Psalms 120
AI Bible study · KJV · Grammatical-historical hermeneutics
Summary
Psalm 120 is the initial Song of Ascents, expressing the cry of a believer in distress due to the malice and deceit of others. The psalmist appeals to God for deliverance from lying tongues and laments his forced dwelling among people who despise peace.
- The psalmist cries out in distress to the LORD, who answers (v1).
- The psalmist petitions for deliverance from the destructive force of a deceitful tongue (v2).
- The psalmist contemplates the divine judgment awaiting the false tongue, likened to sharp arrows and burning coals (v3-4).
- The psalmist laments the isolation of living among hostile neighbors who reject his desire for peace (v5-7).
- The cry of distress (tzarah)
- The lying lips and deceitful tongue
- The imagery of sharp arrows and coals of the broom tree (retem)
- The locations of Meshech and Kedar
- The conflict between peace (shalom) and war
As the opening of the Songs of Ascents (Psalms 120-134), this Psalm establishes the trajectory of the pilgrim: the journey begins not in safety, but in the midst of conflict, highlighting the need to look to God rather than human defense.
When surrounded by malice and deception, the faithful believer does not retaliate with human weapons but cries out to the LORD, who is the righteous Judge of all deceit.
Themes
The text moves from a plea for personal deliverance to a reflection on divine judgment, finally settling into a lament over the alienation experienced by one who seeks peace in a hostile environment.
The psalm opens and closes with the struggle of speech, beginning with the 'lying lips' and 'deceitful tongue' in verse 2 and ending with the psalmist who speaks for peace in verse 7.
A sharp contrast is drawn between the peace (shalom) the psalmist pursues and the war (milchamah) his neighbors aggressively incite.
The text posits that lying speech is not ignored by God, but will be met with severe divine retribution.
- The imagery of the warrior's sharp arrows and burning coals suggests that God Himself acts as the avenger for those who are slandered.
Those who desire peace are often forced to live among those who thrive on conflict, creating a painful sense of spiritual and social displacement.
- The mention of Meshech and Kedar represents distant, hostile lands, emphasizing the psalmist's feeling of being a stranger in a land of enmity.
- I cried unto the LORD, and he heard me (v1)
- What shall be given unto thee? or what shall be done unto thee, thou false tongue? (v3)
Context
- As a Song of Ascents, this was likely sung by pilgrims traveling to Jerusalem, perhaps reflecting the experience of exile or the difficulties of life among pagan nations who oppressed the people of God.
- The 'tents of Kedar' suggests a nomadic, Ishmaelite setting, implying a life of constant insecurity where one is vulnerable to the aggression of neighbors.
- This serves as the inaugural psalm in the collection known as the 'Songs of Ascents' (Pss 120-134), setting the scene for a journey toward Zion from a place of adversity.
- Matthew Henry observes that the psalmist's distress from false tongues prefigures the experiences of the godly, and his plea for peace reflects a character shaped by the desire to overcome evil with good, anticipating New Testament teachings on peacemaking.
- The judgment of the 'coals of broom tree' (retem) mirrors the Old Testament warnings against the wicked, where the heat of divine judgment is long-lasting and piercing.
- tzarah [H6869]: signifies 'tightness' or 'distress,' a constriction of circumstances.
- nephesh [H5315]: used for 'me,' emphasizing that the lying tongue attacks the very soul or vitality of the speaker.
- retem [H7574]: The 'broom tree' is noted for its roots and wood, which can sustain a fire for a long time, illustrating the lingering nature of the judgment against the false tongue.
- shalom [H7965]: denoting completeness or prosperity, which the psalmist seeks while others seek 'war' (milchamah).
- The psalmist does not attempt to fight the 'deceitful tongue' with his own words; he invokes God's judgment, showing that true defense belongs to the LORD.
- Whether 'Meshech' and 'Kedar' refer to literal geographic regions of the distant north and south or are used symbolically to describe the total, encompassing nature of the hostility faced by the believer.
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