Psalms 120 Study Notes: A Cry Against Lying Tongues
The first song of ascents begins with the psalmist recalling that God answered him in trouble. He asks rescue from deceitful speech and foresees its punishment, then laments living far from home among people who want war while he seeks peace.
General
What does the psalmist report in 120:1, the opening of the first song of ascents?
Answer: He cried out to God in trouble and got an answer
Psalm 120 is the first of fifteen psalms (Psalms 120-134) whose headings call them songs of ascents. They are traditionally associated with worshipers going up to Jerusalem for the feasts. The psalm begins with testimony: when the psalmist was in trouble he cried out for help, and God responded (120:1). That past answer is the ground for the prayer that follows. Another song of ascents celebrates going up to the LORD's house in Jerusalem (Psalm 122:1-4). Jonah recalls crying out from distress and receiving God's answer (Jonah 2:2), and David tells how God heard his cry for help (Psalm 18:6).
- Psalm 120:1 (BSB)“A song of ascents. In my distress I cried to the LORD, and He answered me.”The heading names this a song of ascents, and the psalmist recalls calling to the LORD in trouble and being answered.
- Psalm 122:1-4 (BSB)“A song of ascents. Of David. I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD.” Our feet are standing in your gates, O Jerusalem. Jerusalem is built up as a city united together, where the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, as a testimony for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the LORD.”Another song of ascents rejoices at going to the LORD's house in Jerusalem, where the tribes go up to give thanks.
- Jonah 2:2 (BSB)“saying: “In my distress I called to the LORD, and He answered me. From the belly of Sheol I called for help, and You heard my voice.”Jonah likewise recalls calling to the LORD from his distress and being answered.
- Psalm 18:6 (BSB)“In my distress I called upon the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From His temple He heard my voice, and my cry for His help reached His ears.”David also describes crying to God in distress and God hearing his voice.
Theological
What testimony opens Psalm 120, the first of the songs of ascents (120:1)?
Answer: He cried out to God in trouble and got an answer
Psalm 120 heads the collection of fifteen songs of ascents (Psalms 120-134), traditionally connected with pilgrims going up to Jerusalem. It opens with remembered deliverance: in distress the psalmist cried out, and God responded (120:1). Past answered prayer becomes the basis for present petition. Psalm 122 portrays the tribes going up to Jerusalem to give thanks (Psalm 122:1-4), and the same pattern of distress, cry, and answer shapes Jonah's prayer (Jonah 2:2) and David's song of deliverance (Psalm 18:6).
- Psalm 120:1 (BSB)“A song of ascents. In my distress I cried to the LORD, and He answered me.”The heading names this a song of ascents, and the psalmist recalls calling to the LORD in trouble and being answered.
- Psalm 122:1-4 (BSB)“A song of ascents. Of David. I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD.” Our feet are standing in your gates, O Jerusalem. Jerusalem is built up as a city united together, where the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, as a testimony for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the LORD.”Another song of ascents rejoices at going to the LORD's house in Jerusalem, where the tribes go up to give thanks.
- Jonah 2:2 (BSB)“saying: “In my distress I called to the LORD, and He answered me. From the belly of Sheol I called for help, and You heard my voice.”Jonah likewise recalls calling to the LORD from his distress and being answered.
- Psalm 18:6 (BSB)“In my distress I called upon the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From His temple He heard my voice, and my cry for His help reached His ears.”David also describes crying to God in distress and God hearing his voice.
General
True or False: In 120:7, the psalmist says he stands for peace, but when he speaks, those around him want war.
Answer: True
This is true. The psalm ends with a sharp contrast: the psalmist is on the side of peace, but whenever he speaks, the people around him choose war (120:7). He cannot make peace alone with people who are set on conflict, and the psalm closes on that unresolved note, though its opening verse has already recalled that the LORD answered him in distress (120:1). Paul urges believers to keep peace with all people as far as it depends on them (Romans 12:18), and Psalm 34 calls God's people to pursue peace (Psalm 34:14). Psalm 55 describes a man whose words are smooth while war fills his heart (Psalm 55:20-21).
