Psalm 120 (WK) - Bible Truth Library

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Psalm 120

Psa. 120:1 KJV (With Strong’s)

<<A Song of degrees.>> Inn my distress I cried unto the Lord, and he heard me.

Jonah 2:2• ²and said, (Jonah 2:2)

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Songs of Degrees

Cross References

Ministry on This Verse

1-2: David prays against Doeg;

3-4: reproves his tongue;

5-7: complains of his necessary conversation with the wicked.

(Title.)

A Song of degrees.Bp. Patrick and others suppose this Psalm to have been composed by David, when the calumnies of Doeg and others forced him to flee his country.

Psa. 121:1• ¹A song of the ascents.{HR}I lift up mine eyes unto the mountains:{HR}Whence shall my help come? (Psa. 121:1)

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Psa. 122:1• ¹A song of the ascents: of David.{HR}I was glad in [those] saying unto me,{HR}To Jehovah's house we will go. (Psa. 122:1)

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Psa. 123:1• ¹A song of the ascents.{HR}Unto thee do I lift up mine eyes,{HR}O thou that dwellest in the heavens. (Psa. 123:1)

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Psa. 124:1• ¹A song of the ascents: of David.{HR}If [it were] not Jehovah who was for us,{HR}Let now Israel say; (Psa. 124:1)

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Psa. 125:1• ¹A song of the ascents.{HR}Those confiding in Jehovah [are] as Mount Zion;{HR}It cannot be moved, it abideth forever. (Psa. 125:1)

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Psa. 126:1• ¹A song of the ascents.{HR}When Jehovah turneth the turning of Zion,{HR}We shall be like dreamers. (Psa. 126:1)

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Psa. 127:1• ¹A song of the ascents: of Solomon.{HR}If Jehovah build not a house,{HR}In vain toil its builders in it;{HR}If Jehovah keep not a city,{HR}In vain watcheth a keeper. (Psa. 127:1)

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Psa. 128:1• ¹A song of the ascents.{HR}Happy [is] every fearer of Jehovah,{HR}That walketh in his ways. (Psa. 128:1)

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Psa. 129:1• ¹A song of the ascents.{HR}Much have they afflicted me from my youth,{HR}Let now Israel say; (Psa. 129:1)

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Psa. 129• (Psa. 129)

:*titles;

Psa. 130:1• ¹A song of the ascents.{HR}Out of the depths{HR}Do I call on thee, Jehovah. (Psa. 130:1)

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Psa. 131:1• ¹A song of the ascents: of David.{HR}Jehovah, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty;{HR}Neither do I meddle (walk) with [things] great{HR}And with [things] too wonderful for me. (Psa. 131:1)

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Psa. 132:1• ¹A song of the ascents.{HR}Jehovah, remember for David all his humiliation; (Psa. 132:1)

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Psa. 133:1• ¹A song of the ascents.{HR}Behold, how good and how pleasant [is]{HR}The dwelling of brethren also together! (Psa. 133:1)

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Psa. 134:1• ¹A song of the ascents.{HR}Behold, bless Jehovah, all ye servants of Jehovah,{HR}That stand in Jehovah's house in the nights. (Psa. 134:1)

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Psa. 134• (Psa. 134)

:*titles

my distress.

Psa. 18:6• ⁶In my distress I call upon Jehovah,{HR}And unto my God do I cry for help;{HR}From his temple heareth he my voice,{HR}And my supplication before him cometh into his ears. (Psa. 18:6)

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Psa. 30:7‑8• ⁷O Jehovah, in thy favour thou hast established strength for my mountain;{HR}Thou hast hidden thy face: I have been confounded.
⁸Unto thee, O Jehovah, I call,{HR}And unto Jehovah do I supplicate. (Psa. 30:7‑8)

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Psa. 50:15• ¹⁵And call upon me in the day of trouble:{HR}I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. (Psa. 50:15)

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Psa. 107:13• ¹³And they cried unto Jehovah in their distress:{HR}Out of their straits he saveth them; (Psa. 107:13)

