Psalm 120 Commentary: A Cry for Deliverance from Deceitful Tongues and False Accusers

Psalm 120 begins the collection known as the Songs of Ascents (Psalms 120-134), which were traditionally sung by pilgrims journeying to Jerusalem for religious festivals. This opening psalm establishes themes of distress, divine deliverance, and the contrast between worldly opposition and godly refuge that characterize the entire collection. The psalm focuses specifically on the destructive power of lying tongues and deceitful speech, presenting a heartfelt plea for God’s intervention against false accusers and those who promote conflict rather than peace. The psalmist’s experience of living among hostile people who hate peace provides a relatable picture of the believer’s struggle in a fallen world where truth and righteousness are often opposed.

Historical Background and Context

Psalm 120 was likely composed during the post-exilic period when Jewish communities faced opposition from neighboring peoples who sought to prevent the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the temple. The references to Meshech and Kedar, distant lands representing lawless and hostile peoples, may be symbolic rather than literal, representing the psalmist’s sense of living among those who oppose God’s purposes.

The psalm’s placement as the first of the Songs of Ascents suggests it represents the starting point of spiritual pilgrimage – the recognition of distress and the need for divine deliverance. Pilgrims beginning their journey to Jerusalem would identify with the psalmist’s desire to escape hostile environments and find refuge in God’s presence.

The historical context reflects the ongoing tension between God’s people and surrounding cultures that opposed their religious practices and national restoration. This opposition often took the form of false accusations, political manipulation, and verbal attacks designed to discourage and defeat God’s people.

Literary Structure and Poetic Analysis

Psalm 120 follows a simple but effective structure that moves from cry for help to description of the problem to expression of longing for peace. The psalm contains only seven verses, making it one of the shorter psalms, yet it effectively captures the intensity of distress caused by verbal attacks and false accusations.

The psalm employs vivid imagery to describe the destructive power of lying tongues, comparing them to sharp arrows and burning coals. These metaphors emphasize both the piercing pain and lasting damage caused by deceitful speech. The imagery suggests that words can wound as deeply as physical weapons and create lasting harm.

The geographical references to Meshech and Kedar create poetic distance and foreignness, emphasizing the psalmist’s sense of alienation among hostile peoples. These distant locations represent places far from the covenant community where lawlessness and opposition to God’s ways prevail.

Theological Themes and Significance

The primary theological theme in Psalm 120 is the destructive power of deceitful speech and the need for divine protection against false accusers. The psalm recognizes that words have moral weight and can cause real harm to individuals and communities. This theme connects to broader biblical teaching about the tongue’s power for good or evil.

God’s role as deliverer from distress represents another central theme, particularly His ability to protect His people from verbal attacks and false accusations. The psalmist’s confidence in calling upon the Lord demonstrates faith in God’s justice and His commitment to defend those who trust in Him.

The contrast between war and peace runs throughout the psalm, with the psalmist identified as one who seeks peace while surrounded by those who promote conflict. This tension reflects the broader spiritual battle between God’s kingdom values and worldly opposition to righteousness and truth.

Verse by Verse Commentary

Verse 1: “In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me.”

The psalm opens with a testimony of answered prayer that provides hope and encouragement for the distress that follows. The Hebrew word for distress (tsarah) indicates severe trouble or anguish, suggesting that the psalmist’s situation was genuinely overwhelming. The use of past tense indicates that God has previously demonstrated His faithfulness in responding to prayer.

This opening verse establishes the pattern for dealing with distress that characterizes the Songs of Ascents – turning to the Lord in prayer and expecting His response. The certainty that God answers provides foundation for the specific requests that follow in the psalm.

Verse 2: “Deliver me, O Lord, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue.”

The specific nature of the psalmist’s distress becomes clear as he identifies lying lips and deceitful tongues as the source of his trouble. The parallel structure emphasizes the dual nature of the problem – both the speech itself (lips) and the intent behind it (tongue) are corrupt and harmful.

The request for deliverance (natsal) implies rescue from danger or enemy attack, suggesting that false accusations and lies pose real threats to the psalmist’s welfare, reputation, or even physical safety. This recognition of words’ power to harm reflects biblical wisdom about speech’s moral significance.

Verse 3: “What shall be given to you, and what more shall be done to you, you deceitful tongue?”

This verse poses a rhetorical question about appropriate punishment for deceitful speech. The interrogative form suggests that the psalmist is appealing to divine justice rather than seeking personal revenge. The question implies that deceitful tongues deserve severe consequences for the harm they cause.

The repetitive structure (“what shall be given” and “what more shall be done”) emphasizes the seriousness of the offense and the certainty that divine justice will address it. This approach demonstrates the psalmist’s faith in God’s judgment while avoiding personal vindictiveness.

