PSALM 120
The Psalms from this Psalm to Psalm 134, are confessedly one series, and are to be viewed together, and are songs of Zion, describing, if I may so speak, the process of their restoration. It supposes them to be already altogether in the latter-day times, and that in a very definite character indeed. Generally they are retrospective of its earlier character, and, to say the least, commence with the certainty of the destruction of Antichrist; and that is entered into rather by retrospective operation of the Spirit. It is, on the whole of it, rather the restoration of Israel — “All Israel”; that is the subject — the people leaning fully on Jehovah as One they knew, and that distinctly, and He known and recognised, and they knowing Him, and openly owning Him as their Resource, not in any uncertainty of position. It has more the character of a recital of what they had been enduring, than the expression of those who had none that cared for their soul.
— 1. “In my distress I called on Jehovah, and He answered me”. This Psalm tells the cry under Antichrist — the judgment on the false tongue; for deceit was his and characterised him, as Christ was the Truth.
— 5. The next thing is the sorrow of sojourning among hostile powers, with whom they had no wish for war, but who were men of violence — men, not godly men, still less God for their habitation — they were weary of their spirit. Meshech connected with Gog. Kedar would seem from Isaiah 21 to be before the last capture of Jerusalem.
— 6. What force there is in that word “Long dwelt”! It seems to me that these songs of degrees all relate to the condition of the Jews in the latter day, simply bringing them into their various positions and relations in that time, and expressing the mind of the Spirit in their necessity — repentance or joy under them. The first point here seems that in their distress they refuse the lying pretences of Antichrist and rather lean on Jehovah. They detect in him the lying spirit opposed to truth, the lying character of the enemy, though not openly revealed as Satan or the adversary. On Jehovah, though [p. 232] unrevealed, they prefer to lean. Thus they are shown to be the Lord’s from this — they seek the deliverance of their soul instead of help in a lie. This detection of Antichrist, while a liar, is an important point in their character; which importance we may transfer to ourselves in principle — the first point in which the Remnant is marked, “Deliver me from” — detecting what he is, the very help of the unbeliever. Then, what shall be given to them? “Sharp arrows”, to wit, of Christ, the mighty Man; compare Psalm 45:6, subduing power, and then judgment of fire “coals of fire”. But while he thus judged of the Antichrist, yet was he still in sorrow beyond that he so proved in Meshech and dwelt among the tents of Kedar. Now though Meshech and Kedar are the latter-day nations that affect the Jews, yet, I apprehend the point specially here is, he was but a sojourner among quite strange nations. Though rejecting Antichrist he had no home of his own — long has the soul of the poor Jew dwelt among those who know not peace. Now speaking of the Remnant, he is peace; but when he speaks, they are war. This Psalm still has the gloom of his position hanging over him.
It is a most important point the detection of an enemy undetected, the evidence of the presence of the Spirit, the Spirit of truth, the revealing Spirit and saving power. I suspect Meshech and Kedar to be the mother and son — their adversaries.