PSALMS 120 DON’T DELAY THE DISTRESS IS CRUSHING

A DELIRIOUS CRY V.1

AN ANGUISHED CRY

In our distress we cried

AN ANTICIPATIVE CRY

unto the LORD

AN ATTENDED CRY

and he heard us.

When we feel distressed. When in the grasp of a tight confining situation.

We lift it all to the Lord.

A DELIVERANCE CRAVED V.2-4

FREEDOM FOR MY LIFE V.2

Deliver our soul, O LORD

FREEDOM FROM LIES

FALSEHOODS

from lying lips

When others are lying about us. We pray to the Lord for deliverance.

“In God’s sovereignty even lying lips will be turned to our deliverance.”

Josh Moody

FABRICATIONS

and from a deceitful tongue

FRUSTRATIONS V.3

What shall be given unto you?

FUTILITY

or what shall be done unto you

FORGERIES

You false tongue?

There is deep hurt in our soul when we’re assaulted by the false slander of others. Everything gets arranged totally out of context against us. We want to see our accuser caught in the trap they’ve set for us. The turmoil is hard to ingest. We have to turn it over to God.

FORTUNES OF LIARS V.4

REPAID WITH A SHARP STAB

Sharp arrows of the mighty

REPAID WITH A SCORCHING SEAR

with coals of juniper.

We take our sharp scorching hurts and forgive. We want to see consequences. We long for results. The lies stab and sear us. But Jesus shows us how to forgive.

A DISTURBING COMMUNITY V.5-6

AN IRRITATING VISITOR

Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech

AN IRRATIONAL VAGRANT

that I dwell in the tents of Kedar

AN INCENSED VIOLATOR V.6

My soul has long dwelt with him that hates peace.

Mesech and Kedar are the parents of the Islamic nations. They claim to be promoting peace but war appears from their hearts.

A DECENT COMMITMENT V.7

TRANQUIL CALM

I am for peace

TACTFUL COMMUNICATION

but when I speak

TERRORIZING COMBAT

they are for war

When others are for war we have to leave them in God’s hands. This is the most important step in dealing with lies and slander. We have put it all in Gods hands. We are not defined by the lies that people say about us. We are defined by the truth of what God says about us. We can’t control others responses. We leave that between them and God. We give up our right to play judge, jury, and executioner all rolled into one. This is the way of peace.