Psalm 120

A Song of Degrees 1. Degree: "A step in an ascent or descent." 2. We find in the composition of Psalms 120-134 what is called an ascent: a preceding word is repeated and then rises to something further. Verse 1 1. Distress: "Strain, stress, pressure." 2. The Psalmist looks up from his stress to the LORD. 3. The prayer of this Psalm is assured of an answer. 4. Prayers to other than the LORD have no such assurance of an answer. 1KI 18:29. Verse 2 1. This Psalm reflects the desire of a renewed heart. PRO 13:5; PSA 119:163; PSA 119:29. 2. Deceive: "To ensnare; to take unawares by craft or guile; to overcome, overreach, or get the better of by trickery; to beguile or betray into mischief or sin; to mislead." c/w 2TI 2:24-26. 3. The wicked love a lie. ROM 3:13; TIT 3:3; JOH 3:19-21; PRO 17:4; 2TH 2:10-12. 4. A liar is doing the will of the devil. JOH 8:44. 5. The Psalmist yearns to be delivered from being lied TO. PSA 55:11-21; PRO 26:23-28. 6. The Psalmist prays to be delivered from being lied ABOUT. PSA 27:12; 1SA 24:9-10. 7. A child of God yearns for truth and to be be with those who are of the truth. PSA 25:5; PSA 26:1-10; PSA 139:23-24; PSA 145:11. a. A dissembler is a person who disguises the semblance of his character, designs or actions so as to conceal or deceive as to its real nature. b. A hypocrite uses religion to conceal mischief. MAT 23:27-28; 1JO 2:4. 8. The gospel is to deliver God's children from deception. EPH 4:11-15; JOH 4:24. 9. Love without truth is ungodly love. 1CO 13:6; REV 22:15. Verses 3-4 1. The large root stalks of the juniper are made into charcoal; hence, David mentions the coals of juniper. 2. God hates a lying tongue. PRO 6:16-19. 3. Liars will eventually manifest themselves and be judged. PRO 12:19; PRO 19:5. 4. A lie may be sweet at first, but its end is bitter. PRO 20:17. 5. Liars shall lie beneath the piercing and fiery wrath of God. REV 21:8. Verses 5-6 1. Mesech is Meshech, a foreign land hostile to God's people. GEN 10:2; EZE 38:2-3; EZE 38:10-16. 2. The inhabitants of Kedar were descendants of Ishmael. GEN 25:13. a. They were a nomadic, careless and wealthy people occupied in tending flocks. JER 49:28-33. b. They were skilled archers. ISA 21:16-17. 3. Mesech and Kedar were obviously a hostile people who hated peace. 4. The Psalmist finds himself in the midst of deceitful, greedy and hostile people. He is a sojourner in THE WORLD. Verse 7 1. The child of God is to be for peace. MAT 5:9; HEB 12:14; JAM 3:17; ROM 12:17-21. 2. War characterizes man under sin. ROM 3:9; ROM 3:15-17. 3. Mind how Saul was for war when David was for peace; Saul was hostile against David because David's godly life exposed Saul. 1SA 18:8-9; 1SA 18:12-15; 1SA 18:28-29. 4. The envious man will be for war. 1JO 3:12; ROM 13:13. 5. Even the church on earth can become as Mesech and Kedar. JAM 4:1-6. 6. The deceitful man will be hostile toward the man of peace who exposes his lies. ISA 59:13-15. 7. When a man is set on war, nothing the man of peace speaks to him will alter that disposition. MAT 11:16-19. 8. This Psalm describes Christ's sojourn in this world. JOH 8:40.