seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Psalm 120 A song of ascents.
1 I call on the Lord in my distress,
and he answers me.
2 Save me, Lord,
from lying lips
and from deceitful tongues.
and he answers me.
2 Save me, Lord,
from lying lips
and from deceitful tongues.
3 What will he do to you,
and what more besides,
you deceitful tongue?
4 He will punish you with a warrior’s sharp arrows,
with burning coals of the broom bush.
and what more besides,
you deceitful tongue?
4 He will punish you with a warrior’s sharp arrows,
with burning coals of the broom bush.
5 Woe to me that I dwell in Meshek,
that I live among the tents of Kedar!
6 Too long have I lived
among those who hate peace.
7 I am for peace;
but when I speak, they are for war.
that I live among the tents of Kedar!
6 Too long have I lived
among those who hate peace.
7 I am for peace;
but when I speak, they are for war.
Bible-studys.org had the clearest commentary for me this morning.
Verses 1-4: The psalmist was brought into great distress by a deceitful tongue. May every good man be delivered from lying lips. They forged false charges against him. In this distress, he sought God by fervent prayer. God can bridle their tongues. He obtained a gracious answer to this prayer. Surely sinners dare not act as they do, if they knew, and would be persuaded to think, what will be in the end thereof. The terrors of the Lord are his arrows; and his wrath is compared to burning coals of juniper, which have a fierce heat, and keep fire very long. This is the portion of the false tongue; for all that love and make a lie, shall have their portion in the lake that burns eternally.
Verses 1-7: Psalms 120-136 comprise "The Great Hallel"; compare "The Egyptian Hallel" (Psalms 113-118), and “The Final Hallel” (Psalms 145-150). Almost all these psalms (15 of 17), are “Songs of Ascent” (Palms 120-134), which the Jewish pilgrims sang on their way up to Jerusalem (about 2,700 feet in elevation), on 3 prescribed annual occasions. These feasts included:
(1) Unleavened Bread;
(2) Weeks/Pentecost/Harvest; and
(3) Ingathering/Tabernacles/Booths.
David authored 4 of these songs (Psalms 122, 124, 131, 133), Solomon one (Psalm 127), while 10 remain anonymous. When these psalms were assembled in this way is unknown. It appears that these songs begin far away from Jerusalem, and progressively move toward Jerusalem until the pilgrims have actually reached the temple and finished their worship. With regard to Psalm 120, the author and circumstances are unknown, although it seems as if the worshiper lives at a distance among unbelieving people.
I. Petition (120:1-2);
II. Indictment (120-3-4);
III. Lament 120:5-7).
So this is a march..... I mean... this is a song people would use to keep them keeping on up to the Temple.Hubby and I walk trails. I am not a hiker.... I am a walker.... and some of these trails are deceptive. One particularly deceptive trail runs right up the side of [are you ready for this?] Silly Mountain. Yep that's the name of the place ..... Silly Mountain. The trail appears to be a gentle slope up the side of a dirt pile. It's rock..... almost solid..... but it looks like a pile of dirt. When it starts out.... the path winds through some planters with plaques to give information on the plant.... and then there are some better views..... and then all of a sudden..... the mountain becomes too much.... all of a sudden.... you get achy all over and it's a fight to make that next step because it's a hike not a walk now..... I made it almost to the top.... hubby made it to the top.... I made it to the first gap... found a rock to squat on and drink my water while he finished the "walk".
I learned on my first "walk" that it's easier to make these "walks" happen if I use my imagination while on these trails. One little story I use when the trails get "hikey" is to imagine that I'm on a horse and the horse is actually doing the work. Another is to sing..... like this one.... God is great and He's watching over me.... and I will make it off this mountain without having to call rescue..... song..... just like the people back in the Old Testament did.... on their way to the Temple.....
