.

Not without reason, brothers. For Samaritan is interpreted as guard. He knew that he was our guard. For "he neither slumbers nor sleeps, who guards Israel," and "Unless the Lord guard the city, in vain do they who guard watch." He who is our Creator is our guard. For did it suit him that we be redeemed but not that we be saved?

Regarding the divine nature the prophet David says, "Behold, he who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep." But the narrative of the Evangelist describes the Master Christ as sleeping in the boat. Now not sleeping and being asleep are two contrary ideas, so the prophet contradicts the Gospels if, as they argue, the Master Christ was God alone.

The LORD [is] thy keeper: the LORD [is] thy shade upon thy right hand.

The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.

The LORD will preserve thee from all evil: he will preserve thy soul.

The LORD will preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for ever.

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