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Psalms 120

7 verses

TL;DR

The psalmist cries out to God amid distress, pleading for protection from deceitful speech and the hardships of living in foreign lands, while longing for peace.

Summary

In Psalm 120 the psalmist, in the midst of personal distress, appeals to the LORD for rescue from the harm of deceitful tongues. He acknowledges the presence of lying lips and false speech as sources of anguish. The lament turns outward, lamenting his sojourn in foreign places—Mesech and Kedar—where he feels surrounded by hostility. He confesses that his own spirit has long been with the one who hates peace, yet he himself desires peace. The psalm ends with a stark contrast: the psalmist’s desire for peace collides with an environment eager for war.

Outline
  1. 1. Lament and plea for deliverance from deceitful speech.
  2. 2. Expression of distress in foreign, hostile surroundings.
  3. 3. Tension between yearning for peace and encountering conflict.
Themes
Lament and intercessionDeceitful speech as spiritual threatConflict between desire for peace and hostile surroundings
Keywords
distresscrieddeliverlying lipsfalse tonguesharp arrowsjuniperMesechKedarpeacewar
People
the LORD
Places
MesechKedar
Things
lying lipsdeceitful tonguesharp arrowscoals of juniperpeacewar
Key Verses
  • Psalms 120:1: Introduces the lament and divine listening.
  • Psalms 120:2: Explicitly calls for deliverance from deceitful speech.
  • Psalms 120:5: Locates the psalmist’s distress in foreign lands.
  • Psalms 120:7: Highlights the tension between desire for peace and surrounding hostility.
Questions
  • What does Psalm 120 reveal about the impact of deceitful speech on a believer’s life?
  • How does the psalmist’s longing for peace contrast with his surroundings, and what does that say about the human desire for harmony?
  • In what ways can modern believers apply the plea for deliverance from deceitful tongues to their everyday interactions?
  • What does the mention of foreign places (Mesech, Kedar) suggest about the universality of the psalmist’s lament?
  • How might the imagery of sharp arrows and coals of juniper inform our understanding of spiritual warfare?
Sentiment

mixed
The psalm expresses both deep distress and hopeful appeal to God, resulting in a complex emotional tone.