- Psalm 120:7 (BSB)“I am in favor of peace; but when I speak, they want war.”The psalmist is for peace, but when he speaks, his neighbors want war.
- Romans 12:18 (BSB)“If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone.”Paul urges believers to live at peace with everyone as far as it depends on them.
- Psalm 34:14 (BSB)“Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.”Psalm 34 calls God's people to seek peace and pursue it.
- Psalm 55:20-21 (BSB)“My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant. His speech is smooth as butter, but war is in his heart. His words are softer than oil, yet they are swords unsheathed.”Another psalm describes a man with smooth speech but war in his heart.
Theological
True or False: Psalm 120 closes (120:7) with the psalmist favoring peace while those around him answer his words with a desire for war.
Answer: True
This is true. The final verse sharpens the contrast between the psalmist and his neighbors: he is for peace, but when he speaks, they are for war (120:7). The psalm ends unresolved, though its opening verse has already recalled the LORD's answer in distress (120:1). The NT counsel to live peaceably with all so far as it depends on the believer (Romans 12:18) and the call of Psalm 34 to pursue peace (Psalm 34:14) reflect the same stance, while Psalm 55 depicts the hostile counterpart whose smooth speech masks war (Psalm 55:20-21).
- Psalm 120:7 (BSB)“I am in favor of peace; but when I speak, they want war.”The psalmist is for peace, but when he speaks, his neighbors want war.
- Romans 12:18 (BSB)“If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone.”Paul urges believers to live at peace with everyone as far as it depends on them.
- Psalm 34:14 (BSB)“Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.”Psalm 34 calls God's people to seek peace and pursue it.
- Psalm 55:20-21 (BSB)“My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant. His speech is smooth as butter, but war is in his heart. His words are softer than oil, yet they are swords unsheathed.”Another psalm describes a man with smooth speech but war in his heart.
General
In 120:2-4, what does the psalmist say will come upon the deceitful tongue?
Answer: Sharp arrows from a warrior and glowing coals
The psalmist asks the LORD to rescue him from people whose speech is false and treacherous (120:2). Then he asks what will be done to such a tongue, and answers with a picture of judgment: a warrior's sharpened arrows and red-hot coals from broom wood (120:3-4). The tongue that wounds with lies will itself be struck by God's justice, which fits the harm it has done. Proverbs says the LORD hates lying lips (Proverbs 12:22). Another psalm pictures cruel words as arrows (Psalm 64:3), and David tells a deceitful tongue that God will bring it down (Psalm 52:4-5).
- Psalm 120:2-4 (BSB)“Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips and a deceitful tongue. What will He do to you, and what will be added to you, O deceitful tongue? Sharp arrows will come from the warrior, with burning coals of the broom tree!”The psalmist asks rescue from lying lips, then asks what will come to the deceitful tongue and answers with a warrior's arrows and burning coals.
- Proverbs 12:22 (BSB)“Lying lips are detestable to the LORD, but those who deal faithfully are His delight.”Proverbs says lying lips are detestable to the LORD.
- Psalm 64:3 (BSB)“who sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their bitter words like arrows,”Another psalm pictures the words of the wicked as arrows aimed at the innocent.
- Psalm 52:4-5 (BSB)“You love every word that devours, O deceitful tongue. Surely God will bring you down to everlasting ruin; He will snatch you up and tear you away from your tent; He will uproot you from the land of the living. Selah”David warns a deceitful tongue that God will bring it to ruin.
Theological
What answer does 120:3-4 give to the question of what will be done to the deceitful tongue?
