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.
