Psalms 120
Psalm 120 is the first of fifteen psalms (Psalms 120–134) categorized as “songs of ascents.” In this psalm, the psalmist’s prayer cries out to God, longing for peace in the middle of pain and conflict. The psalm writer expresses a desire to stand on the side of righteousness in a world filled with lies and deceit, and laments that the land where his soul resides is far from God.
1verseA Song of Ascents. In my distress, I cried to the LORD. He answered me.
2verseDeliver my soul, LORD, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue.
3verseWhat will be given to you, and what will be done more to you, you deceitful tongue?
4verseSharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper.
5verseWoe is me, that I live in Meshech, that I dwell among the tents of Kedar!
6verseMy soul has had her dwelling too long with him who hates peace.
7verseI am for peace, but when I speak, they are for war.
Verses 1–2: A Cry in Suffering
The psalm begins with the words, “In my distress I cried out to the LORD, and He answered me.” Rather than merely lamenting, the psalmist honestly brings his suffering before God, and mentions an experience in which he has already been answered. He especially speaks of the pain caused by “a deceitful tongue” and “a lying tongue,” and is seeking justice from the God of truth.
Verses 3–4: Judgment on a Deceitful Tongue
The psalmist describes the judgment that will be given to the deceitful person, expressed as sharp arrows and burning coals. This is not just a matter of punishment, but a clear and scorching judgment—an expression that conveys confidence that God’s justice will be carried out.
Verses 5–7: Loving Peace, Yet Facing the Reality of War
The psalmist says that he is living as a resident of Meshech and dwelling in the tents of Kedar. Rather than being an actual place, this refers to Gentile land that is far from God in a spiritual sense, symbolizing the psalmist’s desire to live a righteous life, even though the world surrounds him. He confesses that although he wants peace, the world instead keeps waging war and stirring up conflict.
Meditation Points
- Longing for the truth: The psalmist seeks the truth even in a deceitful environment. What kind of words and thoughts do we live with today?
- Distance from God: The psalmist feels pain in a world that has moved away from God. What are we doing to draw closer to God?
- An attitude for peace: In an age where conflict is everyday, I reflect on whether I am living as one who brings peace.
Try Applying It to Me
- Even when I am experiencing unfairness or an unjust situation, am I crying out to God and expecting His answer?
- In a world filled with lies and noise, am I the kind of person who speaks “peace,” or am I closer to the one who stirs up conflict?
- When I feel the distance from God, in what way am I seeking to move back toward Him again?
