Reflection: April 18, 2024

Psalm 120 NLT
A Song of Ascent – for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.

1 I took my troubles to the Lord;
I cried out to him, and he answered my prayer.
2 Rescue me, O Lord, from liars
and from all deceitful people.
3 O deceptive tongue, what will God do to you?
How will he increase your punishment?
4 You will be pierced with sharp arrows
and burned with glowing coals.

5 How I suffer in far-off Meshech.
It pains me to live in distant Kedar.
6 I am tired of living
among people who hate peace.
7 I search for peace;
but when I speak of peace, they want war!

 

I was desperate for you to help me in my struggles, and you did! So come and deliver me now from this treachery and false accusation. O lying deceivers, don’t you know what is your fate? You will be pierced through with condemnation and consumed with burning coals of fire! Why am I doomed to live as an alien, scattered among these cruel savages? Am I destined to dwell in the darkened tents of desert nomads? For too long I’ve had to live among those who hate peace. I speak words of peace while they speak words of war, but they refuse to listen.

Psalms 120:1‭-‬7 TPT
Read through the Psalm version and choose which one resonates with you. Read it through a few times more. Perhaps even read it aloud. What word or imagery stands out to you today? Does it bring up thoughts about a situation in your life? Or a question? An invitation?
Hold this silently with God for a few minutes without thinking or analyzing. Just be.

“Let us go forward in peace, our eyes upon heaven, the only one goal of our labors.”

-St. Therese of Lisieux

Or perhaps consider this quote and the last two verses. Where can you speak words of peace today? How can you go forward in peace?