Psalm Devotional
Pray for Deliverance from Slander
Written by Kit Swartz. This devotional was first published in the November 2014 issue of The Reformed Presbyterian Witness.
Perhaps you have heard the saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Some hurtful words are merely a slap in the face, but others are intended to destroy your reputation, your peace, and even your life. How can we deal with such deadly words? By seeking God for deliverance from them.
A Song of Ascents
“A Song of Ascents” is the heading for each psalm in the series of 120 to 134—not just in the Greek version, as with other headings, but in the Hebrew also. This heading probably refers to the people of God going up to Mt. Zion in Jerusalem for the three annual feasts (2 Chr. 8:13; Ps. 24:3). Each of these psalms has this perspective more or less clearly. Psalm 120 is a suitable starting place (far away), and Psalm 134 is a suitable conclusion (in the temple).
Outline
Psalm 120 can be outlined in a few ways, each of which is helpful for our understanding and use. First, the psalmist may be speaking about past experience (v. 1) and then giving the details of it (vv. 2-7). Second, he may be relating past experience (v. 1) and then present trouble that he prays will have the same good outcome (vv. 2-7). Third, he may be presenting his current trouble (v. 1a), present assurance of deliverance (v. 1b; Acts 10:31) and persevering prayer for that deliverance (vv. 2-7).
Prayer for Deliverance from Slander
The psalmist is being slandered (vv. 1-7). Someone is bearing false witness against him (vv. 2-3) in order to destroy him (vv. 4-5, 7) and he is seeking the Lord for deliverance from all this (v. 2). He needs to be snatched suddenly from a raging fire (v. 2; Amos 4:11). The fire threatening to consume him is slander (v. 2; Ps. 52:2-4). This slander is not a careless, informal defamation but a public and official assault on his character and life. This is evident in that the solemn oath formula “may God do so to me and more also” (1 Kings 2:23) is reflected in the words “what more shall be done to you” (v. 3). This kind of legal, malicious slander led to the Lord’s crucifixion and to Stephen’s stoning (Matt. 26:60; Acts 6:13).
These are words that kill, words like sharp arrows and burning coals (vv. 4, 7; 57:4; Job 41:21). Yet they are also the means by which the Lord justly repays evildoers in kind and delivers those assaulted (v. 2; Ps. 18:13-14; 57:6). Under this oppression, the psalmist feels like he is in the midst of hostile nations instead of the people of God (v. 5); with friends like these, who needs enemies! Meshech was a warrior nation in the far north (v. 5a; Ezek. 32:26) and Kedar was the home of the hostile men of the east (v. 5b; Isa. 21:16-17). It is no wonder that he longs to ascend into the City of Peace, Jerusalem (vv. 6-7; Heb.7:2; see Ps. 122:6-8; 125:5; 128:6). We have an even greater privilege every time we enter into public worship (Heb. 12:18-24) and so this psalm is particularly meaningful for our praise in the new covenant.
Pray for Deliverance from Slander
We must seek peace (v. 7; Rom. 12:18) but also be prepared for war (vv. 2-7). Especially in our day when truth and righteousness are rejected, our words will be misconstrued and our positions misrepresented in order to destroy us. We must first watch our own speech, making sure that we do not slander others, including our political and cultural enemies (1 Pet. 2:1). Next, we must live in such a way that those who slander us will be proved false (1 Pet. 2:12; 3:16). When we are slandered, we should join the psalmist in this prayer and trust God to sustain us through the trial and deliver us out of it in His perfect wisdom and power (1 Pet. 5:10). By the new and living way that Christ has prepared for us, we will surely be delivered and ascend into the peaceful presence of our Savior at last and forever (v. 1-2; Heb. 12:22-23; Rev. 6:9).
