1 In my distress I cried unto the LORD, and he heard me.
2 Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue.
3 What shall be given unto thee? or what shall be done unto thee, thou false tongue?
4 Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper.
5 Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar!
6 My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace.
7 I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war.
Psalm 120 is the first of the fifteen Psalms of Ascent (Psalms 120-134) that were traditionally sung by Jewish pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem for the three major feasts: Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles. This psalm stands as an introduction to this collection, setting the tone of a spiritual journey from distress to deliverance, from falsehood to truth, and from war to peace. It is a plaintive cry for help from a sojourner living in a hostile environment, longing for peace but surrounded by those who love strife.
The psalmist begins by calling on the Lord in his distress. The phrase, "In my distress I cried unto the Lord," carries the sense of being in a tight spot, in a place of extreme difficulty or danger. The psalmist is in a situation of distress, and his only recourse is to cry out to God. This is a common theme in the psalms, reflecting the reality of life in a fallen world. It also reminds us that it is in our times of greatest need that we are most likely to turn to God for help.
The psalmist's cry for deliverance is not just a cry for relief from physical pain or danger, but a cry for deliverance from deceit and lies. He is living among people who are not only hostile but also deceptive. They are people who speak peace with their neighbors, but mischief is in their hearts. The psalmist is not just looking for a change in circumstances, but a change in character, both in himself and in those around him. He longs for a place where truth and integrity are valued, where people speak the truth to each other in love.
The psalmist understands that deceit and lies are not harmless. They have serious consequences. He says, "What shall be given unto thee? or what shall be done unto thee, thou false tongue?" He is asking what the just punishment for deception should be. His answer is graphic: sharp arrows of the mighty and coals of juniper. The arrows signify the piercing pain that lies can inflict, while the coals signify the slow, burning damage that deceit can cause. This imagery serves as a stark warning against the destructive power of falsehood.
In the midst of his distress, the psalmist expresses a deep longing for peace. He says, "Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar!" Mesech and Kedar were distant, barbaric lands, known for their warlike people. The psalmist feels like a foreigner in a hostile land, surrounded by people who love war more than peace. His longing for peace is not just a desire for the absence of conflict, but a longing for the presence of righteousness, justice, and love.
Despite the hostility of his environment, the psalmist is determined to pursue peace. He declares, "I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war." He is committed to being a peacemaker, even in the midst of conflict. He understands that peace is not just the absence of war, but the presence of justice, righteousness, and love. He is willing to stand for these values, even if it means standing against the tide of popular opinion.
Throughout the psalm, the psalmist's hope is in God. He begins the psalm by crying out to the Lord, and he ends with a declaration of his commitment to peace, knowing that God is the source of true peace. He understands that deliverance from distress, deceit, and war is ultimately a work of God. His hope is not in his own ability to change his circumstances, but in God's power to change hearts and minds.
Psalm 120 is a powerful expression of the human condition. It speaks to our experience of distress, our longing for truth, our desire for peace, and our hope in God. It reminds us that our ultimate deliverance is not from our circumstances, but from our sin. It calls us to be peacemakers in a world of conflict, to speak truth in a world of deceit, and to hope in God in a world of despair. It is a psalm for all who are on a spiritual journey, reminding us that the road may be difficult, but the destination is worth the journey.
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