D.L.

Psalm 120

During these summer months I have been teaching from the Psalms, the Songs of Ascents. I love the Psalms and these songs. They are songs, meant to be sung. It is the journey of life, of people who’s desire is to live in the presence of God. They are also a reality check, a kind of spiritual thermometer that shows the spiritual temperature of the follower of Jesus

“A song of ascents. “In my distress, I called to the LORD, and he answered me. Deliver me, O LORD, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue. What shall be given to you, and what more shall be done to you, you deceitful tongue? A warrior’s sharp arrows, with glowing coals of the broom tree! Woe to me, that I sojourn in Meshach, that I dwell among the tents of Kedar! Too long have I had my dwelling among those who hate peace. I am for peace, but when I speak, they are for war!” (Psalm 120:1–7 ESV)

Some traditional Jewish interpreters have suggested that these were songs sung on the “steps” (as the same word can mean), either in parts of the temple or up from a spring in Jerusalem; others have taken them as geared toward returning to Jerusalem from exile (cf. Ezra 1:3). (Lane T. Dennis and Wayne Grudem, eds. The ESV Study Bible. Accordance electronic ed. (Wheaton: Crossway Bibles, 2008), paragraph 9783.)

The most popular understanding of the title is to relate it to the established use of the verb עלה, “go up,” for pilgrimage … “and many peoples shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.” (Isaiah 2:3 ESV) In a detailed study of the songs of ascents, Seybold has defined the collection as a series of prayers and songs or perhaps texts for devotional meditation. (Leslie C. Allen, Psalms 101–150, vol. 21 of Word Biblical Commentary. 2d; Accordance electronic ed. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2002), 194.)

Let us be encouraged by the words of Hebrews:

“Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:12–14 ESV)

In the journey, we will encounter the healing power of the Lord, so he can transform us to bring peace and well-being into our lives and the lives of others.
This is important because pilgrims have one goal: to journey towards a destiny. This destiny is already laid out for us. Our pilgrimage will end when we meet up with our Lord. Therefore, we are sojourners in a hostile world.
The apostle Peter knew about this journey as he encouraged pilgrims to live a life reflecting God’s presence and power in us. “Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honourable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.” (1 Peter 2:11–12 ESV)

At the start of every spiritual journey, there is a strong sense of deep expectations and a good amount of a reality check! Suppose you have written a spiritual diary where you are honest with the Lord. You soon realise that life is tough and cannot be lived by our strength, that we fall short, that we are weak, and that even with the best intentions and willingness of the heart, it is not enough to deliver us from our own mistakes, sins, and the sins of others that affect us. But God can.

In this world, if you have not realised it yet, you and I are the very one who is the perpetrator of our own sins. King David knew this; this is why he wrote Psalm 51. “For I know my transgressions and my sin is ever before me.” (Psalm 51:3 ESV). You and I need redemption and deliverance.

This is the start of the journey when we realise that the Lord is the only one who can take away our distress. When we come to him in prayer, we know that he answers.

The word distress in Hebrew gives us the idea of being caged in a narrow, tight situation, like being in a bunker, like many today in Ukraine. When the sound of missiles is heard, your mind, body and spirit are moved to a place of total discomfort, fear and anxiety. The psalmist called on the Lord in his distress, a painful time of personal attack and soul agony.

I am praying that we will be lifting up our hands, that we will be developed strong knees, and that we can walk the path laid out for us. As we face sufferings, personal attacks and slandering, my this be our prayer:

“Deliver me, O LORD, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue.” (Psalm 120:2 ESV)

Then, we will experience peace. Peace is letting God to take the fight for us, to defend us and to set us free. He has done this already. Jesus came to this earth with that very mission.