Verse 4: “A warrior’s sharp arrows, with glowing coals of the broom tree!”

This verse provides the answer to the previous question through vivid metaphors that describe appropriate judgment for deceitful tongues. Sharp arrows represent piercing, accurate judgment that reaches its target with devastating effect. The warrior imagery suggests that God’s response to false accusations will be both powerful and precise.

Glowing coals of the broom tree add the element of burning judgment that continues beyond the initial impact. Broom tree coals were known for burning intensely and lasting long, suggesting that divine judgment on deceitful speech will be both severe and enduring. These images connect to biblical themes of God’s consuming fire and righteous anger against injustice.

Verse 5: “Woe is me, that I sojourn in Meshech, that I dwell among the tents of Kedar!”

The psalmist expresses his anguish at living among hostile peoples using geographical references that emphasize distance and alienation from the covenant community. Meshech was located in modern-day Turkey, while Kedar was an Arabian desert tribe – both representing places far from Jerusalem and characterized by different values and practices.

The use of “sojourn” (gur) suggests temporary residence rather than permanent settlement, indicating the psalmist’s sense that his current situation is not his true home. This language anticipates the pilgrimage theme of the Songs of Ascents, where believers journey toward their true spiritual home in God’s presence.

Verse 6: “Too long have I had my dwelling with those who hate peace.”

This verse intensifies the complaint by emphasizing the duration of the psalmist’s suffering and the character of his opponents. The phrase “too long” suggests that the situation has extended beyond what seems reasonable or bearable, creating a sense of urgency for divine intervention.

The identification of his opponents as those who “hate peace” reveals the fundamental conflict between the psalmist’s values and those of his enemies. Peace-hating represents not merely preference for conflict but active opposition to the harmony and well-being that characterize God’s kingdom.

Verse 7: “I am for peace, but when I speak, they are for war.”

The psalm concludes with a stark contrast between the psalmist’s peaceful intentions and his opponents’ warlike responses. The simple declaration “I am for peace” (ani shalom) identifies the psalmist’s fundamental character and values, while the immediate opposition he faces reveals the hostility of his environment.

The phrase “when I speak” suggests that the psalmist’s mere expression of peaceful intentions provokes hostile responses from those around him. This dynamic illustrates the spiritual principle that light exposes darkness and righteousness confronts evil, often resulting in conflict despite peaceful intentions.

Practical Applications for Modern Believers

Psalm 120 provides valuable guidance for contemporary believers facing verbal attacks, false accusations, or hostile environments. The psalm’s emphasis on turning to God in prayer rather than responding with personal retaliation offers a model for handling conflict in ways that honor God while seeking His protection and vindication.

The recognition that words can cause real harm validates the pain experienced by those who face lies, gossip, or false accusations. The psalm affirms that such attacks are serious matters deserving divine attention and intervention, encouraging believers to bring their hurts to God rather than minimizing the damage or seeking personal revenge.

The psalmist’s identification as one who seeks peace while surrounded by conflict-promoters speaks to believers who find themselves in hostile work environments, family situations, or communities where Christian values are opposed or mocked. The psalm encourages perseverance in peaceful attitudes despite opposition.

The Power of Speech and Words

Psalm 120’s focus on lying tongues and deceitful speech reflects broader biblical teaching about the moral significance of words. The psalm recognizes that speech can wound deeply, destroy relationships, and cause lasting damage to individuals and communities. This understanding aligns with New Testament teaching about the tongue’s power and the need for careful speech.

The metaphors of arrows and burning coals emphasize that words are not merely sounds but carry moral weight and produce real consequences. This principle challenges contemporary tendencies to minimize the impact of verbal attacks or dismiss harmful speech as “just words.”

The psalm’s treatment of false accusation as serious offense worthy of divine judgment provides foundation for understanding justice and the importance of truthful speech. The recognition that God takes deceitful tongues seriously encourages believers to pursue truthfulness in their own communication.

Living as Strangers and Pilgrims

The psalmist’s description of sojourning among hostile peoples introduces the pilgrimage theme that characterizes the Songs of Ascents. This language reflects the biblical teaching that believers are strangers and pilgrims in this world, with their true citizenship in heaven. The temporary nature of earthly opposition provides hope and perspective during difficult circumstances.

The geographical references to distant lands emphasize the sense of alienation that faithful believers may experience when their values conflict with surrounding culture. This alienation, while painful, serves as reminder that believers belong to a different kingdom with different values and priorities.

The pilgrimage metaphor encourages believers to view current difficulties as temporary challenges on the journey toward their eternal home. This perspective helps maintain hope and perseverance when facing prolonged opposition or hostility.

