What does Psalm 120:5 mean?
Please see our chapter commentary on Psalm 120; verse-level content coming soon!Psalm 120:5–7 indicates that the psalmist is traveling far from Jerusalem. Meshech and Kedar were probably in Turkey. Those regions might have been fighting with Assyria when the psalm was written. Since this is labeled a psalm of “ascents” (Psalm 120:1), it implies that the psalmist cannot attend the festival in Jerusalem because he is too far away.
The psalmist refers to his prayers for protection against lies and liars, hoping the deceptive ones will experience judgment. This is depicted in the form of arrows and burning coals. The writer is currently traveling among the people of Kedar and Meshech, whom he seems to associate with dishonesty and violence.
