Psalms 120

Psalms 120THEME: The living conditions of the pilgrimThis brings us to a new series in the Book of Psalms, a package of fifteen psalms (120-134), each called “A song of degrees” in our Bibles. What we have here is, as Martin Luther translated it, the gradual psalms, songs of the higher choir. An outstanding Hebrew scholar has translated it, “Songs of the pilgrim caravans” or “on the homeward marches.” These fifteen psalms were traveling songs, and I think they were used in two different ways. 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 Ezr_7:9, which says, “For upon the first day of the first month began he [that is, 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.” This verse is speaking of Ezra’s “going up” from Babylon to Jerusalem. However the most common use of these psalms was during the three times each year when they went, as God had commanded, to Jerusalem to worship.

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 worldthey were scattered at this timethey would sing these psalms. 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. You will recall that we have one incident, recorded by Dr. Luke, in the life of the Lord Jesus between the time of His virgin birth and the beginning of His ministry at the age of thirty years.

The Lord, who was then twelve years old, went with His parents to Jerusalem to celebrate one of the feasts. A day’s journey from Jerusalem, all of the caravans would meet so that they could go to Jerusalem together. It was a time of fellowship, of renewing friendships, talking over old times, and telling others how things were going. Then they would journey together to Jerusalem, singing these psalms. The place where the caravans met is still pretty well known today, and it was one day’s journey out of Jerusalem. When the feast was over, the parents of the Lord Jesus found He was missing, and they had to return to the city to look for Him.

The account is found in Luk_2:41-50. Now you may be wondering if we can be sure these psalms were used this way. Yes, Psa_122:3-4 gives us this information: “Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together: Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the LORD.” Yes, they were sung three times during the yearat the Feasts of Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernaclesas they traveled toward Jerusalem to return thanks to God, to worship Him, and to offer sacrifices. There is a spiritual meaning in these fifteen psalms. It is interesting that many writers of the Talmud pointed out the fact that life is like thisit is an ascent. We come to God as sinners who are away from Him, separated, and alienated. We come to Him for salvation, and having come for salvation, we go on to sanctification as we grow in grace and in the knowledge of Christ; it is a constant going up. We are to be climbing in a spiritual way. My friend, you and I ought to be farther along today than we were last year. Now we begin this journey with Psalms 120, and in this psalm we are looking at the pilgrim and we will find out where he lives.

Psalms 120:1

This is one of the most marvelous psalms that we have read, and it is relevant to the present hour, especially for the nation Israel. The pilgrim in this psalm said he lived “in Mesech in Kedar.” Who was Mesech? He was one of the sons of Japheth. Gen_10:2 tells us of “the sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras.” From the sons of Japheth came the gentile nations, and Israel today is scattered among the Gentiles throughout the world. They dwell in “Mesech.” “Kedar” was the son of Ishmael. Does that tell you anything? The pilgrim was living among the Arabs. That is rather up to date, is it not? Notice that in verse Psa_120:2 he cries, “Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue.” It doesn’t sound as if he is living in a good neighborhood, does it? They had mean tongues. The man who sojourned in Mesech had been maligned and lied about. I do believe that no people have been lied about, maligned, and persecuted as much as the Jews. We hear much about minority groups today, and the interesting thing is that the Jew has been able to make his way among all nations and peoples, but he has been criticized the entire time. Anti-Semitism has been real down through the ages; yet the Jew has been able to survive all of it.

The Jews are a minority group among the Gentiles and among the people of the world; and they have lived in the place of gossip, quarrels, tensions, problems, and burdens. Also this can be said of you and me. Now, not only did the pilgrim live among people with mean tongues, but he lived in a world of war: “My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace. I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war.” That is rather up to date also, is it not? It is a wonder the higher critics, who like to give a late dating to Scripture, haven’t suggested that this psalm was written in the present century. It certainly describes the Jews’ current situation. Now it is time to pack up his troubles in his old kit bag and start toward Jerusalem. However, the pilgrim leaves his burdens at home. He leaves his Mesech and his Kedar and starts for Jerusalem to worship his God. Jerusalem is the city of peace. It is not that today; it is rather a dangerous place to be, but it was different in the days of the pilgrim, and it will be different in the future.