Divine Justice and Personal Vindication

The psalm’s appeal to divine justice rather than personal revenge provides a model for handling injustice and false accusations. The rhetorical questions about appropriate punishment demonstrate faith in God’s judgment while avoiding vindictive attitudes that would compromise the psalmist’s peaceful character.

The vivid imagery of arrows and burning coals represents divine justice that is both precise and enduring. This imagery assures believers that God sees injustice and will address it appropriately, even when human justice systems fail or prove inadequate.

The pattern of bringing complaints to God rather than taking matters into personal hands reflects biblical principles of leaving vengeance to the Lord while actively seeking His intervention through prayer and faith.

Cross References

Psalm 52:2-4 – This passage describes the destructive power of deceitful tongues using similar imagery of sharpened razors and lying words. The connection emphasizes the consistent biblical teaching about speech’s moral significance and destructive potential when used for evil purposes.

James 3:5-6 – The apostle James describes the tongue as a fire that corrupts the whole person and sets life on fire with hell’s flames. This New Testament passage confirms the Old Testament understanding of speech’s power for good or evil found in Psalm 120.

Proverbs 18:21 – Solomon declares that death and life are in the power of the tongue. This wisdom saying supports the psalm’s treatment of deceitful speech as seriously harmful and worthy of divine judgment and intervention.

Matthew 5:9 – Jesus pronounces blessing on peacemakers, calling them children of God. This beatitude aligns with the psalmist’s identity as one who seeks peace despite opposition from those who promote conflict and war.

Romans 12:18-19 – Paul instructs believers to live peacefully with all people as much as possible while leaving vengeance to God. This teaching parallels the psalm’s approach of maintaining peaceful attitudes while trusting God for justice against opponents.

1 Peter 2:11 – The apostle identifies believers as sojourners and exiles, encouraging them to abstain from fleshly passions. This language echoes the psalmist’s description of sojourning among hostile peoples and provides New Testament context for the pilgrimage theme.

Ephesians 4:29 – Paul commands believers to speak only words that build up and give grace to hearers. This instruction provides positive counterpart to the psalm’s condemnation of lying lips and deceitful tongues.

Revelation 21:8 – John describes the lake of fire as the destiny for liars and all who practice falsehood. This final judgment passage confirms that God takes deceitful speech seriously and will ultimately address it with perfect justice.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Songs of Ascents and why does Psalm 120 begin this collection? The Songs of Ascents (Psalms 120-134) were traditionally sung by pilgrims traveling to Jerusalem for religious festivals. Psalm 120 appropriately begins this collection by establishing the theme of distress that motivates spiritual pilgrimage and the need for divine deliverance that drives believers toward God’s presence and protection.

Are Meshech and Kedar literal locations or symbolic references? While Meshech and Kedar were actual places (modern Turkey and Arabian desert respectively), they likely function symbolically in this psalm to represent distant, lawless lands far from the covenant community. The psalmist may not have literally lived there but uses these references to express his sense of alienation among hostile peoples.

How should Christians respond to false accusations and lying tongues today? The psalm provides a model of turning to God in prayer rather than responding with personal retaliation. Believers should seek divine protection and vindication while maintaining peaceful attitudes and truthful speech themselves. This approach honors God while trusting Him to address injustice appropriately.

What does it mean to be “for peace” in a world that often promotes conflict? Being for peace involves actively pursuing harmony, reconciliation, and well-being rather than merely avoiding conflict. It reflects God’s heart for restoration and wholeness, even when such attitudes provoke opposition from those who profit from division and strife.

How do the metaphors of arrows and burning coals help us understand divine judgment? These metaphors emphasize that God’s judgment on deceitful speech is both precise (like arrows) and enduring (like long-burning coals). They assure believers that divine justice addresses lying tongues with appropriate severity while encouraging them to trust God’s timing and methods rather than seeking personal revenge.

What practical steps can believers take when facing hostile environments like the psalmist? Believers can follow the psalm’s example by maintaining prayer communication with God, preserving peaceful attitudes despite opposition, viewing their situation as temporary pilgrimage toward their eternal home, and trusting God’s justice rather than taking personal revenge. These practices provide spiritual resources for perseverance during difficult circumstances.

How does this psalm relate to Jesus’ teaching about loving enemies and turning the other cheek? While the psalm calls for divine judgment on deceitful tongues, it maintains the psalmist’s peaceful character and avoids personal vindictiveness. This approach aligns with Jesus’ teaching about leaving vengeance to God while continuing to pursue peace and show love even toward those who cause harm through false accusations or verbal attacks.