God's Dealings Series

Psalm 120 God's Dealings

God Deals With -

1. The Waywardness of Man in Mercy by Redemption.

The Psalmist's Motivation - 1 In my distress

His Mission - I cried unto the Lord,

His Miracle - and he heard me.

Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all

A Universal Loss - All we like sheep have gone astray;

A Universal Law - we have turned every one to his own way

A Universal Lord - and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all

The Prodigal - Not Sinner, nor Backslidder, but all Mankind. (Tozer)

2. The Wickedness of Man in Majesty by Retribution.

The Psalmist's Prayer - The Need for Retribution

2 Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue

Internal - 2 Deliver my soul,

Infernal - from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue

Integral - O Lord,

The Psalmist's Protest - The Neglect of Retribution -

3 What shall be given unto thee? or what shall be done unto thee, thou false tongue?

The Quest - 3 What shall be given unto thee?

The Query - or what shall be done unto thee,

The Quandary - thou false tongue?

The Psalmist's Praise - The Nature of this Retribution -

4 Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper.

The Punishment fits the Crime - The ancient rabbis explained that coals from a broom tree are unusual in that they continue burning on the inside even after they are extinguished on the outside.

So a person who listens to slander: even if persuaded outwardly and seemingly convinced, is still burning on the inside, still unconvinced.

4 He will punish you with a warrior’s sharp arrows, with burning coals of the broom tree.

It's Source - 4 Sharp arrows of the mighty, (Almighty)

It's Severity - Sharp arrows

It's Suitability - with coals of juniper. “burning coals of broom tree”

Spurgeon: “coals of juniper: quick in flaming, fierce in blazing, long in burning” (cf. hell fire)

Proverbs 6:16 These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him

Man's Look - 17 a proud look,

Man's Lies - a lying tongue,

Man's Lawlessness - and hands that shed innocent blood,

Man's Lust - 18 an heart that deviseth wicked imaginations,

Man's Leading - feet that be swift in running to mischief,

Man's Libel - 19 a false witness that speaketh lies,

Man's Licence - and he that soweth discord among brethren.

3. The Willfullness of Man in Ministry by Remonstration.

Where Placed -

His Condition - 5 Woe is me,

His Concern - that I sojourn in Mesech,

His Company - that I dwell in the tents of Kedar! [hostile people]

How Pressed -

His Confession - 6 My soul hath long dwelt

His Confliction - with him that hateth peace

His Confusion - 7 I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war.

With What Possessed -

His Stance - 7 I am for peace:

His Strength - but when I speak,

His Stay - they are for war.