Psalm 120

Introduction

The first of what are entitled the Psalms of Assent or Degrees. The Psalms of Asset are 15 in number: Psalms 120-134. I have always herd they acquired their name from the people traveling up to Jerusalem to celebrate one of the 3 required festivals at the Temple. I have also heard there were 15 steps to the Temple and as the people ascended the stairs, one of these Psalms was song on each step.

Another possibility is found in I Chronicles 14:

6 And David went up, and all Israel, to Baalah, that is, to Kirjath-jearim, which belonged to Judah, to bring up thence the ark of God the LORD, that dwelleth between the cherubims, whose name is called on it. 7 And they carried the ark of God in a new cart out of the house of Abinadab: and Uzza and Ahio drave the cart. 8 And David and all Israel played before God with all their might, and with singing, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with cymbals, and with trumpets. 9 And when they came unto the threshingfloor of Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled. 10 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzza, and he smote him, because he put his hand to the ark: and there he died before God.

The same word is found in 1 Chronicles 15:

11 And David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites, for Uriel, Asaiah, and Joel, Shemaiah, and Eliel, and Amminadab, 12 And said unto them, Ye are the chief of the fathers of the Levites: sanctify yourselves, both ye and your brethren, that ye may bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel unto the place that I have prepared for it. 13 For because ye did it not at the first, the LORD our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not after the due order. 14 So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel.

The same word is also found in 2 Chronicles 5: 2 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, unto Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion. 3 Wherefore all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto the king in the feast which was in the seventh month. 4 And all the elders of Israel came; and the Levites took up the ark. 5 And they brought up the ark, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and all the holy vessels that were in the tabernacle, these did the priests and the Levites bring up.

Based on these 3 verses some say the Psalms of Assent were used when the Ark of the Covenant was brought to the Temple.

Another proposed theory is: they were sung by the Jews when they returned from Babylon and went up to Jerusalem.

One last thought from William Kay, (1820-1886) , biblical scholar and cleric.

The Treasury of David, Volume 6: Psalms 120–150 The Songs of Degrees as a Whole

“Go up, go up, my soul!” must be the motto of one who would enter into the meaning of these Psalms. They are a Jacob’s ladder whose foot is fixed on the earth, but the top reaches up to the “heavenly Jerusalem.”

The rhythmical structure of these Psalms (in which one line is built up upon another stair-wise) is a suitable outward accompaniment of the interior character of the Psalms. Short, pointed lines fall in well with the flow of mystico-allegorical thought:—as in “Nearer, my God, to thee,” or, “Jerusalem the golden.”—William Kay.

Psalm 120:1 KJV 1900

In my distress I cried unto the Lord, And he heard me.

In my distress is one word in the original, meaning tightness, trouble, rival :- adversary, adversity, affliction, anguish, distress, tribulation, trouble. I cried is also one word, also translated as to call out to properly address by name. Unto the LORD is better as unto Yahweh.

Just looking at these few words, we do not get the entire meaning. By that we mean what distress? We are going to find the answer in verse 2…lying lips or slander. Could we agree nothing hurts more than slander? We cannot guard against it, we cannot repel it, we often cannot vindicate it, often we don’t even know where it started. And if we try to vindicate it,it just opens the door for more slander.

I cried unto Yahweh, the only course of action. I could not refute the slander, not knowing the source, I could not prevent it’s effects on my reputation, so my only course of action is Yahweh.

Next, the Psalms proclaims and He heard me. Comforting, reassuring, words. I hope you are ready for some encouragement this morning. Answered or heard, is an unknown musical term, often taken as a musical instruction of melody, rhythm, and/or tempo. Here’s Richard’s translation of He heard me: and it was like music to His ears. Yahweh delights in hearing and answering our prayers.

King James Version Psalm 120

2  Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips,

And from a deceitful tongue.

Deliver my soul, not deliver me. It will need divine power to save a man from these deadly instruments. Lips are soft; but when they are lying lips they suck away the life of character and are as sharp as razor blades.

My soul is harassed and distressed. Perhaps the meaning also may be, My life is in danger. He was maligned, slandered, misrepresented, deceived, and he had no comfort or peace.

One’s speech becomes a curse when it is degraded into a mean weapon used on people behind their backs. We need to be delivered from slander by the Lord’s restraint upon wicked tongues, or else to be delivered out of it by having our good name cleared from the liar’s lies.

What then is a deceitful tongue? A tongue (person) whose statements cannot be relied on; whose words are deceptive; whose promises are false. No one can certainly guard against the influence of falsehood; no one can be sure that all that will be said to them is true; no one can be certain that all the promises made to them—except those made to them by God—will be performed.

