(REFLECTIONS ON Psalm 120:1-7)

Psalm 120 to Psalm 134 has been categorized as “A Song of Ascents.” Jerusalem is geographically elevated, so the Israelites would literally “go up” when traveling there during their pilgrimages to worship during major feasts like Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles.

Psalm 120 to Psalm 134 thus represents songs that pilgrims returning to Jerusalem would sing, ascending to physically and spiritually meet with God in worship.

As we read the first of these psalms, we read of the psalmist crying out for deliverance from the deceitful tongue and lies of the world.

2 Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips,
From a deceitful tongue.
3 What shall be given to you, and what more shall be done to you,
You deceitful tongue?

Returning to Jerusalem, making an ascent up to worship God, is a reminder for the psalmist that he is leaving a world of lies and deceitfulness that is trying its hardest to turn the worship believers have of God, to itself. How strong are these efforts?

They are so strong that we face them still today, just as all the world has faced them since the fall of humanity. The biggest struggle as a Christian living in a world of lying lips from a deceitful tongue is to know what is truth, to know and remember which way is up, and to be true to God and our identity in Him.

This is a good reminder to us to seek God constantly, in order to combat the lying lips from a deceitful tongue that surround us each day, in order to try to flip our faith around from being upside down, and be grounded in our firm foundation which is God.

Interestingly, the psalmist also writes,

7 I am for peace, but when I speak,
They are for war.

Lying lips from a deceitful tongue want to create conflict, dissension, confusion, and war. However, the truth of God, through His Son, Jesus Christ, made known by the Holy Spirit, will seek true peace. True peace is wholeness in God, rather than being torn in many directions, in many pieces, trying to please both God and man.

May our dedication to worship, to gather in fellowship together at church, and meeting God in prayer and devotion, give us the strength, wisdom, and resolve to stand against the lying lips from a deceitful tongue of false religion and this world.

Pastor Michael Lu
Enduring Word Bible Commentary: Psalm 120