Temple Baptist Church - 7-21-2024
Psalm 120
Introduction:
A. Psalm 120 is the first of 15 Psalms, 120-134, that are consecutive in order and bear the inscription “A Song of Degrees.”
1. This inscription reveals the purpose for which it was composed. The Hebrew word for “degrees” ma'alah, (pronounced – mah‑al‑aw') means an elevation, a journey to a higher place; it carries the thought of arising, or ascent. The word “degrees” can also refer to a climactic progression.
a. Often, especially while driving through the mountains, we see sign that warn of a severe grade—either up or down—ahead of the drive.
b. Both life and circumstances are so. In life, we are either gradually going up for the better or going down for the worse. Circumstances are the same: we are either going up higher and are happy or we are in dire circumstances and going down.
c. There are a variety of interpretations of the meaning of this inscription.
1) This is biblically illustrated well with Ezra, as he returned from Babylon to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple at the end of the Babylonish Captivity.
Ezra 7:6-9 This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him. (7) And there went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king. (8) And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. (9) For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him.
2) Songs sung by the pilgrims returning from exile with Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah. When the captives returned from Babylon, they sang them on the way to Jerusalem. This same use of the term “going up” is used in Ezra 7:9, which says, “For upon the first day of the first month began he (Ezra) to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him. .”
3) Songs which are made up of a graduation of thought ending in a climax.
4) Songs related to the individual steps which the priest ascended into the Temple. Thus, on each step the priest sang one of these songs.
Ezekiel 40:22 And their windows, and their arches, and their palm trees, were after the measure of the gate that looketh toward the east; and they went up unto it by seven steps; and the arches thereof were before them.
5) The reference to “degrees” is musical and signifies the progression of the notes by degrees in succession.
6) These songs belong specifically to the days of Hezekiah, and that the anonymous ten was possibly written by him as referred to in Isaiah 38:20. Since Hezekiah had fifteen years added to his life, these fifteen psalms correspond to that blessing from the Lord.
Isaiah 38:20-22 The LORD was ready to save me: therefore we will sing my songs to the stringed instruments all the days of our life in the house of the LORD. (21) For Isaiah had said, Let them take a lump of figs, and lay it for a plaister upon the boil, and he shall recover. (22) Hezekiah also had said, What is the sign that I shall go up to the house of the LORD?
7) These fifteen Psalms were thought to be “Traveling Songs,” sung by the Jews as they journeyed to Jerusalem to appear three times a year, as commanded, to observe the feasts of the Lord (Ex. 23:14-17; 34:22-24; Deut 16:16).
a) At the feasts of Passover, Pentecost and the feast of Tabernacles they remembered their redemption and God’s continual provision. So, these songs were sung by the journeying Jews as they traveled to Jerusalem to celebrate the feasts of the Lord.
b) God had required the males to go; and, when they went, they took their families along. As they started to Jerusalem from all over the civilized world—they were scattered at this time—they would sing these psalms.
c) One day it would be one of the psalms, the next day another psalm; and as they came closer and higher, as they approached Jerusalem, they continued to sing them until they came to the final psalm, 134, when they would be standing in the sanctuary of the Lord singing His praises. This is the reason they are called songs of degrees or ascents and songs of the pilgrim caravans.
2. Not all of these Psalms bear the names of the writers but four of them are attributed to David (122, 124, 131, 133), one to Solomon (127), leaving ten bearing no signature. Some of these Psalms of Degrees were thought to be written by Hezikiah as referenced in Isaiah, chapter 38.
B. Traveling Songs or Songs of Degrees express:
1. Anticipation – These Psalms helped to prepare the Jews for worship. As they got closer and closer to their destination, the more they anticipated arriving at their journey’s end. In the last of these Psalms of Degrees, Psalm 134, they lifted up their voices together in praise to the LORD.
2. Association – These Psalms were sung together as these Jews normally traveled in caravans for both companionship and safety.
3. Acclamation – These Psalms were songs of praise and exaltation. “To the only Wise God!” They exalted God because of His greatness and glory,
4. Ascension – These Psalms took the singer to a higher plain. Climbing to a higher place of spirituality.
C. In this particular Song of Degrees, we find that someone or some people have been talking about the Psalmist in an evil way. Through the Psalm, we find a definite progression in the way the Psalmist perceives his situation.
