Homework for Week 2, (Jan. 26 – Feb. 1^st)

Psalm 120  … Reflections on last week and going deeper

I don’t know if you enjoy reading Eugene Peterson’s translation, The Message, but I usually find it a refreshing perspective on the text.  We have a version which includes some margin notes he wrote along with his translation.  In it, he describes the Songs of Ascents as a songbook within a Songbook (songs within the book of Psalms or Psongs J. )  Jerusalem is considered the topological highest point of the area, so any journey to Jerusalem would be an ascent.  Three times a year the faithful were to make the journey and these were the “songs for the road”. 

Not to lessen the value of this, but you may take long trips and sometimes sing along the way to make the time pass.  (We’ll not mention some of those songs, pleaseJ.  ) 

Since these songs were common, they brought all into the city with a common perspective on themselves and on God.  The first song isn’t pretty;  it’s a bit harsh. God is only mentioned twice, and then only in the first two verses.  The perspective is one of beginning the journey from a hard place.  It’s a place of lies.  Perhaps they are lies about me, lies about the situation, lies about God’s faithfulness to us.  But, we are in a place of lies.  One lie might be that God’s people shouldn’t suffer difficult things.  But here we are, nonetheless, in a land of lies, and because we believe in God, we move forward,

A quote from Peterson’s comments. 

“Psalm 120 is the decision we make at the crossroads of life.  It’s the turning point marking the transition from a dreamy nostalgia for a better life to a rugged pilgrimage of discipleship in faith”  P. 906 in “Conversations, The Message Bible with its translator”

To begin our journey, we have to cry out to God, ‘deliver us from liars.’ 

Psalm 120:2  “Deliver me from liar’s lips”   The enemy is always attacking us, using lies to accuse, frighten and rob us of our peace. Here are some questions to ponder and perhaps journal.

In verse 2, what lie is David battling?

In verse 3, what  is David’s answer to the lie?

What lies might Satan be using against you? 

How would you answer them from God’s Word?

In Psalm 3, the Psalmist seems to be battling the same way.  Verse 1 and 2 of the text says. 

O Lord, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me!
Many are saying of me, "God will not deliver him." Selah 
But you are a shield around me, O Lord; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head.

I think we can all add that cry to our prayers. 

During the week:

Read Psalm 121, daily if possible.

Meditate on the truth of God’s presence and provision