Psalm 120 — Truth and Lies

Psalm 120 — Truth and Lies — Aneel Aranha  

I call on the LORD in my distress,
and he answers me.
Save me, LORD,
from lying lips
and from deceitful tongues.
What will he do to you,
and what more besides,
you deceitful tongue?
He will punish you with a warrior’s sharp arrows,
with burning coals of the broom bush.
Woe to me that I dwell in Meshek,
that I live among the tents of Kedar!
Too long have I lived
among those who hate peace.
I am for peace;
but when I speak, they are for war.

This psalm begins a series of Psalms known as the Songs of Ascents. The Songs of Ascents is a collection of fifteen psalms the Israelites traditionally sang as they journeyed to Jerusalem for various festivals. 

This particular psalm is a cry for deliverance from the deceit and lies that surround the psalmist. He begins by crying out: "I call on the Lord in my distress, and he answers me. Save me, Lord, from lying lips and from deceitful tongues" (Psalm 120:1-2).

In a world where misinformation can spread like wildfire, where "fake news" has become a buzzword, this psalm feels incredibly topical. Many of us echo the psalmist's cry today, pleading for truth and honesty in a society that seems to have totally lost its way.

In his ministry, Jesus repeatedly emphasized the importance of truth. In the Gospel of John, he identifies himself as the embodiment of truth, saying, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). 

This statement is not just a declaration of his identity but also an invitation to align ourselves with the truth, to seek it fervently in a world clouded by deceit and falsehood.

In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul encourages believers to "put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body" (Ephesians 4:25). Consider the implications of this statement. If it could speak, would the nose lie to the eye?

As we reflect on this psalm, let us take solace in the fact that God hears and responds to our cries when we ask for protection from those who are lying and deceitful. Let us simultaneously endeavor to align ourselves with the ultimate source of truth, Jesus Christ, and to be agents of honesty and integrity in a world that knows little of either.

God bless you.