Deliverance from Lying Lips and a Deceitful Tongue: Psalm 120
Deliverance from Lying Lips and a Deceitful Tongue
Psalm 120
As the wicked have spoken deceptively, the psalmist, calling on God to judge them, prays that God will bring on them the fulfillment of their own words.
VanGemeren
Psalm 120 begins the Psalms of Ascent, psalms sung on the journey toward Jerusalem usually for one of the feasts held by the Jewish people. Running through the Psalms of Ascent, Psalms 120-134, is the theme of faith in the Lord (Futato). These psalms, found in the fifth book of the psalms, were compiled for the Jewish people to sing to strengthen their faith in God’s promises and His rule and reign despite the fact that they no longer had their own king and many were living in distant places. These emphasize living in obedience to the King. This first psalm, in the Psalms of Ascent, expresses the distress the psalmist experiences in the land in which he lives, a land where he lives among those with lying lips, deceitful tongues, and haters of peace. He calls for God to intervene.
If you have ever been on the receiving end of lies, slander, or deceit, you know how painful and confusing it can be. This is the experience of the psalmist in Psalm 120. He has been in deep distress because he has been living among people who are liars. “Perhaps the sweet singer did not at first detect the nature of the man, for he was a deceiver; and when he did discover him he found himself unable to shake him off, and so was compelled to abide with him” (Spurgeon). Sometimes when we discover that someone we have dealt with is a dishonest person we can place some distance between us. Sometimes, for various reasons, we cannot, and we must continue to have close dealings and interactions with a deceiver. What can we do? How does God see the lies, deceit, and manipulation?
Let’s first briefly define various types of deceit and what Scripture says about them.
- Lying—marked by or containing untrue statements.* Forms of lying may include exaggeration, minimization, fabrication, plagiarism, flattery, and insincerity. “You destroy those who speak lies; the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man” (Psalm 5:6). “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight” (Proverbs 12:22).
- Slander—the utterance of false charges or misrepresentations which defame and damage another’s reputation; a false and defamatory oral statement about a person.* “The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever utters slander is a fool” (Proverbs 10:18). “Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler”(Proverbs 20:19).
- Duplicity—contradictory doubleness of thought, speech, or action; especially: the belying of one’s true intentions by deceptive words or action.* “Everyone utters lies to his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak” (Psalm 12:2).
- Deceit—the act of causing someone to accept as true or valid what is false or invalid; the quality of being dishonest or misleading.* “You destroy those who speak lies; the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man” (Psalm 5:6). “You love all words that devour, O deceitful tongue” (Psalm 52:4). “Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you” (Proverbs 4:24).
- Guile—skill in achieving one’s ends through indirect, subtle, or underhanded means; the inclination or practice in misleading others through lies or trickery.* “With Him are strength and sound wisdom; the misled and the misleader belong to Him” (Job 12:16 NASB).
What a comfort it is to know that our Savior Jesus understands what it is to suffer slander, deception, even betrayal. One of His own disciples walked with Him daily, living a lie, and in the end betraying Christ with a kiss. What a wound from someone Jesus had called a friend. After His arrest, the chief priests called in witnesses to bear false witness against our Lord. Yet, “He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly” (1 Peter 2:22-23). No deceit was found in His mouth. He did not return reviling with reviling. But He kept entrusting Himself to the righteous Judge.
What can we do when we suffer from the lies and deception of others? 1) Remember that the Lord sees all and is grieved by lies and deception. Nothing escapes His notice. He abhors deceit (Psalm 5:6). Both the one being deceived or misled and the one doing the deceiving and misleading belong to the Lord (Job 12:16). We are in His hands and He will bring us to a place of safety from the lies of the evildoer (Psalm 12:5). 2) When it is in our power, we must stand for the truth. This requires wisdom and prayer. There are times we must wait. Because of the very definition of deceit, it can be hard to discern what is false and what is true. Things are hidden or you are misled and there can be a lot of confusion. But when the truth must be spoken, we need to be ready to courageously speak the truth in love. 3) Trust God. Continue to lean into the faithful, steadfast character of God. Take refuge in Him and continue to do what is good and live for His glory. He is working. We may need to wait patiently for Him (Psalm 27:14). But we can trust that He is working for our everlasting good. “Afflictions are often the black folds in which God doth set the jewels of His children’s graces, to make them shine the better” (Spurgeon). Like Christ, we can keep entrusting ourselves to the Judge, who always does what is right (1 Peter 2:23). 4) Look at our own hearts. When we are wronged, it can be a spotlight into our hearts revealing the sin we did not even know was there or the depth of it. How have you responded to the wrongs done to you? What thoughts occupy your mind? What feelings arise? Where do you turn for help? The answers to these questions help us to see what is in our heart. Bitterness? Anger? Hatred? Doubt? As the Lord shows us what is going on in our hearts, we can repent and be thankful for our great and forgiving God, and it can help us to extend mercy and grace toward the one who has wronged us. 5) Pray. Give every aspect of the situation to the Lord. He knows the wisest way to handle the situation and all its intricate details. He will strengthen us with His grace and uphold us with His own hand. He will guard our hearts and minds with His peace as we leave this worrisome situation at His throne.
Let’s pray through Psalm 120 for the situations in which we, or others in our lives, are dealing with those who lie and deceive.
120:1-2 In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me. Deliver me, O Lord, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue.
Heavenly Father, I pray:
▫️I am so thankful that You see all. And because of Your great mercy, when I confess my sins, You forgive even the lies and deception that I have committed. You see now the distress I am in, the lies and deception that I am a victim of. Answer me as I call on You. Bring the deceiver to repentance. Have mercy upon _________.
▫️Deliver me, Lord, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue. You can make things clear and reveal things hidden in darkness. Reveal the truth. Let lies and deception be exposed. Dispel the confusion that deception brings. Reveal also to me where I act and talk in a deceiving way.
120:3-4 What shall be given to you, and what more shall be done to you, you deceitful tongue? A warrior’s sharp arrows, with glowing coals of the broom tree!
Heavenly Father, I pray:
▫️I leave this in Your hands. You know what needs to happen in this situation. How long will deceit, lying, and duplicity have the upper hand? Your Word says You hate deceit and that those who lie live in rebellion to You (Psalm 5:10). Let deception no longer prevail. Yet let those who take refuge in You from the lies rejoice and ever sing for joy. Spread Your protection over me (Psalm 5:11). Let me exult in Your name as You work on my behalf for Your truth and glory.
▫️The areas I need Your protection and help are ______.
120:5-7 Woe to me, that I sojourn in Meshech, that I dwell among the tents of Kedar! Too long have I had my dwelling among those who hate peace. I am for peace, but when I speak, they are for war!
Heavenly Father, I pray:
▫️It seems very unfortunate to be on the receiving end of dishonest dealings, but You have brought me here and it is by Your will that I am in this place. You will keep me here in Your love and give me grace to behave as Your child. You will make this confusing and hurtful trial a blessing, teaching me the lessons You intend me to learn. In Your time You will bring me out again how and when You know (Andrew Murray).
▫️Those who lie speak with a double heart. They may say they desire peace, and yet with their deception they reveal they are really for war. Those who lie, deceive, use guile and duplicity feel they have no master over them, no one they must answer to. But, hear and see, Lord, how I am groaning. Arise and set me in the safety for which I long. Unlike the liar, Your words are pure words. You will keep Your promises. You will guard me and surround me as with a shield (Psalm 12).
May the Lord do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, for His glory and our good. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Scripture quotations are from The ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway. Used by permission. All right reserved.
*these definitions are from the Mirriam-Webster dictionary.
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