Psalms 120:5

¶ Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech, [that] I dwell in the tents of Kedar!

Woe {H190} is me, that I sojourn {H1481} in Mesech {H4902}, that I dwell {H7931} in the tents {H168} of Kedar {H6938}!

How wretched I am, that I'm an alien in Meshekh, that I must live among the tents of Keidar!

Woe to me that I dwell in Meshech, that I live among the tents of Kedar!

Woe is me, that I sojourn in Meshech, That I dwell among the tents of Kedar!

Commentary

Psalms 120:5 expresses the psalmist's profound distress and sense of spiritual alienation. The verse reads, "Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech, [that] I dwell in the tents of Kedar!" This lament highlights a feeling of being an outsider, surrounded by hostile and ungodly influences.

Context

Psalm 120 is the first of the fifteen "Songs of Ascents" (Psalms 120-134), traditionally sung by pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem for the annual festivals. This psalm begins with a cry for deliverance from deceitful lips and a lying tongue (Psalm 120:2). Against this backdrop, verse 5 deepens the lament by describing the psalmist's perceived location among peoples known for their animosity and lack of peace, intensifying the feeling of being trapped in a hostile environment.

Key Themes

  • Spiritual Alienation and Exile: The core message is the psalmist's deep discomfort and feeling of being out of place among those who do not share his values or reverence for God. It's a cry of distress from living in a morally and spiritually foreign land.
  • Longing for Peace: The psalmist's lament implies a strong desire for peace and a righteous community, which is conspicuously absent in his current surroundings. The subsequent verses of the psalm emphasize his love for peace contrasting with those who are for war.
  • Distress of the Righteous: This verse beautifully captures the anguish experienced by a person of faith when forced to endure prolonged exposure to ungodliness, conflict, and hostility. It validates the spiritual burden that can accompany living in a fallen world.

Linguistic Insights

The names "Mesech" and "Kedar" are not merely geographical locations but carry significant symbolic weight:

  • Mesech (Meshech): An ancient people, often associated with Tubal (e.g., Ezekiel 38:2), located in what is now central Turkey, north of Israel. They were known for their fierceness and distant, "barbaric" nature. To "sojourn in Mesech" implies living among a crude, warlike, and ungodly people.
  • Kedar: A prominent nomadic Arab tribe, descendants of Ishmael (Genesis 25:13), known for their black tents (Song of Solomon 1:5) and often associated with opposition to Israel. To "dwell in the tents of Kedar" signifies living among aggressive, nomadic, and hostile neighbors.

The combination of these two distinct, yet similarly hostile, groups emphasizes the psalmist's sense of being surrounded by pervasive ungodliness and conflict, far from the peace and holiness of Jerusalem.

Practical Application

For believers today, Psalms 120:5 remains profoundly relatable. We often feel like "strangers and pilgrims on the earth" (1 Peter 2:11), living in a world whose values often clash with biblical truth. This verse offers comfort in validating feelings of spiritual discomfort or distress when confronted with moral decay, widespread conflict, or hostility towards faith.

It encourages us to express our lament to God when we feel spiritually isolated or surrounded by ungodliness. Like the psalmist, we are called to maintain our integrity and longing for true peace (John 14:27) even when our environment seems hostile. It serves as a reminder that our ultimate citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20), and our true home is with God.

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Cross-References

  • Genesis 10:2 (6 votes)

    The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras.

  • Ezekiel 27:13 (4 votes)

    Javan, Tubal, and Meshech, they [were] thy merchants: they traded the persons of men and vessels of brass in thy market.

  • Genesis 25:13 (4 votes)

    And these [are] the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebajoth; and Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam,

  • Song Of Solomon 1:5 (3 votes)

    I [am] black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon.

  • Isaiah 60:6 (2 votes)

    The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth the praises of the LORD.

  • Isaiah 60:7 (2 votes)

    All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee: they shall come up with acceptance on mine altar, and I will glorify the house of my glory.

  • Ezekiel 39:1 (2 votes)

    ¶ Therefore, thou son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I [am] against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: