The Bible — notes and cross-references in Psalms | Interpretation and commentary to chapter 120

120:0^a Song

Psalms 120–134
120:1¹ In

Psalms 120—134 are a particular group known as the Songs of Ascents. Instead of speaking concerning the law, these psalms are related to the matter of captivity. The people of Israel loved the law, but because they transgressed the law, even going so far as to turn from God and worship idols (Jer. 2:13), God sent them into captivity in a land of idols. As the people were suffering in captivity, they could not forget Zion and Jerusalem, which were signs, symbols, of the very God whom they worshipped. When the people of Israel were captured, they were in a downward situation. To return to Jerusalem and to Zion was to be in an upward situation, to “go up” (Psa. 122:4). Jerusalem was built on Mount Zion. Therefore, when the people journeyed to Jerusalem, they had to ascend, and as they were ascending they sang a song of ascents.
120:1² distress

Psalm 120 is the praise of a saint, in his going up to Zion, concerning Jehovah’s delivering him from his distress, referring, perhaps, to the afflictions he suffered in his captivity.
120:2^a tongue

Psa. 12:3-4; 73:8-9; James 3:5
120:5¹ Meshech

Meshech was a place far to the north in Assyria, and Kedar was a place to the south in Arabia (Isa. 21:13, 16; Ezek. 27:21). Both may refer to the places in which the psalmist was captured in the Assyrian invasion (2 Kings 18:11; 2 Chron. 32:1).