Psalm 120 Mar. 13 A Song of Ascents.  1In my distress, I cried to Yahweh. He answered me. 2Deliver my soul, Yahweh, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue. 3What will be given to you, and what will be done more to you, you deceitful tongue? 4Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper. 5Woe is me, that I live in Meshech, that I dwell among the tents of Kedar! 6My soul has had her dwelling too long with him who hates peace. 7I am for peace, but when I speak, they are for war.   

Commentary

120 Song of Ascents- These Psalms (120-134) were recited as the Israelite worshippers went ‘up’ to the temple to keep the feasts (122:2,3). However the word translated “Ascents” also means “Degrees”, and may well have been written by Hezekiah when the shadow on the sundial went ten degrees backward as a sign that God had healed him (2 Kings 20:11). In response to this, Hezekiah composed or rearranged songs for the temple worship (Is. 38:20). His sickness was at the same time as the Assyrian invasion, and therefore many of these songs allude to the situation at that time.