Psalm 120 (JND) - Bible Truth Library

Verse 2

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Psalm 120

Psa. 120:1 KJV (With Strong’s)

<<A Song of degrees.>> Inn my distress I cried unto the Lord, and he heard me.

Jonah 2:2• ²and he said: I cried by reason of my distress unto Jehovah, and he answered me; Out of the belly of Sheol cried I: thou heardest my voice. (Jonah 2:2)

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Songs of Degrees

Cross References

Ministry on This Verse

1-2: David prays against Doeg;

3-4: reproves his tongue;

5-7: complains of his necessary conversation with the wicked.

(Title.)

A Song of degrees.Bp. Patrick and others suppose this Psalm to have been composed by David, when the calumnies of Doeg and others forced him to flee his country.

Psa. 121:1• ¹A Song of degrees. I lift up mine eyes unto the mountains: whence shall my help come? (Psa. 121:1)

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Psa. 122:1• ¹A Song of degrees. Of David. I rejoiced when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of Jehovah. (Psa. 122:1)

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Psa. 123:1• ¹A Song of degrees. Unto thee do I lift up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens. (Psa. 123:1)

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Psa. 124:1• ¹A Song of degrees. Of David. If it had not been Jehovah who was for us--oh let Israel say-- (Psa. 124:1)

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Psa. 125:1• ¹A Song of degrees. They that confide in Jehovah are as mount Zion, which cannot be moved; it abideth for ever. (Psa. 125:1)

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Psa. 126:1• ¹A Song of degrees. When Jehovah turned the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. (Psa. 126:1)

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Psa. 127:1• ¹A Song of degrees. Of Solomon. Unless Jehovah build the house, in vain do its builders labour in it; unless Jehovah keep the city, the keeper watcheth in vain: (Psa. 127:1)

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Psa. 128:1• ¹A Song of degrees. Blessed is every one that feareth Jehovah, that walketh in his ways. (Psa. 128:1)

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Psa. 129:1• ¹A Song of degrees. Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth--oh let Israel say-- (Psa. 129:1)

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Psa. 129• (Psa. 129)

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Psa. 130:1• ¹A Song of degrees. Out of the depths do I call upon thee, Jehovah. (Psa. 130:1)

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Psa. 131:1• ¹A Song of degrees. Of David. Jehovah, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty; neither do I exercise myself in great matters, and in things too wonderful for me. (Psa. 131:1)

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Psa. 132:1• ¹A Song of degrees. Jehovah, remember for David all his affliction; (Psa. 132:1)

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Psa. 133:1• ¹A Song of degrees. Of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! (Psa. 133:1)

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Psa. 134:1• ¹A Song of degrees. Behold, bless Jehovah, all ye servants of Jehovah, who by night stand in the house of Jehovah. (Psa. 134:1)

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Psa. 134• (Psa. 134)

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my distress.

Psa. 18:6• ⁶In my distress I called upon Jehovah, and I cried out to my God; he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, into his ears. (Psa. 18:6)

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Psa. 30:7‑8• ⁷Jehovah, by thy favour thou hadst made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face; I was troubled.
⁸I called to thee, Jehovah, and unto the Lord did I make supplication: (Psa. 30:7‑8)

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Psa. 50:15• ¹⁵And call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. (Psa. 50:15)

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Psa. 107:13• ¹³Then they cried unto Jehovah in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses; (Psa. 107:13)

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Psa. 116:3‑4• ³The bands of death encompassed me, and the anguish of Sheol took hold of me; I found trouble and sorrow:
⁴Then called I upon the name of Jehovah: I beseech thee, Jehovah, deliver my soul. (Psa. 116:3‑4)

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Psa. 118:5• ⁵I called upon Jah in distress; Jah answered me and set me in a large place. (Psa. 118:5)

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Isa. 37:3‑4,14‑20• ³And they said to him, Thus says Hezekiah: This day is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and of reviling; for the children are come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth.
⁴It may be Jehovah thy God will hear the words of Rab-shakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master has sent to reproach the living God, and will rebuke the words which Jehovah thy God hath heard. Therefore lift up a prayer for the remnant that is left.
¹⁴And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up into the house of Jehovah, and spread it before Jehovah.
¹⁵And Hezekiah prayed to Jehovah, saying,
¹⁶Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, who sittest between the cherubim, thou, the Same, thou alone art the God of all the kingdoms of the earth: thou hast made the heavens and the earth.
¹⁷Incline thine ear, O Jehovah, and hear; open, Jehovah, thine eyes, and see; and hear all the words of Sennacherib, who hath sent to reproach the living God.
¹⁸Of a truth, Jehovah, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the lands, and their countries,
¹⁹and have cast their gods into the fire; for they were no gods, but the work of men's hands, wood and stone; and they have destroyed them.
²⁰And now, Jehovah our God, save us out of his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art Jehovah, thou only. (Isa. 37:3‑4,14‑20)

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Isa. 38:2‑5• ²And Hezekiah turned his face to the wall, and prayed to Jehovah,
³and said, Ah, Jehovah, remember, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept much.
⁴And the word of Jehovah came to Isaiah, saying,
⁵Go and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of David thy father: I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add to thy days fifteen years. (Isa. 38:2‑5)

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Jonah 2:2• ²and he said: I cried by reason of my distress unto Jehovah, and he answered me; Out of the belly of Sheol cried I: thou heardest my voice. (Jonah 2:2)

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Luke 22:44• ⁴⁴And being in conflict he prayed more intently. And his sweat became as great drops of blood, falling down upon the earth. (Luke 22:44)

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Heb. 5:7• ⁷Who in the days of his flesh, having offered up both supplications and entreaties to him who was able to save him out of death, with strong crying and tears; (and having been heard because of his piety;) (Heb. 5:7)

• Book 5, Series 3. The ten tribes restored. (““The Placement of the Psalms in Prophecy”” by B. Anstey)

• This series of psalms is called “the Songs of Degrees” or “Ascents” (See headings). They apparently formed a little hymn book used by the children of Israel as they journeyed up to Jerusalem for their annual feasts of Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles (Deut. 16:16, Ps. 122:4). Prophetically they describe the process through which the nation of Israel (particularly the ten tribes) will pass in going back to their land. (“Book 5.” by B. Anstey)

• (vv. 2-4) The remaining verses of the psalm present the occasion of the distress. (“Psalm 119:153-160: Divison 20 (Resh)” by H. Smith)

• “Lying lips” proclaim that which is false; “a deceitful tongue” affects to speak the truth. The lies of the world are often hidden under an affectation of the truth. Plausible words may be a cover for deadly error. (“Psalm 119:153-160: Divison 20 (Resh)” by H. Smith)

• These psalms of degrees all treat the circumstances of the restored but undelivered remnant...The first psalm declares their state and resource. (“Practical Reflections on the Psalms: Psalms 120-131” by J.N. Darby)

J. N. Darby Translation

A Song of degreesd. In my trouble I called unto Jehovah, and he answered me.

JND Translation Notes

Perhaps in the sense of "going up." see Ps. 122.4; 1 Kings 12.27. Others take it morally.