Thanksgiving for God’s Help Against Lying Tongues A Psalm of Ascents

“I call on the Lord in my distress, and He answers me. Save me, O Lord, from lying lips and from deceitful tongues. Too long have I lived among those who hate peace. I am a man of peace; but when I speak, they are for war.” (Psalm 120: 1, 6-7. NIV) [Read Psalm 120]

This Psalm has the introductory notation, “A Psalm of Ascents.” Although it is included within the thanksgiving psalms, it also has a special place as a psalm sung by pilgrims ascending the hill of Jerusalem on their way to the temple for special seasons of worship. Psalm 120, whose author is not indicated, was evidently written by a very homesick Jew, probably exiled in a foreign land during one of the many times when portions of the Jewish nation were taken captive and transplanted in bondage in a foreign land. He longed for the hills around Jerusalem and no doubt thought of going with others to worship. On every hand he heard strange language, and was, no doubt, cursed by those in whose land he was an exile. Think of homesickness. It creates a deep longing in the heart. Combine that with those who revile and curse the one who does not want to be in the strange land in the first place, and you begin to understand the situation this psalm addresses. When I read this psalm, and comments about it, I thought of our military personnel in foreign lands defending our country. Often they are reviled by the very ones they are trying to help. Such a situation does not relieve the homesickness that already is gnawing at their spirits. The subject of this psalm reminds us of the epistle of James in the New Testament and what he wrote about the tongue: “Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.” (James 3:5-6. NIV)

God can bring victory over lies and deceit spread abroad by a contentious tongue. No matter where one lives or how many rumors are spread about a person within God’s fold, there can be victory. Prayer is a sure path to God’s help no matter where one lives or what is said about a person. When we live with integrity, we can overcome even the lying tongues of trouble-mongers. In contrast to the lying tongues, saved persons can have “tamed tongues and truthful lips” (Dr. Alton McEachern, comments on Psalms, The Disciple’s Study Bible. Nashville: Holman, 1988. p. 734). When our own Meshech and Kedar experiences come (Psalm 120:5), God is ready to help and defend us. Our tongue can thank and praise Him, knowing that “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). Selah!

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Friday, November 26, 2010