¹In my trouble I cried to the Lord, and He answered me. ²Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue.

This psalm begins with the collection of psalms that all start with the inscription “Songs of Ascents” (Pss. 120-134). Jewish pilgrims probably sang these as they ascended in procession to Jerusalem for one of the great annual religious festivals. This first in the series is a lament concerning a problem most of us are all too familiar with: being the object of lies against us. The writer lays out his complaint to “the Lord,” short and concise. “Lying lips… deceitful tongue” (vs. 2) describe the libel and distortions crafted by those against him.

The psalmist poetically addresses his detractors and asks, “What shall be given to you, and what more shall be done to you, you deceitful tongue? The answer comes in the form of what some have termed talionic justice, or the similar Latin phrase, lex talionis—let the consequence to them be appropriately the same as what they are inflicting on the psalm writer. The “more shall be done” is for them to experience the “Sharp arrows of the warrior, with burning coals of a broom tree” (vs. 4). Let their own words pierce them just as they are using those words as weapons to pierce others.

This prayer of confidence in asking God’s retribution on them does not remove the “Woe is me” feeling (vs. 5). Speaking figuratively, no matter where he might call home, Meshech (in Asia Minor) or Kedar (in the Arabian desert), his adversaries are no better than barbarians who do not want peace of any kind and live for war to dominate and subjugate (vss. 6-7). Some people thrive on conflict, and integrity is far beyond them. Anything the psalmist might say to them in trying to negotiate peace falls on deaf ears. The concept of “God’s retribution” is not about vengeance here but about justice and the restoration of peace.

This psalm, following the pattern of other lament psalms, expresses trust in God. The fact that he takes his ordeal to God portrays an implicit trust in the God whose name is Yahweh (Lord). And then he confidently proclaims in faith, “And He answered me.” While the problem he faces against his adversaries is apparently ongoing, he can speak of God’s answer as being good as done; God already knows the last chapter of the mystery. In the end, the Lord wins through answering our prayers! This means that God’s ultimate plan and purpose will prevail, even if it may not align with our immediate desires.

When faced with lies and malicious libel, we have a real God who is there for us. He knows the integrity of our hearts, and therefore, we can trust Him to continue leaning in our favor.

Lord, You are already there in the future. You know the truth and the outcome of my present tribulation. I rest in the promise that you have already answered the yearnings of my heart.