Studies in the Psalms - Psalm 120

Psalm 120 is the first of fifteen psalms that are called songs of degrees or songs of ascents. These are psalms that those on a pilgrimage would sing as they made their journey. Probably they were sung by those who were making their way to the annual feasts in Jerusalem. It is suggested that Joseph and Mary would have sang them as they made their journeys to the city with their young boy, Jesus, just as Jesus and the disciples would have sang them as well.

We Christians are also on a journey. Our walk is spiritual. Our lives are a journey to the Promised Land and our journeys are fraught with dangers. We can relate to the cries of the psalmist as we see in this beautiful psalm.

Psalm 120:1-2

In my trouble I cried to the LORD, And He answered me.  Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips, From a deceitful tongue.

Yes, we have enemies who lie about us. But the saddest part of the Christian journey, is that along the way we often mistreat each other. While it hurts when the enemy shoots an arrow at us, the pain goes even deeper when that arrow comes from a brother.

Psalm 120:3-4
What shall be given to you, and what more shall be done to you, You deceitful tongue?  Sharp arrows of the warrior, With the burning coals of the broom tree.

We know from scripture the truth about the tongue. We are given a warning in James 1:26, that “If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless.” We must be careful that it is not our tongue that is firing off arrows at our brothers and sisters.

Psalm 120:5-7
Woe is me, for I sojourn in Meshech, For I dwell among the tents of Kedar!  Too long has my soul had its dwelling With those who hate peace.  I am for peace, but when I speak, They are for war.

Christians are not permanent residents of any place on this earth; we were made for more. Our journey here will find us dwelling in tents.

2 Corinthians 5:1-4
For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.  For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven, inasmuch as we, having put it on, will not be found naked.  For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life.

And the world we live in is not a place of peace but of war. Not only is the world at war with itself, it is at war with God. Thus, we also say what the psalmist says, “Too long has my soul had its dwelling With those who hate peace.  I am for peace, but when I speak, They are for war.”

How do we go on in this journey? How do we find peace in a place of war? We do as the psalmist did. “In my trouble I cried to the LORD, And He answered me.  Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips, From a deceitful tongue.”

We cry to the Lord. We pray. We pray in the name of Jesus. We pray that our enemies not have victory over us and that the arrows of their tongues not pierce our souls. We put on the spiritual armor. “In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one.” (Ephesians 6:16)

 But we also pray that we don’t become the enemy. We pray that our tongues not be sharp arrows that pierce the heart of those we dwell with, of those we journey alongside of.

We can know peace as we make our journey towards the Promised Land. But how?

Philippians 4:4-7
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.  Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

We can know peace. But first we must have peace with God, because without the cloak of Christ’s righteousness, we are at war with God. We are the walking dead who rebel against Him. The answer is found in Romans. Paul explains.

Romans 4:24-25
 It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

Romans 5:1
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

This morning is another day of our long journey. There will be danger. There will be an enemy who fires arrows at us. But we can walk in peace. We can walk in Christ.

In your trouble, cry to the Lord.