The psalmist offered this petition to Jehovah: “Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue” (Psa. 120:2). Deceit is a primary theme of Psalm 120. The deceitful tongue is reiterated in verse 3: “What shall be given unto thee? or what shall be done unto thee, thou false tongue?” The fraudulent tongue here (Ps. 120:2, 3) is like “a deceitful bow” (Hos. 7:16). The archer is counting on the bow to shoot true at a critical moment, only to have it fail. Deceitful people are similar.
The disappointment and anger of betrayal from a deceitful person is seen in David’s lament about Ahithophel, “Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me” (Psa. 41:9). David supposed Ahithophel to be a trusted friend and confidante (2 Sam. 23:34); however, during Absalom’s rebellion, when David really needed him, Ahithophel turned out to be among the conspirators who supported Absalom (2 Sam. 15:31). David’s response was much like the plea for God’s punishment on the deceitful in Psalm 120. Jesus quoted the words of Psalm 41:9 in his last meeting with the disciples to refer to the impending betrayal by Judas (John 13:18-21). While this lacked the element of surprise—Jesus knew Satan had been working on Judas for a while (John 6:70-71)—it was still hurtful for Judas to pretend to be one thing when he was quite the other
(Luke 22:47, 48).
The psalmist bemoaned, “Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar!” (Ps. 120:5). “Mesech” in the KJV is evidently the same as Meshech, a son of Japheth (Gen. 10:2;
1 Chron. 1:5). The spelling “Meshech” appears consistently in these references, in Psalm 120, and the repeated references in Ezekiel (27:13; 32:26; 38:2, 3; 39:1), in the ASV, NKJV and other modern versions. A nomadic tribe descended from Meshech, bearing his name, which settled somewhere between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. Kedar, also a nomadic tribe, descended from Abraham through Ishmael (Gen. 25:13; 1 Chr. 1:29). They were shepherds (Isa. 60:7; Jer. 49:28-29), and as the psalm indicates, they lived in tents (cf. Song 1:5). Jeremiah placed them in the eastern portion of the Arabian Desert (Jer. 2:10). The next verse seems to explain the meaning of the figure, “My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace” (Psa. 120:6). If Kedar is a descendant of Ishmael whose “hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him” (Gen. 16:12), then their hatred of peace would fit the bill. While Meshech and Kedar were no doubt real places, they are employed here for any faraway dwelling. On page 412 of his commentary on Psalms, Longman explained it thus, “a modern equivalent might be: ‘I am as far away as Timbuktu,’ Even though Timbuktu is a real place, the expression indicates being anywhere that is incredibly distant and foreign.”
God met with the Israelites at the ark of the covenant (Exod. 25:22; 29:33), which came to rest in the temple in Jerusalem where God put His name (1 Kings 9:3). To ancient Israelites, that location was near to God; however, no matter the geographical location, we know that the righteous are never far from God’s presence (Psa. 139:7-16; Jas. 4:8). But the wicked are far from Him, His laws, and His help (Psa. 119:150, 155; Prov. 15:29). The psalmist is crying out for help. As in other psalms, requests for deliverance involve asking God to not be far (Psa. 22:1, 11, 19; 27:9; 35:22; 38:21; 71:12). No matter the location, the persecution from deceitful enemies has made the psalmist feel like a refugee. These enemies will not leave him alone; they hate peace. This lament seems more poignant if the psalmist is among those who claim to be God’s people but through their deceitful ways are not imitating Him. God sometimes calls people by the names of wicked societies to show their true spiritual state (Isa. 1:10; Rev. 11:8). So here Meshech and Kedar could be taken as the psalmist’s figurative names for the foreign company he is in who are as cruel as his Arab kinsmen (cf. Gen. 16:12; 25:13).
We can identify with Psalm 120 in dealing with deceitful people. Sadly, many Christians have dealt with similar situations among those in the Lord’s church. We certainly express our frustrations to God as our recourse when we dwell among deceivers. However, we also, as the church, must each look at our own hearts to make sure we are not deceivers. “LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart” (Psa. 15:1, 2). We will only truly be the people of God who dwell in His presence if we remove deceit from our hearts.
Today, the church is the “Israel of God” (Gal. 6:16). Is it possible that while we are supposed to be in spiritual Israel, we feel like we are sojourning in Meshech or dwelling in the tents of Kedar? In John 1:47, Jesus remarked that Nathanael was an Israelite indeed, in whom was no guile (or deceit)! He knew Nathanael (John 1:48). Nathanael asked how Jesus knew him (John 1:49). How did Jesus know who he really was on the inside? Jesus saw Nathanael under the fig tree (John 1:48). He perceived and understood his heart (John 2:24, 25). To Nathanael this supernatural knowledge was enough to convince him that Jesus was the Messiah (John 1:49). Jesus promised Nathanael that he would see greater things than this (John 1:50).
Jesus showed great miraculous signs that proved He was the Son of God (John 20:30-31). However, the religious leaders, who deceitfully acted holy, rejected this plain truth and covertly plotted His death. When a lie might have saved His life, Jesus remained true even to the cross. He serves as our example in suffering for righteousness’ sake as He, “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth” (1 Pet. 2:22; cf. Isa. 53:9). The Lord Jesus can see into our hearts as well. If deceit is present, He knows it. We know He desires no deceit but truth to be in us (Psa. 32:2; 51:6).
It is easy to allow deceit to creep into our lives when we think it will benefit us. Too often we can deceive ourselves or be tempted to be somewhat false to others instead of dealing with hard truths. Will you be like the deceitful religious people who put Jesus to death or a true follower of Him who is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6)? What does the Lord see when He looks into your heart?