On the Up and Up Psalm 120, 134
If you were to describe 2 extremes in your life, what would they be? If you were to describe the lowest point and then the highest, what would they be? What we have just read are 2 different songs that were sung on the way to Jerusalem. The first was a song of stress and the last a song of triumph. Psalms 120 through to 134 were sung by the Israelites as they were on their way to the tabernacle/temple in Jerusalem.
Jerusalem was the high point and the ultimate end of his travels, a place of joy, celebration and peace. But that’s not how the journey starts out in Psalm 120: nowhere near Jerusalem in heart or location.
It starts with “In my distress I cried to the LORD, And He heard me.” God had heard him in the past. Answered prayer: it’s really important that we see these high tide marks where God actually showed up. So, he brought the matter to God again.
Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips And from a deceitful tongue.” There’s some significant relational strife here. Someone has been lying to him. I don’t think anyone would disagree that these are the hardest wounds to heal, especially when they come from a friend. He said, “what shall be given to you, and what more shall be done to you, you deceitful tongue?” (verse 3) All other options seem to have been spent – meeting up, talking, trying to appease or reconcile.
Sometimes there is no reasoning with someone bent on deception. Unfortunately, when you go down that road there are so many twists and turns you get lost in all the detours and some people make a life of such journeys. These hurt when you try and reconcile; the writer said, “I am for peace but they are for war.” (verse 7) Some people will never want peace and we know that they are most difficult of these journeys. IE. when a marriage falls apart, or a business deal goes bad; someone hasn’t told the whole truth and it’s causing grief in a friend’s group – it doesn’t take much these days – it’s a huge issue online. Putting your device away only avoids the pain of the chatter going on in the background. You want peace, but they want war.
These are low points aren’t they, and sadly they are part of life. This Psalm reflects life on earth at times.
Look at verse 5 “Woe to me, that I sojourn in Meshech, that I dwell among the tents of Kedar! Too long have I had my dwelling among those who hate peace.” Think about this. While this guy knew the God of Israel, he was not dwelling in Israel. “Meshech was the name of [a group of] barbarous tribes who, in the times of Sargon and Sennacherib inhabited the highlands to the east of Cilicia, and in later days retreated northwards to the neighbourhood of the Black Sea…. Kedar was one of the Bedouin tribes of the Arabian desert.” (Maclaren) He was living away from God; not in or near the land of Israel.
I trust the application here is obvious. If you are hanging out with friends or people who clearly have no desire to encourage you or help you in your faith, then what are you doing hanging out with them? We all have to associate with unbelievers when we work in a secular environment or when we study. I’m not talking about that; I am speaking about your mates, the people who you choose to spend time with after hours, when study or work is done and you are relaxing. Folks, Paul it right when he said, “Do not be deceived: "Bad company ruins good morals." Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.” (1 Corinthians 15:33, 34)
Come out of Meshech, come out of Kedar – they are not your people. They don’t love Jesus. Jesus said, “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” (Matthew 12:30) You see what this is saying? Even that super lovely person you get on so well with, if they are not Christians, Jesus says they are scattering you away from Him. They are ultimately not for your spiritual peace. They are, in their heart of hearts, at war with it.
What should you do? Don’t stay where you are.
Firstly: Change your view. Look for a better reality.
Psalm 133: “How good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes! It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the LORD has commanded the blessing, life forevermore”
Healthy mind – healthy heart. (Philippians 4:4-8) “whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” You are mentally, emotionally and spiritually who and what you spend your time with.
Secondly: get off your phone/ TV or Computer. Don’t think you always have to relax by watching Prime, Netflix or Stan or playing computer games. You are being influenced – you already know those things satisfy the flesh, not the Spirit. Learn an instrument, read a book, go for a drive or a walk. Spend time in places that restore you.
Thirdly: Spend time with God’s people, get your friends circle straight, change it if you have to. Meet with other Christians and study the Scriptures – they are your people. They are headed for Jerusalem.
Get people around you who are on the same journey as you, join a regular group (cell group) that you can share your heart and do life with; and finally, make a habit of attending corporate worship. Online is fine, but it’s not the same, folks. If you have a choice, like the Apostle John encourages us to do, meet together face to face!
The peak of it all: the destination, the high point. (Psalm 134) “Come, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD, who stand by night in the house of the LORD! Lift up your hands to the holy place and bless the LORD! May the LORD bless you from Zion, he who made heaven and earth!” Worship together, praise God together, hear from God. Get to church and encourage your Christian friends to do the same – Praise has power. One day, this will be without sin, pain, fear, hurt, disappointment; but with perfect peace, power and joy in the presence of God.
So, there are two extremes here and I would say 2 choices, 2 places to live. Sometimes life is hard, people let you down, but where do you dwell – where do you choose to live spiritually? Continue to make wise choices every day.
While we have extremes in life, perhaps a low point and a high point, the reality is everyday life is filled with highs and lows and it’s how we respond to these variances that matters. These are managed when we keep the ultimate goal in view.
As you have heard again this morning, we are actively going to help you with that and ultimately get you to help others in the same way.