In some regards, we have turned many Psalms into greeting card messages. But upon deeper study we actually see these as personal conversations with Yahweh. While some of the history behind the writing escapes us, we can see a very personal relationship with Yahweh. David and Hezekiah are two writers that we will look at and observe some interesting prophecies. Many times when we read the Psalms we may read a sentence, but we do not know what it is referring to until we read a few more sentences. Then we can take the later statements, and in connection with the prior statements, make sense of what the writer is saying. In our modern times we give the details of what we are saying as we go. But in David’s age we see the response to an unknown thing first, then later find out what the response was in reference to. For example, David jumps for joy, but while reading that particular sentence we are not told the reason for his rejoicing. We also see from Hezekiah’s writing that some things seem to repeat over and over from distant history through to today, as if the devil uses the same trickery on each generation because he has no better plan. We simply don’t read enough spiritual history to know that these are the same tactics used against the children of Yahweh.
Since we recently changed Gregorian years to 2020, just for fun I thought we’d look at two Psalms referencing “20”. We will start with David.
5056 LSJ Gloss:τέλος the fulfilment
Dodson:τέλος an end, purpose, tax (a) an end, (b) event or issue, (c) the principal end, aim, purpose, (d) a tax.
Thayer:
1) end
1a) termination, the limit at which a thing ceases to be (always of the end of some act or state, but not of the end of a period of time)
1b) the end
1b1) the last in any succession or series
1b2) eternal
1c) that by which a thing is finished, its close, issue
1d) the end to which all things relate, the aim, purpose
2) toll, custom (i.e. indirect tax on goods)
τέλος
telos tel'-os From a primary word τέλλω tellō (to set out for a definite point or goal); properly the point aimed at as a limit, that is, (by implication) the conclusion of an act or state (termination [literally, figuratively or indefinitely], result [immediate, ultimate or prophetic], purpose); specifically an impost or levy (as paid) KJV Usage: + continual, custom, end (-ing), finally, uttermost.
“Into the conclusion, a psalm, the David.”
The word for “director” as we have noted before is telos. It is not referencing a “musical director”, it is used for a “conclusion” or a “termination”. It could be the end of a song service if we really have to apply it to a song in the tabernacle, yet it can also be for an end time, a time of fulfillment. Is it the end of a certain age? Is it the conclusion of a period of time? The Psalm itself will explain it. As categorized by scholars, Psalm 20 falls under the “Genesis Psalms”. Genesis, meaning “origin”, helps us to define the subject matter of Psalms 1-41 as foundational. If we combine foundational knowledge with conclusion, we are looking at the origin of humanity’s connection with Yahweh and the end of an age.
As David writes this Psalm we see the translators change the first person pronouns quite a bit. When we change the first person pronoun ego, from “I” to “you” we depersonalize the message. The meaning is corrupted, as if speaking to someone else that we do not know. Instead it may be very personal. David is not writing to affirm Yahweh, he knows who Yahweh is and what Yahweh will do. David is personally asking for help. Notice too, the added words “let” and “may” which also directs us away from David’s demands to suggestions for someone else.
As we studied David’s Psalms that exemplified calling down judgment on the enemies, we recognize something that we are rarely told in modern Christianity. David was called to do some very important things for the nation of Israel. He was to eliminate the Philistine threat, he was to secure Israel’s borders, he was to establish the tabernacle in Gibeon, and he was to politically and militarily establish Israel so that Solomon, who was not a man of blood, could build the temple in Jebus. One would think that Yahweh would have put David in a bubble of protection. Maybe a legion of angels should have been surrounding David, keeping him from harm or from making poor decisions that led to punishment. But instead we see David actually having to invoke the courts of heaven to demand death to his enemies. Just in case someone might find that statement offensive, these were the enemies of Yahweh as well. David wasn’t mad or angry at the average Israelites who didn’t like him or spoke behind his back, he was mad at the Israelites who practiced evil and were sending curses against David. Yes, these people resided within David’s kingdom. We will see this with Hezekiah as well.
