Psalm 120

1 In my distress I cried unto the LORD, and he heard me.
2 Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue.
3 What shall be given unto thee? or what shall be done unto thee, thou false tongue?
4 Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper.
5 Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar!
6 My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace.
7 I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war.

Key Verse:
2 Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue.

Key Observation:
The tongue is again upheld as the devious member of the body.

Memory Verse:
1 In my distress I cried unto the LORD, and he heard me.

Devotion:
McGee tells me that these psalms of degrees (Psalm 120 – Psalm 134) were chanted on the way to Jerusalem on one of the main feast days, or religious holidays. “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.” They are called psalms of degrees evidently because with each one recited they were one day or one degree closer to Jerusalem.

I notice the tongue is spoken sharply against here. I remember a little ditty I learned as a child: “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me.” Actually I think we all learn that the names are what cause the greatest pain, and historically, discrimination frequently begins with slander and then grows to more obscene things. Certainly the Jewish people have experienced both the greatest slander and discrimination throughout the ages.

Compare to James’ talking about the tongue: “The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body.” I know that for there are times in my life when I have said something awful, something that destroys rather than builds up. I would often be a Barnabus, called the son of encouragement, but instead I find my own mouth tearing down another, sometimes unintentionally as I speak before thinking, but other times deliberately, because of anger or hurt. I have found much time after these incidents to repent, both privately and personally, as I grieve over the hurt I cause. But no matter how much I desire it, once my tongue has let painful words fly out, there is no getting them back. Sometimes they do “forever” damage. Proverbs does wisely observe: “Even the fool is counted wise when he is silent.” Or my personal favorite saying: If people think me a fool, why open my mouth and remove all doubt?

But the psalm here is going further. It goes to a deliberately deceitful tongue. I think it is something that political leaders, or anyone in a position of power have to watch carefully for. There are people that tend to gather around a leader who tell them what they want to hear. I think that is normal, and happens far too often. But worse, is the person who carefully cultivates your friendship with deceitful words, and waits all the time to turn the table on you. Would it not be wonderful to be able to see to the core of such people beforehand? When God looks at me, He sees all my excuses for what they are. Which I suppose brings me back to that Charlie Daniel’s question: How could you love me?

Two Out Of Three Lyrics

I've been thinking back over my life
And some of the questions I've had
I've thought about living, I've thought about dying
And what makes me happy or sad

Well most of my questions I've kept to myself
Like, "Why in the world was I born?"
But the number one question, I'd like to ask
I'd like to ask of the Lord

Jesus how could You love me?
Oh sweet Jesus, how could You love me?
'Cause when I had a choice between good and bad
I picked bad two out of three

What makes a man start looking around
When he's already got a good wife
What makes a man pour drink from a bottle
When he knows it can cut like a knife

Tho' some are called good, some are called bad
We have all been tempted and charmed
But all of us sinners
The man in the sandals will welcome right back in his arms

Jesus how could You love me?
Oh sweet Jesus, how could You love me?
'Cause when I had a choice between good and bad
I picked bad two out of three

Jesus how could You love me?
Oh sweet Jesus, how could You love me?
'Cause when I had a choice between good and bad
I picked bad two out of three

Jesus how could You love me?
Oh sweet Jesus, how could You love me?
'Cause when I had a choice between good and bad
I picked bad two out of three