Psalms 120 Overview
The first Song of degrees begins with answered prayer, asks rescue from deceitful lips, and laments dwelling among people who hate peace even when the speaker seeks it.
Before you read Psalms 120
Coming from
Psalm 119 centered on a vast acrostic meditation on god's word in every circumstance. Psalms is an anthology rather than a continuous chronological story, so the connection here is canonical and thematic.
In this chapter
The first Song of degrees begins with answered prayer, asks rescue from deceitful lips, and laments dwelling among people who hate peace even when the speaker seeks it.
Leads into
Psalm 121 turns to the keeper of israel watches without sleeping, continuing the Psalter’s arranged movement without requiring that the two psalms describe consecutive historical events.
Key understandingExplore deeper
Psalm 120 belongs to Book V of the Psalter (Psalms 107–150). Psalms 120–134 form the Songs of degrees/ascents. The exact historical use of the collection is debated, but pilgrimage and movement toward worship are central themes.
Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper
Central truth
A pilgrim cries for deliverance from lying and warlike people.
Pilgrimage truth
In Psalm 120, approaching worship becomes a setting for dependence, memory, community, and hope.
Lament truth
In Psalm 120, biblical faith brings grief, fear, confusion, and need directly to God rather than hiding them.
Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper
Pilgrimage connection
Deuteronomy 16:16 required Israelite males to appear before the LORD at appointed feasts. This connection helps frame Psalm 120.
Lament connection
Hebrews 4:15-16 invites believers to come boldly for mercy and grace in need. This connection helps frame Psalm 120.
What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper
Keep pilgrimage in context
The Songs of degrees have a real Israelite worship setting; do not turn every travel image in Psalm 120 into a required allegorical stage of Christian growth.
Keep lament in context
Do not mistake every anguished sentence in Psalm 120 for the psalmist’s settled theological conclusion; lament often voices how the crisis feels before faith answers it.
Read Psalms 120 watching for…
distress cried.
lying lips.
sharp arrows.
Meshech Kedar.
for peace but war.