From the time of the judges we see Israel mingling with the Philistines; intermarrying and worshipping the climate change god Baal by sacrifices. As a side note, what was Yahweh’s remedy for Abraham in times of climate change? Abraham moved at least fifteen times, as did Isaac and Jacob. What did Joseph do? He was warned and prepared for seven years of famine by storing goods during seven sears of plenty. By the time David became king there were still intermingled families who worshipped false idols. Not everyone loved David. His attacks came from within his kingdom as well as from outside his kingdom.
Now we see that David is expected to invoke the courts of heaven, he is also expected to pray, beseech, request, and supplicate as well. Is that a clue for us today? Even though we may be doing the will of the Lord in our own lives, are we to continually visit the courts of heaven on behalf of our own selves? If David wasn’t protected automatically, is it possible that we too are not protected automatically? Today we have the Holy Spirit residing within us, who is our prosecuting attorney and our defense attorney. Shouldn’t we be invoking the services of the Holy Spirit considering that we are accused before the throne of God day and night? Shouldn’t we beseech the courts for judgment against our enemies and the enemies of Yahweh? What if the rising up of intercessors included calling down judgment on evil people and evil spiritual beings? Could we see a turn from Christian victimization to Christian victory?
Psalms 20:1 G1873 Let [2heed G1473 3you G2962 1 the lord] G1722 in G2250 the day G2347 of affliction! G5231.3 Let [6shield G1473 7you G3588 1the G3686 2name G3588 3of the G2316 4God G* 5of Jacob].
“Listen my Yahweh in day pressure. Shield me, the name of the Elohim of Jacob.”
David says “Yahweh! Pay attention!” What does David want Yahweh to notice? David’s day of persecution. David calls to be defended, or shielded. David is invoking the name of the God of Jacob. This directs our attention to a personal situation, not a casual situation where we philosophize and surmise that Yahweh the Elohim of Jacob may defend us in the day of persecution.
Psalms 20:2 G1821 May he send G1473 to you G996 help G1537 from G39 the holy place, G2532 and G1537 from G* Zion G482 may he assist G1473 you.
1821 LSJ Gloss:ἐξαποστέλλω to send quite away:—Pass.
Dodson:ἐξαποστέλλω I send forth I send away, send forth (a person qualified for a task).
Thayer:
1) to send forth
2) to send away
ἐξαποστέλλω
exapostellō ex-ap-os-tel'-lo From G1537 and G649; to send away forth, that is, (on a mission) to despatch, or (peremptorily) to dismiss KJV Usage: send (away, forth, out).
“Despatch my rescue from out of sacred place, and from out of Zion I take hold of my help.”
Send forth my help from out of who’s holy place? Not our holy place, Yahweh’s holy place. In other words, send angelic help from the holy place in heaven. Then on earth, out of Zion, David will take hold of this help.
Zion is a literal place; the hill at Gibeon. This is the original Zion. Zion in David’s writings is not what we call Zion today. David was in the area where he brought the tabernacle. This, for David, was Zion. Zion was not all of Jerusalem or all of Yahweh’s people, it was a holy place. David told Solomon to build the temple in Jebus, three miles away, the very place Shem and Eber had a school. The same place Isaac attended school after he and Abraham went up to sacrifice Isaac to Yahweh. The same school Jacob attended for thirty seven years before going to Laban’s house. David was not wistfully speaking of the church or the heavenly Zion, he was literally speaking of Zion, the hill in Gibeon, 1 Kings 8-9. David brought the ark to Gibeon, three miles from Jebus and built a tabernacle. Solomon built the temple in Jebus and then ceremoniously brought the ark and tabernacle out of Zion, the City of David. This was when the cloud of glory filled the temple and no one could stand.
If we fine tune our thinking, we will understand what David is saying. David went to the tabernacle that he built, the place where he had dedicated singers and musicians to minister before the Lord and the ark, such as Asaph. David says to send the angels and he will receive his help in Zion (the tabernacle).
If we turn everything into a figure of speech, or depersonalize David’s words, we miss the understanding of intercession and intercessory prayer. If we say ‘let Yahweh help you and shield you and may he send help to you in Zion’, we can’t appropriate it. It’s a wish. It is not a “thing” that David did, but a good will gesture. We can’t go to Zion, the exact place David was, so we spiritualize Zion. Then we mistakenly call things Zion today and people Zionists.
