Psalms 120 to 134 were written by different psalmists at various times. The psalms were arranged as a set suitable for travellers to use as they attended the annual feasts in Israel after the return from the exile in Babylon.
Psalm 120 is the thoughts of a psalmist concerned by the society in which he lives. The attitudes that he sees around him are marked by lying and aggression (vv. 2, 6). He longs to be delivered from them, but he knows that such deliverance could only be provided by a powerful Warrior (vv. 3-4), which is his way of describing his great God.
The psalmist pictures himself as living in two places, each of which was far from Jerusalem (Meshech was in modern-day Turkey and Kedar was in the south of Arabia). Obviously, the psalmist could not be in both places simultaneously, but the double reference adds intensity to the feeling of isolation and unease that gripped him.
His desire was for peace, and the place where that peace would be found was the city of peace, Jerusalem. He looked forward to experiencing what was symbolised there in the sacrifices and other activities taking place in the temple. They pictured reconciliation with God and fellowship with likeminded people.
The psalmist had prayed earnestly about the matter and the Lord had helped him with the difficulties that he encountered. But he also realised that he would be helped more if he could find another location, even if only for a brief time, such as attending one of the great gatherings in Jerusalem. Meditation on this psalm would help him anticipate the blessings found there.
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