1. I believe that most of us come under “fire” from disgruntled people who try to destroy you or your testimony with lies. This Psalm is here especially for those who are being maligned.
2. There is an old saying: “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” I would venture to say that the author of that statement knew nothing about being attacked in such a manner. I am not talking about just saying something bad about you and everybody just moves on. The gossip or outright attack upon the integrity and character was distressing.
3. Why the destressing? It is hard to defend yourself from someone who attacks you behind the back. You end up trying to fight back and possibly saying or doing something that will bring about an earned reproach!
4. The Psalmist did the right thing. Now, we look at the progression or ascension of the Psalm broken down into individual steps.
1. Verse 1. Step One: Here we find the persecuted in distress. “In my distress.”
a. In a state of distress: agony, anguish, suffering. This was not a frivolous state of mind but one of great magnitude. A drowning person will cry out in distress. We do not normally do so when we are bothered about something but the problem is more of an aggravation than one that causes distress.
b. In a state of supplication: “I cried unto the LORD.” Cried is to do so loudly or with great anguish.
c. “And He heard me!” In a state of Assurance in prayer. Often, when we pray, we know that God hears because He promised to do so. “Call unto Me and I will answer thee.” The Psalmist did not just think that God heard him, he knew that God heard him.
1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
2. Verse 2. Step Two. The specifics of the Psalmist’s request.
a. The Type of Deliverance requested. “Deliver my soul!” This was not a cry for physical deliverance. It was a cry of a burdened heart, the soul of the Psalmist.
b. The Person of Deliverance. “O LORD.” There are some things that we must allow the Lord to correct, not another person.
c. The Deviousness of the Deceiver. “from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue.” Intentional deception using lies to defame, malign, and destroy.
Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
3. Verse 3-4. Step Three.
a. In verse 3, we find two kinds of judgment. Natural judgment and Divine judgment.
1) The Reciprocation of the Liar. “What shall be given unto thee?” Most old country sayings are based upon known truths. Here we find the truth of “What goes around comes around.” “Be careful of the words you speak for you never know which ones you will eat!” This is what I call a natural consequence.
Psalms 7:15-16 He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made. (16) His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.
2) The Reparation of the LORD. “or what shall be done unto thee, thou false tongue?” Dr. R. G. Lee, “Payday Someday” becomes a reality when the divine justice of God is implemented. This is a divine consequence. Lies are hard to fight and sometimes you just have to leave the judgment and justice to God. Been there and done that!
b. In verse 4. The Power of Divine Consequence.
1) “Sharp Arrows of the mighty.” A directed consequence. God does not miss His target! Penetrating the body and soul of the liar in question. My mind goes to the 3rd Law of Motion” that states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. The more devastating the lie, the more devasting the nature of the consequence.
2). “WITH coals of juniper.” A durable consequence. Very vehement. strong, and very lasting or durable. Juniper is a wood that will continue to burn hot for a long while. This payment from God will be more than one can seemingly bear and lasting in its heat.
4. Verses 5-7. Step Four. The identification of a personal problem.” Soul searching is a good thing. Though someone has lied about me, did I do or am I doing something that needed to be corrected.
a. Verse 5. “Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar!” The pinnacle of the Song of Degrees is the realization that the Psalmist “sojourned” in the wrong place. Mesech was a son of Japeth and is often identified with Tubal, Gog and Magog. The wickedness of those families to the north of Israel also mentioned as coming down on the unwalled cities of Israel in the last day. Kedar was a son of Ishmael, not Israel.
b. Verse 6. “My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace.” You hang around with the wrong crowd and the consequences may be high. You want to live with the wicked in peace but there can be no peace.
c. Verse 7. “I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war.” The Psalmist wanted to live in peace and spoke peace to the wicked, but the wicked would have none of it. There will be times in life and people who come into our lives that we just cannot hang around. “Evil communications corrupt good manners” means that the influence of the wicked on the child of God can be greater than the influence of the child of God upon the wicked.
Conclusion: This “upward Psalm” or “Song of Degrees” brought about 1) the judgment of God upon the wicked and 2) the self-judgment of the child of God upon himself. Win Win!
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