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Psa. 116:3‑4• ³Bands of death compassed me,{HR}And straits of Sheol seized me:{HR}I found trouble and sorrow;
⁴And on Jehovah's name I call;{HR}I pray, O Jehovah, deliver my soul. (Psa. 116:3‑4)

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Psa. 118:5• ⁵From the strait I called upon Jah:{HR}Jah answered me in a (the) large place. (Psa. 118:5)

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Isa. 37:3‑4,14‑20• ³And they said to him, Thus saith Hezekiah, This day [is] a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and of contumely: for the children are come to the birth, and [there is] not strength to bring forth.
⁴It may be Jehovah thy God will hear the words of Rab-shakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master hath sent to reproach the living God, and will rebuke the words which Jehovah thy God hath heard. Therefore lift up [thy] prayer for the remnant that is left.
¹⁴And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up into the house of Jehovah, and spread it before Jehovah.
¹⁵And Hezekiah prayed unto Jehovah saying,
¹⁶Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, that sittest [upon] the cherubim, thou [art] He, even thou alone, the God of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven and earth.
¹⁷Incline thine ear, Jehovah, and hear; open thine eyes, Jehovah, and see: and hear all the words of Sennacherib, who hath sent to reproach the living God.
¹⁸Of a truth, Jehovah, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the countries and their land,
¹⁹and have cast their gods into the fire; for they [were] no gods, but the work of men's hands, wood and stone; and they have destroyed them.
²⁰Now therefore, Jehovah our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art Jehovah, thou only. (Isa. 37:3‑4,14‑20)

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Isa. 38:2‑5• ²Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto Jehovah,
³and said, Remember now, Jehovah, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done [that which is] good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept much.
⁴And the word of Jehovah came to Isaiah, saying,
⁵Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add to thy days fifteen years. (Isa. 38:2‑5)

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Jonah 2:2• ²and said, (Jonah 2:2)

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Luke 22:44• ⁴⁴And being in conflict he prayed more intently, and his sweat became as clots of blood falling down upon the earth. (Luke 22:44)

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Heb. 5:7• ⁷who in the days of his flesh having offered up both supplications and entreaties to him that was able to save him out of death, with strong crying and tears, and having been heard because of his godly fear, (Heb. 5:7)

• Book 5, Series 3. The ten tribes restored. (““The Placement of the Psalms in Prophecy”” by B. Anstey)

• These psalms of degrees all treat the circumstances of the restored but undelivered remnant...The first psalm declares their state and resource. (“Practical Reflections on the Psalms: Psalms 120-131” by J.N. Darby)

• (vv. 2-4) The remaining verses of the psalm present the occasion of the distress. (“Psalm 119:153-160: Divison 20 (Resh)” by H. Smith)

• “Lying lips” proclaim that which is false; “a deceitful tongue” affects to speak the truth. The lies of the world are often hidden under an affectation of the truth. Plausible words may be a cover for deadly error. (“Psalm 119:153-160: Divison 20 (Resh)” by H. Smith)

• This series of psalms is called “the Songs of Degrees” or “Ascents” (See headings). They apparently formed a little hymn book used by the children of Israel as they journeyed up to Jerusalem for their annual feasts of Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles (Deut. 16:16, Ps. 122:4). Prophetically they describe the process through which the nation of Israel (particularly the ten tribes) will pass in going back to their land. (“Book 5.” by B. Anstey)

J. N. Darby Translation

A Song of degreesd. In my trouble I called unto Jehovah, and he answered me.

JND Translation Notes

Perhaps in the sense of "going up." see Ps. 122.4; 1 Kings 12.27. Others take it morally.

W. Kelly Translation

Aa song of the ascents.{HR}In my trouble I called unto Jehovah,{HR}And he answered me.

WK Translation Notes

The next group is clearly defined, the fifteen psalms of degrees or the goings up. That of (or by) Solomon occupies the central place, two on either side are expressly of David, as others perhaps such as Ps.132 where it is not said. Some conjecture a late date for most, or all, because they are supposed suitable to be sung during the return from Babylon. The truth is that they look onward to the restoration of Israel in the latter day and are thus truly prophetic; the language, as the hope, is far beyond anything realised in the post-exilic return.