Devo 01: Psalm 120
Deliver Me, O Lord
A Song of Ascents
120 In my distress I called to the Lord,
and he answered me.
2 Deliver me, 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?
4 A warrior's sharp arrows,
with glowing coals of the broom tree!
5 Woe to me, that I sojourn in Meshech,
that I dwell among the tents of Kedar!
6 Too long have I had my dwelling
among those who hate peace.
7 I am for peace,
but when I speak, they are for war!
Devotional Thought
In this passage, the psalmist (person who wrote this psalm) is distressed and cries out to God to save him. He’s far from home (v.5) and among people who are “for war” (v.6-7). And this is mainly characterized by their “lying lips” and “deceitful tongue” (v.2). We’re not told how exactly but he does say that God did answer his prayer (v.1). V.3-4 is speaking of the future judgment God will bring upon lying and deceit but we get a hint of how hard it is still to live in the present day while still dealing with it around him (v.5-7).
So as people far from home ourselves (this can be true both physically and spiritually!) how do we deal with challenges to our faith, perhaps from people who are violent against us and others with their speech? Not by returning their sinful words with our own sinful words but by following the example of our Lord who was “a man of peace in a world of war.” (1 Peter 2:21-25) Both as those that have been forgiven ourselves for all the things we shouldn’t have said and knowing that He will bring final retributive justice, we can walk by the words of Romans 12:17-21, “Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Prayer
Father, I often feel lonely being away from home and it even worse when others slander us and speak ill of me in unfair ways, help me to fight the temptation to return evil for evil, help me to know in my mind, with my words and actions, how to overcome evil with good. Help me to forgive others and continue to love others even if they are against me and my faith. And for my loneliness, please draw near with your presence and help me to find sanctuary in You, and to be in communion with your people. In Christ’s name I pray. Amen.
