Psalm 121:7 –
The LORD keeps you from all harm and watches over your life.
I read this and wonder if and when! And also we need to define “harm” because I know my life has been wrought with injuries and peril more than I care to admit. One could say I have escaped without too much damage so therefore this is true. Also, as He watches over our lives we watch others implode and affect ours. It’s all really kind of difficult to dissect when you really think about it.
What gets me on this verse is “all harm”, other versions use “evil” and “dangers” but all seem set on using “all”, which opens it up for doubters. This implies a life of “smooth sailing” and plenty of blessings, which as we all know is far from true. Yes we can have peace in turmoil but it’s difficult to say we have been kept from all harm. I love biblegateway.com because you can review X different translations quickly to get clarity. Only one really made this verse easier to apply in our day to day life here on earth, the Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition that says:
Let peace be in thy strength: and abundance in thy towers.
But again all other versions say “all” so … how do we declare we are kept from “all harm”?
That is where I am hung up on this one and why I like the Douay-Rheims translation because it’s not says everything will be rosy, but that we will have peace through the rough times. But even then when a close friend dies, that becomes difficult to live, especially if it’s unexpected. Maybe this is a promise of the future and you look at the title as “pilgrims ascending into Jerusalem” it may give you clarity as “Jerusalem” may be the “afterlife” and not the actual city. Then the wording becomes clear and possible.