This should be a warning to liars and deceivers when they see that all good men pray against them, and that even bad men are afraid of them. Here the believer should pray. “Deliver us from evil.” From gossips, talebearers, liars, and all sorts of slander.

King James Version Psalm 120

3  What shall be given unto thee? or what shall be done unto thee,

Thou false tongue?

Psalms, Volume 3 Psalm 120

A literal translation of this verse would be, “What shall the tongue of deceit give to thee, and what shall it add to thee?”—referring to the offender himself.

Today we might say: what is the result of such conduct?

A. Can a slander be slandered?

B. What can we do to their effect their reputation or happiness.

C. Leave the judgment to God.

The answer is in verse 4.

King James Version Psalm 120

Sharp arrows of the mighty,

With coals of juniper.

The consequences begin with sharp arrows of the mighty. Swift, sure, and sharp shall be the judgment Their words were as arrows, and so shall their punishment be. God will see to it that their punishment shall be comparable to a sharpened arrow , and shot with all the force with which a mighty warrior shoots it from his bow.” It should be noted these arrows were sharpened to make it easier to penetrate both armour and skin. Sometimes they were even tipped with poison.

Coals of Juniper is an interesting expression; especially in this context. Juniper is a shrub that grows in the mid-east; producing yellow flowers and has bitter roots I like to imagine it could be compared to charcoal. The idea presented with this phrase is that will burn hotter and longer than other types of wood causing intense pain.

The slander feels the feel sharp arrows and sharper fires. All liars shall have their portion in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone. Their worm dieth not, and their fire is not quenched. Juniper-coals long retain their heat, but hell burneth ever, and the deceitful tongue may not deceive itself with the hope of escape from the fire which it has kindled.

Psalm 120:5 (KJV) 5  Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar!

Woe is me, we would say How miserable am I. That I sojourn, sojourn refers to temporary lodging; spending the night in a strange land. The trouble is feeling he is an outsider, going to another country-or Walmart-and no one speaking English; that uncomfortable feeling we get as they are speaking. But it is more than just that in play, he is also saying he is exposed to all the sin generated in that land.

Notice he is sojourning in Mesech, who was a son of Japheth (Moses son); primarily living in the area between Iberia and Armenia. The idea here is, that they were a barbarous, savage, uncivilized people. They dwelt outside of Palestine, beyond what were regarded as the borders of civilization;.. It is not known that they were particularly remarkable for slander or destroying one’s reputation ; but the meaning is that they were barbarous and savage,—and to dwell among slanderers and revilers seemed to the psalmist to be like dwelling among a people who were strangers to all the rules and principles of civilized society.

Next he stated That I dwell in the tents of Kedar. The word Kedar means properly dark skin, a dark-skinned man. Kedar was a son of Ishmael (Gen. 25:13), and hence the name was given to an Arabian tribe descended from him, Isa. 42:11; 60:7; Jer. 49:28. The idea here also is, that to dwell among slanderers was like dwelling among barbarians and savages..

Psalm 120:6 (KJV) 6  My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace.

Richards Translation: I, myself, have lived far too long in the midst of a people of a complete moral decay; my soul is anything but satisfied or complete.

It has been an injury to my spirit; to my devotion, to my comfort, and to my salvation. It has confused me, tried me, hindered me in my progress in attempting to live a Godly life.

What a change for the man of God from the quietude of the sheep pasture to the turmoil of court and the horrors of combat! How he must have longed to lay aside his sceptre, and to resume his crook. He felt the time of his dwelling with quarrelsome spirits to be long, too long; and he only endured it because of God’s enablement

Psalm 120:7 (KJV) 7  I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war.

I am for peace.” Properly, “I am peace”; or I desire peace, peaceful, forbearing,—in fact, peace itself. “But when I speak, they are for war.” My kindest words appear to provoke them, Nothing pleases them.

They are for war. For discord, disagreements, strife. All my efforts to live in peace are vain. They are determined to quarrel, and I cannot prevent it.

In that case an individual should separate from such a person, if possible, as the only way of peace.

If his position and relations are such that that cannot be done, the individual should be careful that they do nothing to irritate and to keep up the strife,

If all that an individual does or can do for peace is in vain, and if his relations and position are such that he cannot separate, then he should bear it patiently—as coming from God, and as the discipline of his life. God has many ways of testing the patience and faith of his people, and there are few things which will do so more effectually than this; few situations where their devotion will shine more beautifully than in such a trial;

The individual who is tried should know there is a world of peace; and the peace of heaven will be all the more grateful and blessed upon their entrance.

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