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Psalms 120:1-4

Matthew Henry on Psalms 120:1-4

Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · Matthew Henry · CC0 1.0 Universal

The psalmist was brought into great distress by a deceitful tongue. May every good man be delivered from lying lips. They forged false charges against him. In this distress, he sought God by fervent prayer.

God can bridle their tongues. He obtained a gracious answer to this prayer. Surely sinners durst not act as they do, if they knew, and would be persuaded to think, what will be in the end thereof. The terrors of the Lord are his arrows; and his wrath is compared to burning coals of juniper, which have a fierce heat, and keep fire very long.

This is the portion of the false tongue; for all that love and make a lie, shall have their portion in the lake that burns eternally.

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The Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 120:1-7Psalms 120:1-7 · The Pulpit CommentaryEXPOSITION THE SONGS OF ASCENTS. THE next fifteen psalms have a common heading, which is translated "Songs of Degrees," "Songs of Ascents," or "Songs of Steps." They constitute together "a Little Psalter," which contain…The Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 120:1Psalms 120:1 · The Pulpit CommentaryIn my distress I cried unto the Lord, and he heard me. The particular "distress' intended can only be conjectured. Some suppose it to be the Captivity itself, others the opposition offered by the Samaritans, Ammonites,…The Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 120:1-7Psalms 120:1-7 · The Pulpit CommentaryThe perversion of power, etc. This psalm, though "a difference of opinion exists respecting the interpretation of almost every verse and word of it," may suggest valuable thoughts upon— I. THE PERVERSION OF POWER. It sp…The Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 120:1-7Psalms 120:1-7 · The Pulpit CommentaryIn Mesech and Kedar. This psalm is a piteous declaration of the unhappy lot of him who is surrounded by the false, the treacherous, and the cruel. They of Mesech—the Moschi of Herodotus (see Exposition)—dwelt where now…The Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 120:1Psalms 120:1 · The Pulpit CommentaryA dark fact explained and illuminated. The dark fact is human distress; the explanation is the prayer it leads to; the illumination, the answer it brings. We have here— I. A TOO RARE PERSONAGE. "In my distress, I," etc.…
commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 120:1-7In Mesech and Kedar. This psalm is a piteous declaration of the unhappy lot of him who is surrounded by the false, the treacherous, and the cruel. They of Mesech—the Moschi of Herodotus (see Exposition)—dwelt where now…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 120:1-7The perversion of power, etc. This psalm, though "a difference of opinion exists respecting the interpretation of almost every verse and word of it," may suggest valuable thoughts upon— I. THE PERVERSION OF POWER. It sp…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 120:1In my distress I cried unto the Lord, and he heard me. The particular "distress' intended can only be conjectured. Some suppose it to be the Captivity itself, others the opposition offered by the Samaritans, Ammonites,…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 120:1A dark fact explained and illuminated. The dark fact is human distress; the explanation is the prayer it leads to; the illumination, the answer it brings. We have here— I. A TOO RARE PERSONAGE. "In my distress, I," etc.…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 120:1-7EXPOSITION THE SONGS OF ASCENTS. THE next fifteen psalms have a common heading, which is translated "Songs of Degrees," "Songs of Ascents," or "Songs of Steps." They constitute together "a Little Psalter," which contain…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 120:2Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips. Such as Sanballat's (—Nehemiah 6:6-8). And from a deceitful tongue; literally, a tongue that is fraud—a mere variant of the expression in the preceding clause.Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 120:3Sins of the tongue. "Thou deceitful tongue." Describing this tongue, the psalmist adds, "It is as the sharp arrows of the mighty man, as coals of broom." The sin specially in the view of the psalmist is that of the slan…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 120:3The deceitful tongue. "Lips are soft; but when they are lying lips they suck away the life of character, and are as murderous as razors. Lips should never be red with the blood of honest men's reputes, nor salved with m…Joseph S. Exell and contributors