Instead we are to understand David’s words this way. “ Listen to me now! Send help Yahweh! Dispatch deliverance out of the holy place in heaven! I’m going to church and I’ll take hold of my help there”. Get it? See the difference? Who would inspire people to water this all down? Who would benefit from a goodwill greeting card wish for people rather than taking hold of invocations for help? David went to the holy tabernacle to receive his help. Why? Because his holy mighty men were there. Go to a place where there are real people praying and doing deliverance. Go there to receive your help from Yahweh.
Psalms 20:3 G3403 May [4be remembered G3956 1every G2378 2sacrifice G1473 3of yours], G2532 and G3588 G3646 [2your whole burnt-offering G1473 G4084.1 1let him fatten]!
“Call to mind all my sacrifices and catch my whole burnt offering.”
This sentence is also quite profound. Instead of sounding as if Yahweh is making sacrifices and we are reminding him of his sacrifices, David is asking Yahweh to remember the sacrifices he made to Yahweh. This is David speaking to Yahweh, not speaking about Yahweh. David made sacrifices, and says ‘catch my holocaust offering’, or ‘lay hold of my offering'. David is claiming the blood covering.
David understood that appropriating sacrifices and holocaust offings covered him from his spiritual enemies. Today, Jesus’ blood cleanses us from sin. However as we see with David, simply making the offerings does not automatically put a bubble around us. We have to go to the courts and appropriate the blood just as David is saying here. This is why we are still attacked, even as Christians. We have to enter the courts to claim the blood covering because our enemy is relentless and doesn’t give up. We are not automatically protected, we have to fight it out in the courts of heaven, showing that we are innocent because of Jesus’ blood. We remind the courts of heaven just as David did.
There is something else here to keep in mind. The Messiah is the ultimate sacrifice. He is the sacrifice who takes away the sins of the world. This is our blood covering. Do we need to remind Yahweh of this? No, but we do need to remind our accuser, because if we don’t our accuser won’t shut up. Our accuser won’t stop until he is sure we believe we are covered by Jesus’ blood.
Psalms 20:4 G1325 May [2give G1473 3to you G2962 1 the lord] G2596 according to G3588 G2588 your heart, G1473 G2532 and G3956 [2all G3588 G1012 3your plans G1473 G4137 1fulfill].
“Yahweh, give me downwards my heart, even all my purposes and volitions make full.”
After David calls to mind the blood covering, he then asks for Yahweh to give him a downward filling in his heart. David asks to fulfill all the things that David can do by his own course of action and intentional striving. David made a commitment to Yahweh to do the things that Yahweh called him to do, so David says ‘you fill my heart’. The action is from Yahweh down to David. Yahweh pours into David so that David can fulfill his purposes.
Psalms 20:5 G21 We will exult G1909 over G3588 G4992 your deliverance; G1473 G2532 and G1722 in G3686 the name G2962 of the lord G2316 our God G1473 G3170 we will be magnified. G4137 May the lord fill G2962 G3956 all G3588 G155 your requests. G1473
“Rejoice exceedingly, or jump for joy, over bringing my salvation and in name Yahweh my Elohim make great! Complete, Yahweh, every kind of my requests.”
David is excited for his breakthrough, he praises his deliverance. He then declares for his requests to be completed. What must have happened between verse 4 and 5? David must have received his infilling from Yahweh. He is now jumping for joy. There is a point in time in a prayer meeting, whether individually or corporately, when the spiritual atmosphere lifts and joy falls on everyone. It is as if the battle has turned and our defender has arrived. The sun beams pierce the darkness and an angelic chorus is heard.
Psalms 20:6 G3568 Now G1097 I knew G3754 that G4982 the lord delivered G2962 G3588 G5547 his anointed one; G1473 G1873 he shall heed G1473 him G1537 from out of G3772 [2heaven G39 1his holy]. G1473 G1722 By G1412.1 dominations G3588 is the G4991 deliverance G3588 G1188 of his right hand. G1473
“Now at this very time I come to know that rescue Yahweh his/my Christos (anointed). I listen to him from out of his sacred heaven. In strength deliverance on his right hand.”
The spiritual tide has turned, and the cloud of distress is gone. David knows that Yahweh rescued him. David was anointed king by Samuel, David was the anointed one of his day. David listened to Yahweh from out of his sacred heaven. Yahweh sent deliverance to David on Zion.
There is a parallel here to The Messiah. David sees his Messiah. He sees that Yahweh will rescue David’s Messiah, who is now seated at the right hand of the Father. Didn’t Jesus ask how David could have said Yahweh says to my Yahweh…
1 G2036 [3said G3588 1The G2962 2 lord] G3588 to G2962 my Lord, G1473 G2521 Sit down G1537 at G1188 my right hand G1473 G2193 until G302 whenever G5087 I should make G3588 G2190 your enemies G1473 G5286 a footstool G3588 G4228 for your feet. G1473
Matthew 22:41 G4863 [4being gathered together G1161 1And G3588 2the G* 3Pharisees], G1905 [2asked G1473 3them G3588 G* 1Jesus],
42 G3004 saying, G5100 What G1473 do you G1380 think G4012 concerning G3588 the G5547 Christ? G5100 Whose G5207 son G1510.2.3 is he? G3004 They say G1473 to him, G3588 G* David's.
43 G3004 He says G1473 to them, G4459 How G3767 then G* does David G1722 in G4151 spirit G2962 [2him Lord G1473 G2564 1call]? G3004 Saying,
44 G2036 [3said G3588 1The G2962 2Lord] G3588 to G2962 my Lord, G1473 G2521 Sit down G1537 at G1188 my right G1473 G2193 until G302 whenever G5087 I should establish G3588 G2190 your enemies G1473 G5286 for a footstool G3588 G4228 for your feet! G1473
45 G1487 If G3767 then G* David G2564 called G1473 him, G2962 Lord, G4459 how G5207 [2son G1473 1is he his]? G1510.2.3
Don’t mistake the change in font or capitalization for different words, the word for Lord in both instances is Kurios. Kurios said to Kurios. How can the Messiah be David’s Lord and son? David in the spirit kaleō “calls aloud, summons, or invites”, legō, “laying forth”, epō “speaks”. David is speaking in the spirit, by the Spirit, and for the Spirit. David summons in his spirit. David lays forth by the Spirit. David speaks for the Spirit. This is the purpose of entering into Yahweh’s presence. David sees the deliverance of the Messiah. Receiving revelation is a benefit that energizes us. Jesus was living in the flesh as an heir of David, but he also was the son of the Almighty, Most High, Eternal, Father. David saw his Lord and son who would deliver us. No wonder he is jumping for joy.
Psalms 20:7 G3778 These G1722 in G716 chariots, G2532 and G3778 these G1722 in G2462 horses -- G1473 but we G1161 G1722 [2in G3686 3 the name G2962 4 of the lord G2316 5our God G1473 G1941 1shall call].
“This in chariot and this in horse, on the other hand, I in name Yahweh my Elohim invoke.”
Now we know what was happening in David’s life. It seems that there was an army, those who trusted in horses and chariots, coming against David and/or Israel. Think of how David was fighting for the entire nation, but yet without modern day communications he could only be in one place at a time and had to work hard to receive and send messages regarding regions coming under attack. David headquartered himself in the tabernacle calling on Yahweh for help.
This is also where Christians should be during battle. Today we have news of real time events which means we can battle in the presence of the Lord as soon as we know something is wrong. We are almost on “real time” regarding news and events, we see things unfolding on our televisions, phones, computers, etc. ‘Be instant in prayer’ has a deeper meaning for us today.
Psalm 20:8 G1473 They G4846.1 are bound hand and foot, G2532 and G4098 they fall; G1473 but we G1161 G450 rose up G2532 and G461 were re-erected.
“I am blocked and I fall down, but I rise up, I make straight again.”
David had been blocked and fell, but he rose up and restored. This is our story as well. There are times when we are spiritually and or physically under attack, but we rise up and are restored. David was just as messy as we all are. He was the anointed king and he came under spiritual persecution, physical persecution, and mental persecution, for his country. He made a few poor decisions, he had a messy family, and yet he went to Yahweh all the time.
Another parallel to the Messiah here is that Jesus was blocked and bound, yet he rises up and restores human kind. If we remember, Jesus is called “The Rising”.
