Psalm 120 | Longing for peace
Psalm 120 (NLT)
A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.
I took my troubles to the Lord;
I cried out to him, and he answered my prayer.
Rescue me, O Lord, from liars
and from all deceitful people.
O deceptive tongue, what will God do to you?
How will he increase your punishment?
You will be pierced with sharp arrows
and burned with glowing coals.
How I suffer in far-off Meshech.
It pains me to live in distant Kedar.
I am tired of living
among people who hate peace.
I search for peace;
but when I speak of peace, they want war!
Can you resonate with this Psalm? It reads like a poetic prayer of a culture-worn sojourner. This psalm, thought to be a poem recited or possibly sung by people making the journey to Jerusalem for festivals and worship, carries with it a longing for peace among people who are deceptive and violent. The reference to the lands of Meshech and Kedar, is a reference to two regions where the people were known for their barbarianism. As a traveler making the nomadic journey to worship God, one could imagine passing through regions such as these to be a fatiguing experience. Not only would you be making a long journey, but it seems that it would also involve ‘keeping your head down,’ seeking to get through regions where people may be aggressive, antagonistic, and even violent. But the cry of the worshiper is a petition for deliverance - trusting that God will act on our behalf, as well as the lament of weariness: “I am tired of living among people who hate peace.”
Questions to consider:
In what ways does this Psalm resonate with you?
What thoughts, images, or questions does this Psalm bring up in your heart and mind?
What might the Lord be inviting you to as you meditate on this Psalm?
Join Vineyard Gilbert this summer as we spend time in the Psalms of Ascent: https://vineyardgilbert.com/psalms-of-ascent
A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.
I took my troubles to the Lord;
I cried out to him, and he answered my prayer.
Rescue me, O Lord, from liars
and from all deceitful people.
O deceptive tongue, what will God do to you?
How will he increase your punishment?
You will be pierced with sharp arrows
and burned with glowing coals.
How I suffer in far-off Meshech.
It pains me to live in distant Kedar.
I am tired of living
among people who hate peace.
I search for peace;
but when I speak of peace, they want war!
Can you resonate with this Psalm? It reads like a poetic prayer of a culture-worn sojourner. This psalm, thought to be a poem recited or possibly sung by people making the journey to Jerusalem for festivals and worship, carries with it a longing for peace among people who are deceptive and violent. The reference to the lands of Meshech and Kedar, is a reference to two regions where the people were known for their barbarianism. As a traveler making the nomadic journey to worship God, one could imagine passing through regions such as these to be a fatiguing experience. Not only would you be making a long journey, but it seems that it would also involve ‘keeping your head down,’ seeking to get through regions where people may be aggressive, antagonistic, and even violent. But the cry of the worshiper is a petition for deliverance - trusting that God will act on our behalf, as well as the lament of weariness: “I am tired of living among people who hate peace.”
Questions to consider:
In what ways does this Psalm resonate with you?
What thoughts, images, or questions does this Psalm bring up in your heart and mind?
What might the Lord be inviting you to as you meditate on this Psalm?
Join Vineyard Gilbert this summer as we spend time in the Psalms of Ascent: https://vineyardgilbert.com/psalms-of-ascent
Posted in Psalms of Ascent