David
Psalm 120
A Song of degrees.
Scripture (KJV)
1In my distress I cried unto the Lord, and he heard me.
2Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue.
3What shall be given unto thee? or what shall be done unto thee, thou false tongue?
4Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper.
5Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar!
6My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace.
7I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war.
Summary
Psalm 120 is the first of the fifteen “Songs of Ascents” (Psalms 120-134), short pilgrim songs sung by worshipers journeying up to Jerusalem. The psalmist cries out in distress and is heard: “In my distress I cried unto the Lord, and he heard me.” His specific distress is deceitful speech—lying lips and a false tongue—and he pronounces judgment on such speech with vivid imagery: sharp arrows of the mighty and coals of juniper. He then laments his prolonged dwelling among hostile people, in Mesech and the tents of Kedar, with one who hates peace. The final verse captures the ache of the peacemaker: “I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war.”
The major themes are distress, answered prayer, deceitful speech, alienation, and the longing for peace. The psalm is short but emotionally intense, naming the pain of living among those who weaponize words and resist peace. Practically, it teaches that the first movement of distress should be to cry out to the Lord, and that the longing for peace is itself a form of pilgrimage toward God. The great lesson is that even when we dwell among those who are for war, we may cry out to the God who hears and be for peace.
Key Themes
A Prayer from Psalm 120
Lord, in my distress I cry to You, and You hear me. Deliver my soul from lying lips and a deceitful tongue. Guard my own speech, that I may never wield the sharp arrows or burning coals of careless words. I lament the places where I sojourn among those who hate peace, where I am for peace but they are for war. Make me a peacemaker even in hostile company, and keep my soul from being conformed to the strife around me. As a pilgrim longing for the city of God, set my feet toward Jerusalem and my tongue toward truth. Hear me in my distress, and bring me at last to the dwelling where peace is spoken and kept. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Reflection Questions
- 1What distress do I need to cry out to the Lord about today?
- 2How have I experienced the pain of “lying lips” and a “deceitful tongue”?
- 3Where do I feel like a sojourner among those who are “for war”?
- 4How can I be “for peace” even when others choose conflict?
Related Psalms
Psalm 121
“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.”
Psalm 121 is one of the "Songs of Ascents" sung by pilgrims journeying up to Jerusalem.
Read morePsalm 122
“I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.”
Psalm 122 is a Song of Ascents attributed to David, expressing the joy of pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
Read morePsalm 140
“Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man;”
Psalm 140 is a lament of David against violent and deceitful enemies.
Read morePsalm 141
“Lord, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee.”
Psalm 141 is an evening prayer of David, asking that his prayer be received as incense and the lifting of his hands as the evening sacrifice.
Read morePsalm 34
“I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.”
Taste and see that the Lord is good; near to the brokenhearted.
Read moreSupport BookofPsalms.org
If you find BookofPsalms.org helpful and would like to support the website, you may make a voluntary contribution through PayPal. Your support helps pay for the operation, hosting, maintenance, development, content, security, and continued improvement of BookofPsalms.org.
Independent Website & Contribution Disclosure
BookofPsalms.org is an independently operated, privately owned website. BookofPsalms.org is not affiliated with, sponsored by, endorsed by, or operated by any church, denomination, ministry, religious organization, charity, or nonprofit organization.
All funds contributed through BookofPsalms.org are received by the privately owned company that operates the website. Funds may be used by the company to support website hosting, maintenance, development, content creation, administration, advertising, technology, and other business and operating expenses.
Contributions are voluntary and are NOT tax-deductible charitable donations. BookofPsalms.org does not represent contributions as charitable donations or contributions to a nonprofit, church, ministry, or tax-exempt religious organization.
Receive weekly Psalms and prayers
A gentle Psalm, an original prayer, and a short reflection—delivered once a week.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe anytime.