Referring to Zecheriah 6:
“Here in Zechariah we have a section where Jesus/Joshua the high priest is a shadow and type of the coming Messiah, who just happens to also be named Jesus/Joshua. There are two plays on words here, Jesus and rising. Jesus the high priest in the temple of Zerubbabel and Jesus the Messiah. Jesus the Messiahs’ name is Rising. Jesus the Messiah also rises. By the time Stephen was about to be stoned, people should have made this connection. In Zechariah 3:8 the Lord states to Jesus/Joshua the high priest that the Lord will bring His servant rising, Anatolē. Jesus is the Day Star, Venus, the one who rises in the morning, Phosphorus. The satan is Hesperus, the one who rises in the evening, also known as Venus. Jesus is the bright and morning star.
Christ’s name is what? Anatolē, Rising, or Day Spring. Jesus led the way of the rising for the saints and martyrs.”
David is prophetically declaring that the Messiah rises and his people will also arise. Jesus was bound hand and foot to the cross and then died, but he rose up on the third day. Jesus will restore all things.
Psalms 20:9 G2962 O lord, G4982 preserve G3588 the G935 king, G2532 and G1873 heed G1473 us G1722 in G3739 what G302 ever G2250 day G1941 we should call upon G1473 you!
“Yahweh, save the king, and listen me in that day I invoke.”
David calls on Yahweh to save the king. Remember David made a commitment to Yahweh to fulfill his purpose. If we are working on fulfilling the things that Yahweh has asked us to do, then we can call on Yahweh to save us too. David says to Yahweh to listen to him when he invokes Yahweh. We can demand that too.
This is what Yahweh wants from us. He wants us to go before his throne with the same boldness. Even if Yahweh called us to do something for him we are not put in a protective enclosure. We must invoke Yahweh to fulfill what he called us to, every step of the way. Doesn’t David’s example help us to build our relationship with Yahweh? Isn’t that what Yahweh wants, relationship? Isn’t it possible that Yahweh brings us victory through our dependence on the heavenly courts?
This Psalm of the fulfillment or conclusion, is a Psalm of the end of a matter. Whatever enemy tried to come against Israel, the matter was concluded when David entered the courts of heaven and asked for heavenly help and went to Zion or the tabernacle. David then invokes the blood and asks Yahweh to fill his heart for the purposes that David was called to. David seemingly receives salvation for the nation jumping for joy and rejoicing. David then receives a vision of the deliverance of the Messiah. David recounts that people put their trust in the wrong things and then says that even though he is blocked and falls he will rise and restore. The Messiah, even though blocked, rises and restores. David then asks for deliverance, knowing his purpose in the kingly line of the Messiah. This is the origin and foundation we are to build upon as prayer warriors and intercessors.
Several years after David, Hezekiah wrote a few Psalms. We have to learn the history of theses Psalms to understand them. As we will see, Hezekiah has some of the same experiences that David did. However there are several strong points applicable for us today. These prophecies for us are quite remarkable.
“A song The Degrees.”
What are The Degrees? To start, let’s understand the last 44 Psalms are known as the “Second Deuteronomy”, the second law.
People call this an “ode of the stairs”, meaning a song or poem recited on their way up the stairs. People infer that they are the temple stairs, however as we will see, this has nothing to do with stairs. It is also not decrees but degrees. Degrees of what? Another unusual theory is that this is a song sung on the way to the temple as people traveled for the feasts. This theory is even less acceptable as people didn’t celebrate many passovers or other feasts; technically only two, recorded between this time and the leaving of the glory before Babylonian captivity. And while Hezekiah brought back the passover, the people did not continue to keep the passover regularly; and then, not until Josiah came along do we see another passover recorded after Hezekiah.
This is a Psalm of Hezekiah which was an event for Hezekiah and Isaiah, but is a prophecy for us. The fifteen Psalms called “The Degrees” are fifteen years added to Hezekiah’s life when the sundial moved back ten degrees. Of the 15 Psalms called The Degrees, ten were written by Hezekiah (ten degrees on the sundial; 2 Kings 20:8-ff) while four were written by David and one by Solomon. These fifteen Degrees are Psalms 120-134. Hezekiah was dealing with distress, Sennacherib’s siege, 2 Kings 19:1-ff. Remember our study of Rabshakeh/Rapsakes, Isaiah 37?