Answer: Sharp arrows from a warrior and glowing coals
After petitioning for deliverance from false and treacherous speech (120:2), the psalmist addresses the tongue directly and announces its recompense: a warrior's sharpened arrows and red-hot coals from broom wood (120:3-4). The punishment corresponds to the offense, for lying speech is itself pictured elsewhere as arrows (Psalm 64:3). Deceit is an abomination to the LORD (Proverbs 12:22), and David likewise announces God's ruin upon the deceitful tongue (Psalm 52:4-5).
- Psalm 120:2-4 (BSB)“Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips and a deceitful tongue. What will He do to you, and what will be added to you, O deceitful tongue? Sharp arrows will come from the warrior, with burning coals of the broom tree!”The psalmist asks rescue from lying lips, then asks what will come to the deceitful tongue and answers with a warrior's arrows and burning coals.
- Proverbs 12:22 (BSB)“Lying lips are detestable to the LORD, but those who deal faithfully are His delight.”Proverbs says lying lips are detestable to the LORD.
- Psalm 64:3 (BSB)“who sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their bitter words like arrows,”Another psalm pictures the words of the wicked as arrows aimed at the innocent.
- Psalm 52:4-5 (BSB)“You love every word that devours, O deceitful tongue. Surely God will bring you down to everlasting ruin; He will snatch you up and tear you away from your tent; He will uproot you from the land of the living. Selah”David warns a deceitful tongue that God will bring it to ruin.
General
What does the psalmist lament in 120:5-6?
Answer: That he has lived too long among haters of peace
The psalmist cries out in grief that he lives in Meshech and in Kedar's tents, and that he has stayed too long among people who despise peace (120:5-6). Meshech and Kedar were names of peoples outside Israel; Meshech is listed among the descendants of Japheth (Genesis 10:2), and Kedar among Ishmael's sons (Genesis 25:13). The psalm uses the names to picture a hostile place where the psalmist does not belong. David also calls himself a foreigner and stranger (Psalm 39:12).
- Psalm 120:5-6 (BSB)“Woe to me that I dwell in Meshech, that I live among the tents of Kedar! Too long have I dwelt among those who hate peace.”The psalmist laments living in Meshech and among the tents of Kedar, too long among those who hate peace.
- Genesis 10:2 (BSB)“The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.”Meshech appears in the table of nations among the descendants of Japheth.
- Genesis 25:13 (BSB)“These are the names of the sons of Ishmael in the order of their birth: Nebaioth the firstborn of Ishmael, then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,”Kedar appears among the sons of Ishmael.
- Psalm 39:12 (BSB)“Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry for help; do not be deaf to my weeping. For I am a foreigner dwelling with You, a stranger like all my fathers.”David speaks of himself as a foreigner and stranger, the same sense of not belonging.
Theological
What is the substance of the psalmist's woe in 120:5-6?
Answer: That he has lived too long among haters of peace
The woe of 120:5-6 laments sojourning in Meshech and in Kedar's tents, a prolonged residence among enemies of peace. The two names designate non-Israelite peoples, Meshech from the line of Japheth (Genesis 10:2) and Kedar from Ishmael's sons (Genesis 25:13), and together they picture an alien and hostile environment. The psalm sets this estrangement at the start of the songs of ascents, traditionally associated with going up to Jerusalem. The same sense of being a sojourner is voiced in Psalm 39 (Psalm 39:12).
- Psalm 120:5-6 (BSB)“Woe to me that I dwell in Meshech, that I live among the tents of Kedar! Too long have I dwelt among those who hate peace.”The psalmist laments living in Meshech and among the tents of Kedar, too long among those who hate peace.
- Genesis 10:2 (BSB)“The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.”Meshech appears in the table of nations among the descendants of Japheth.
- Genesis 25:13 (BSB)“These are the names of the sons of Ishmael in the order of their birth: Nebaioth the firstborn of Ishmael, then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,”Kedar appears among the sons of Ishmael.
- Psalm 39:12 (BSB)“Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry for help; do not be deaf to my weeping. For I am a foreigner dwelling with You, a stranger like all my fathers.”David speaks of himself as a foreigner and stranger, the same sense of not belonging.