A Song For Peace

Text: Psalm 120:1-7

Thesis: in our times of great distress, we must completely depend on God to provide peace for our journey

I. Depend on the Protection of God

-verses 1-2

-the enemy of the psalter uses words of slander against him

-this suggests to power of pain that words have over our lives

-when we are spoken against falsely, our initial reaction is to defend our honor, our reputations

-but this psalter shows us that the best way to deal with the lies of men is to let God be our defender

II. Depend on the Punishment of God

-verses 3-4

-when people set out to slander the name of the people of God, instead of taking their punishment into our own hands, we must allow God to punish our enemies

a. Powerful Punishment- verse 4 talks of sharp arrows from the bow of a mighty warrior

-if people are going to use the sharpness of their lying tongue to inflict pain on us, he will use sharp arrows that are swift and powerful to inflict greater pain on them

b. Persistent Punishment - verse 4 talks of glowing coals of the broom tree

-this broom tree is known for its intense and long lasting burning fire

-so if their lies will figuratively cause a burning pain, God will punish them with an eternal, burning pain in hell

III. Depend on the Providence of God

-verses 5-6

-psalter is showing his discomfort with his dwelling in between neighbors who lie and promote chaos

-but the good news is that if we have to dwell among people such as this, the Providence of God will make our dwelling only temporary