Psalms 120

Psalm 120 opens with the psalmist crying out to the LORD in distress, seeking deliverance from lying lips and a deceitful tongue. The psalmist questions the fate of such falsehood, envisioning sharp arrows and coals of juniper as their just recompense. A deep lament follows, expressing sorrow at dwelling among those who hate peace, specifically mentioning Mesech and Kedar.

The psalmist begins by recounting a cry to the LORD in a time of great distress, affirming that the divine ear was attentive to the plea. The primary petition is for deliverance from the pervasive harm of "lying lips" and a "deceitful tongue." The psalmist then rhetorically addresses the false tongue, pondering what punishment it deserves, vividly picturing "sharp arrows of the mighty" and "coals of juniper" as its due. The psalm shifts to a lament, expressing profound woe at being a sojourner in Mesech and dwelling in the tents of Kedar, symbolic of hostile and foreign lands. The psalmist's soul is weary from long association with those who are fundamentally opposed to peace, highlighting a personal commitment to peace that is constantly met with belligerence.

Psalm 120, a Song of Degrees, commences with the psalmist's earnest appeal to the LORD from a state of profound distress, immediately affirming that this cry was heard and answered. The central petition is a fervent plea for divine deliverance from the insidious harm inflicted by "lying lips" and a "deceitful tongue," emphasizing the spiritual and emotional toll of verbal treachery. The psalmist then directly addresses the false tongue, posing a rhetorical question about its deserved recompense, which is answered with vivid imagery of severe judgment: "sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper," suggesting swift and consuming retribution. A poignant shift occurs as the psalmist expresses deep lament, crying "Woe is me," for being compelled to sojourn in Mesech and dwell in the tents of Kedar. These geographical references symbolize dwelling among hostile, uncivilized, and peace-hating peoples, creating a sense of profound alienation and spiritual weariness. The psalmist articulates that his soul has endured a prolonged existence alongside those who fundamentally abhor peace. This internal conflict is starkly presented in the concluding verse, where the psalmist declares a personal commitment to peace, stating, "I am for peace," yet laments that whenever he speaks of peace, those around him are invariably inclined towards war, underscoring a persistent state of conflict and isolation.