Psalms 120

Overview.
This brief psalm of ascent expresses the anguish of one caught in a community marked by deceit and hostility, turning first to the Lord in distress and then lamenting the pain of prolonged exposure to those who oppose peace. It captures the tension between the righteous desire for harmony and the painful reality of living among those committed to conflict, anchoring hope not in immediate deliverance but in the steadfast character of God who hears prayer.

Flow.

• The psalm opens with a testimony: the psalmist called upon the Lord in distress and received an answer (v. 1).
• Immediately, a petition follows: for deliverance from deceitful speech, the primary instrument of harm (v. 2).
• The psalmist then addresses the deceitful tongue directly, envisioning divine judgment symbolized by sharp arrows and fiery coals (vv. 3–4).
• The lament culminates in a deeper sorrow over residence among hostile, war-loving peoples—Meshech and Kedar—contrasting the psalmist’s peaceable nature with their belligerence (vv. 5–7).

Connections.
Following the opening declaration of reliance on God in chapter 119, Psalm 120 continues the theme of trust in divine faithfulness amid trial, though shifting into the personal and social suffering that often attends the life of faith. Rather than sustained meditation on God’s law like the preceding chapter, this psalm gives voice to acute pain caused by human treachery. It sets the tone for the next two songs of ascent (Psalms 121 and 122), which move toward confidence in divine protection and the gathered worship of God’s people in Jerusalem. The loneliness and alienation described here make the communal hope of later psalms all the more necessary, framing the pilgrimage as both physical and spiritual movement from isolation to fellowship.

What it teaches.
The psalm affirms that God hears the cry of the afflicted and responds in due time, even when deliverance is not yet visible (WCF 17.1). It exposes the destructive power of false speech, aligning with Scripture’s consistent warning against lying (HC Q&A 113) and the divine holiness that cannot abide deceit (Apostles’ Creed, "God is light"). The imagery of judgment—arrows and burning coals—reflects the seriousness with which God views betrayal of truth and peace, which are reflections of His nature. The tension between dwelling among the peace-hating and longing for shalom anticipates the New Testament call to be in the world but not of it (John 17:15–17), and the hope for a city whose builder and king is God (Heb. 11:10; BC Art. 27 on the church catholic).

Apply.
When surrounded by deception and hostility, bring your cry to the Lord who hears and entrusts justice to Him.