Hezekiah was in a tough spot as king of Judah. He was also sick and in distress. Here is something Sennacherib wrote.
“His own (Sennacherib) account of this invasion, as given in the Assyrian annals, is in these words: "Because Hezekiah, king of Judah, would not submit to my yoke, I came up against him, and by force of arms and by the might of my power I took forty-six of his strong fenced cities; and of the smaller towns which were scattered about, I took and plundered a countless number. From these places I took and carried off 200,156 persons, old and young, male and female, together with horses and mules, asses and camels, oxen and sheep, a countless multitude; and Hezekiah himself I shut up in Jerusalem, his capital city, like a bird in a cage, building towers round the city to hem him in, and raising banks of earth against the gates, so as to prevent escape...Then upon Hezekiah there fell the fear of the power of my arms, and he sent out to me the chiefs and the elders of Jerusalem with 30 talents of gold and 800 talents of silver, and divers treasures, a rich and immense booty...All these things were brought to me at Nineveh, the seat of my government.”"
Illustrated Bible Dictionary: And Treasury of Biblical History, Biography, Geography, Doctrine, and Literature.
Did Hezekiah try to pay Sennacherib not to over take them?
2 Kings 18:13-16 (KJV)
13 Now in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah did Sennacherib king of Assyria come up against all the fenced cities of Judah, and took them.
14 And Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria to Lachish, saying, I have offended; return from me: that which thou puttest on me will I bear. And the king of Assyria appointed unto Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.
15 And Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king's house.
16 At that time did Hezekiah cut off the gold from the doors of the temple of the LORD, and from the pillars which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, and gave it to the king of Assyria.
Here is what Josephus tells us.
Josephus-Antiquities of the Jews 10:1:1. It was now the fourteenth year of the government of Hezekiah, king of the two tribes, when the king of Assyria, whose name was Sennacherib, made an expedition against him with a great army, and took all the cities of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin by force; and when he was ready to bring his army against Jerusalem, Hezekiah sent ambassadors to him beforehand, and promised to submit, and pay what tribute he should appoint. Hereupon Sennacherib, when he heard of what offers the ambassadors made, resolved not to proceed in the war, but to accept of the proposals that were made him; and if he might receive three hundred talents of silver, and thirty talents of gold, he promised that he would depart in a friendly manner; and he gave security upon oath to the ambassadors that he would then do him no harm, but go away as he came. So Hezekiah submitted, and emptied his treasures, and sent the money, as supposing he should be freed from his enemy, and from any further distress about his kingdom. Accordingly, the Assyrian king took it, and yet had no regard to what he had promised; but while he himself went to the war against the Egyptians and Ethiopians, he left his general Rabshakeh, and two other of his principal commanders, with great forces, to destroy Jerusalem. The names of the two other commanders were Tartan and Rabsaris.
The Works of Flavius Josephus.
Let’s understand this. Israel, the northern kingdom, is already in captivity to Assyria. Then Assyria, under Sennacherib, overtakes the outskirts of the fortified cities of Judah. Hezekiah sends Sennacherib gold, silver and treasures, like pallets of cash in our day. Yet this does not stop Sennacherib from taunting (via Rapsakes) and attempting to overtake Jerusalem. Isaiah prophesies and an angel of the Lord slays the Assyrian army. Gold, silver, treasures, and pallets of cash did not deter evil then and does not deter evil now. Then Hezekiah hears from the prophet Isaiah that he will die. Hezekiah doesn’t have an heir, so he asks Isaiah for prayer and the sign is that the sun backs up ten degrees. This is the “The Degrees”. Now that we understand this background we can look at Hezekiah’s Psalm.
Psalms 120:1 G4314 [2to G2962 3 the lord G1722 4in G3588 G2346 5my being afflicted G1473 G2896 1I cried out], G2532 and G1522 he listened to G1473 me.
“Towards Yahweh in my persecution cry aloud and he listened.”
Hezekiah cried out loud towards Yahweh and Yahweh heard. David cries out to Yahweh too. This again is something we should do.
Psalms 120:2 G2962 O lord, G4506 rescue G3588 G5590 my soul G1473 G575 from G5491 [2lips G94 1unjust], G2532 and G575 from G1100 [2tongue G1386 1a deceitful]!
