Psalm 120

At the ringing in of the New Year I posted some things that I was looking forward to in 2010. One of those things is the Psalms of the Ascent Bible Study called Stepping Up by Beth Moore. Well, we kicked off on Sunday evening and I am now on day 2 of homework. Oh wow is all I can say. Here is Psalm 120 and some of my personal thoughts based on Beth's questions follow.

PSALM 120
In my distress I called to the LORD, and He answered me.
"LORD, deliver me from lying lips and a deceitful tongue."
What will He give you and what will He do to you, you deceitful tongue?
A warrior's sharp arrows, with burning charcoal!
What misery that I have stayed in Meshech, that I have lived among the tents of Kedar!
I have lived too long with those who hate peace.
I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war.

Gosh, don't we all feel just like that sometimes? We feel like aliens living in a foreign country with conflict and strife all around us. How on earth are we supposed to choose to take the high road in conflict situations when people who thrive on conflict are all around us?
If you're like me at all, you know that you've "...gotten in the mud with them." as Beth states. We've got to choose to get out of the mud with them! Take the high road and voice to the God who hears pain we've suffered on the low road.

It's so easy to loose our joy, our holy passion for Him when we are living in Meshch or the tents of kedar. (insert your own places of living right now...stressful parents, teenagers, co-workers, church workers, No. Va., family who just don't get you.)

This morning I took this Psalm, worked over it and then got on my face before the Lord to cry out all my conflict. When we get on our face, low to the ground before Him and cry out to Him; He hears us! Verse 1 says HE answered me! We are taking the highroad by getting low and humble before Him. I am certain that I will have answers to all the conflicts going on right now in my life as well as the certainty that through being His Servant and choosing to be humble. All situations will be brought around to His Glory Forevermore.

Step 1 on the 15 Psalms of the Ascent: Cry Out! then Bow Low!