JUNE 18
Psalm 120:6, “Too long have I had my dwelling among those who hate peace. I am for peace, but when I speak, they are for war!”
Psalms 120–134 are known as the Songs of Ascents. These fifteen psalms were sung by Jewish pilgrims as they traveled to Jerusalem for the major festivals—Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles. As they journeyed toward the holy city, they lifted their voices in praise, prayer, and remembrance. But these weren’t just songs for travelers. They were heart cries from exiles returning home. After years of captivity, Jerusalem represented more than a place—it was a symbol of restored hope and divine peace. The name Jerusalem means “city of peace.” For those coming out of places marked by deception and conflict, the name itself was a promise. In contrast to chaos, Jerusalem pointed to peace rooted in God’s presence and truth.
Psalm 120, the first in this collection, sets the tone. The psalmist cries from a world of lies and tension: “I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war” (Psalm 120:7). He longs for peace but is surrounded by those who twist truth and stir strife. His cry echoes the believer’s struggle to live with integrity in a divided world.
Jesus affirmed this longing: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9). Yet peacemaking is not easy. It often involves hard work and difficult decisions—loving truth in a culture of deception and seeking unity in the face of division.
We’ve all witnessed the damage: broken relationships, divided communities, and churches torn apart by pride and selfish ambition. The enemy is always working to cause destruction.
But there is hope. Just as the exiles looked to Jerusalem, we lift our eyes to the Prince of Peace and our heavenly home. We are on a journey to a place where sin and conflict will be forever vanquished. Along the way, we carry a sacred calling: to be ambassadors of Christ, people of peace in a world of conflict.
As we go about our daily lives—raising families, serving in church, working jobs—we are on a spiritual journey. With each step, we’re privileged to live as peacemakers. That means using our words to heal, not harm; to build up, not tear down; to seek reconciliation, not division. To let the cry of the psalmist be our own: “I am for peace.”
“The way to heaven is ascending; we must be content to travel uphill, though it be hard and tiresome, and contrary to the natural bias of our flesh.” —Jonathan Edwards
Application Questions: Am I living as a person of peace in a divided world? When I feel overwhelmed by conflict, do I bring my distress honestly to God like the psalmist?
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