Psalm 120 Repentance

 

Psalm 120

Repentance

I’m Doomed to Live in Meshech

“I’m in trouble. I cry to God, 

desperate for an answer: 

“Deliver me from the liars, God! 

They smile so sweetly but lie through their teeth.” 

Do you know what’s next, can you see what’s coming, 

all you barefaced liars? 

Pointed arrows and burning coals will be your reward. 

I’m doomed to live in Meshech, 

cursed with a home in Kedar, 

My whole life lived camping among quarreling neighbors. 

I’m all for peace, 

but the minute I tell them so, 

they go to war!”

Psalms 120:1-7 MSG

 Eugene Peterson says this Psalm describes a person submerged in a wilderness culture of lies and ill-will towards others. Such dissatisfaction with the world, puts one on a journey towards God, longing for peace and truth.  There is a reason why this Psalm starts the journey toward Jerusalem in the 15 Psalms of Ascent toward feast days of worship.

We can all relate to today in a culture which is determined to eliminate all trace of God, when God is the very thing this world needs to be on the journey of peace and truth.  There are many layers of chaos in this painting, marking confusion and chaos, where no one has an answer or a path forward.  Only as we make the first decision to go toward God, does the pathway out become more clear, step my step, as his mercy [in green] pours down over us.  There is always a crossroad decision, to go our own path or go toward God.  As we go toward God, the chaos gets less, and the peace of God [blue] pours over us. As the painting developed, an anchor emerged.  Early on, there was always a “Y” in the road of decision, even though the way is not clearly marked, one can go back toward the known or onward toward God and the unknown.