HIGH FIVE! (c’mon)

Here’s the heart of Psalm 120—clear, sharp, and deeply human. It’s the first of the Songs of Ascents, the prayers sung by pilgrims on their way up to Jerusalem. And fittingly, it begins not with triumph, but with distress, because every journey toward God starts with honesty about where we actually are.

Below is a structured, grounded look at its significance, drawing from the sources we retrieved.

Significance of Psalm 120

1. It is the Pilgrim’s First Step: Crying Out from a Troubled Place

Psalm 120 opens the collection of ascent psalms, and it begins in a valley, not on a mountaintop. The psalmist is surrounded by hostility and deceit, and his first move is to cry out to the Lord, who answers him. This models the spiritual journey: before ascent comes lament.

2. It Confronts the Pain of Living Among Deceit

The psalmist pleads for deliverance from “lying lips” and “a deceitful tongue.” This isn’t abstract—he feels trapped in an environment where truth is distorted and words are weapons. This theme is echoed across commentaries: Psalm 120 is a cry for help from someone burdened by slander and false accusations.

3. It Names the Weariness of Being a Stranger in a Hostile Culture

He says he sojourns in Meshech and Kedar—far‑off, warlike peoples. This is symbolic language for feeling out of place, morally and spiritually isolated, surrounded by those who “hate peace.” It’s the ache of the faithful person who feels like an exile in their own world.

4. It Marks the Transition From Distress to Pilgrimage

Psalm 120 is intentionally placed at the start of the ascent psalms. Commentators note that this collection likely accompanied Israel’s pilgrim festivals. The journey begins with a cry for help, then moves toward trust, joy, and worship in the later psalms.

5. It Teaches That Peaceful People Still Face Conflict

The psalmist says, “I am for peace, but when I speak, they are for war.” This is the tension many believers feel: wanting peace, yet surrounded by conflict. Psalm 120 validates that experience and directs the heart toward God as the only true refuge.

In Summary

Psalm 120 is the prayer of someone who is tired of lies, tired of conflict, tired of being surrounded by people who don’t share his values—and who turns to God as the only one who can rescue him. It’s the first step of the pilgrim journey: honest lament that leads to hopeful ascent.

Thank you for the reminder to keep honest in my life… I am really hopeful for the future… TODAY, I am going to be busy… that Toastmasters Speech Contest is happening this morning, then I am going to work this afternoon… All we can do in life is to be a shining example for the future generation that will follow us. (WORK + PASTOR’S TWIZZLERS + GYM = YOU x TOMORROW) DO THE MATH!!!

BTW – HERE IS A POEM I WROTE:

**“I show up. I serve well. I lead boldly.

I build the man I become tomorrow.”**

YEAH.