Psalms 120:1

CONTENTS

Here are the breathings of a devout soul under distress; and the soul finding confidence at the mercy-seat, reproves some ungodly person that assaulted him.

A Song of degrees.

Psalms 120:1

I detain the Reader at the opening of this Psalm, just to make a short observation on the title, which is quite new, and which is first placed at the head of this Psalm, and then at the head of fourteen others which immediately follow. It is called a song of degrees. But what the term means is all matter of conjecture: the most generally received opinion is, that those fifteen songs were composed for the temple service. The great point for believers to be interested about, is to cover Christ in them. And if we find him in any and in every degree, the Psalm will be blessed. If we discern nothing of him through the Psalm, it will not in any degree prove profitable. I venture to think, however, that principally with reference to Jesus by the Spirit of prophecy was this Psalm written. Some have thought that David wrote it about the matter of Doeg, in his accusing David to Saul, 1 Samuel 22:18; 1 Samuel 22:18. But really the subject of David's personal distresses, however great to himself, could not be sufficiently interesting to become a subject for the temple service. If, however, we drop Doeg, and hold up Judas; and if we consider the exercises of the Lord Jesus, David's Lord, on account of this traitor; in this sense the Psalm becomes truly great and interesting; and we shall then find occasion to bless the Holy Ghost that, a thousand years before the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, he graciously taught the church such things concerning her Lord. The first prominent feature in this Psalm, is the cry of the soul, and the sure answer of Jehovah: so saith Paul concerning Christ, who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, was heard in that he feared, Hebrews 5:7.