“Yahweh deliver my soul away from unrighteous mouths and away from treacherous languages.”
Hezekiah was having some of the same experiences that David did, with people cursing him. “Unacquired languages” which are in this case the languages of demons used in cursing. Hezekiah is invoking the heavenly courts, asking for deliverance. This tells us that it is possible that Hezekiah’s sickness was brought on by curses.
Who is the immediate enemy? The Assyrians. Where are the curses coming from? It could be Assyria or it could also be from within the kingdom of Judah. Gasp! Remember, Hezekiah needs an heir to the throne to fulfill the line of David. What happens when Hezekiah dies and Manasseh takes over the kingdom at twelve years old? All the work that Hezekiah did to clean up the kingdom, Manasseh destroyed. Who were Manasseh’s advisors? Why were theses advisors so close to the king? Were these curses coming to Hezekiah from within his own political cabinet, and officers, as well as corrupt priests? What Hezekiah achieved did not last long because the evil corrupt people were within the kingdom. Hezekiah’s prophets of Yahweh were all persecuted and executed after Hezekiah died. When Manasseh was captured he repented, and we have his recorded prayer. But just like David, Hezekiah experienced curses from evil corrupt people who stood beside him day in and day out.
Hezekiah’ last sentence should have continued into his next sentence.
Psalms 120:3 G5100 What G1325 may be given G1473 to you, G2532 and G5100 what G4369 added G1473 to you, G4314 to G1100 [2tongue G1386 1 the deceitful]?
“Any one I offer, and any one I join to, pertaining to treacherous languages.”
This is an awkward place for a sentence break. We should read “Yahweh deliver my soul away from unrighteous mouths and away from treacherous languages, any one I offer, and any one I join to, pertaining to treacherous languages”.
Hezekiah seems to be a peacemaker. He is offering and willing to join with others, but those people that he is joining with are cursing him with demonic languages. Therefore he is asking for deliverance from those that he may join with who are cursing him. It seems that Hezekiah knew that not everyone was supporting him and worshipping Yahweh. Yet he puts up with those evil people anyway. Why not fire them or remove them from the kingdom? It may be that those people had deep roots in government. It is the same story that plays out in all countries today. The devil doesn’t have anything new. A leader who serves Yahweh Elohim, seems to attract evil like a magnet.
Psalms 120:4 G3588 The G956 arrows G3588 of the G1415 mighty G190.1 are being sharpened G4862 with G3588 the G440 [2coals G3588 G2047.1 1solitary].
956 LSJ Gloss:βέλος jacio
Dodson:βέλος a missile, dart, javelin a missile, dart, javelin, arrow.
TBESG:βέλος arrow
G:N-N
βέλος, -εος, τό
(< βάλλω), [in LXX chiefly for חֵץ ;]
a missile, a dart: Eph.6:16.†
(AS)
Thayer:
1) a missile, dart, javelin, arrow
βέλος
belos bel'-os From G906; a missile, that is, spear or arrow KJV Usage: dart.
440 LSJ Gloss:ἄνθραξ charcoal, coal
Dodson:ἄνθραξ a coal coal, charcoal, a burning coal.
TBESG:ἄνθραξcharcoal
G:N-M
ἄνθραξ, -ακος, ὁ
[in LXX chiefly for גֶּחֶל ;]
coal, charcoal: . ἄ. πυρός, a burning coal, Rom.12:20.†
(AS)
Thayer:
1) a burning or live coalA proverbial expression signifying to call up, by favours you confer on your enemy, the memory in him of the wrong he has done you (which shall pain him as if live coals were heaped on his head), that he may the more readily repent. The Arabians call things that cause very acute mental pain "burning coals of the heart" and "fire of the liver".
ἄνθραξ
anthrax anth'-rax Of uncertain derivation; a live coal KJV Usage: coal of fire.
“The jacio, missile, the powerful, sharpened along with live coals, desert.”
Jacio in Latin means “shooting”. Hezekiah is talking about shooting arrows, yet today shooting missiles is more appropriate. Anthrax means “carbon” and erimikoís means “deserted”.
Hezekiah may be speaking of arrows being fired with coals from the desert. Flaming arrows or arrows with burning carbon attached to set the city on fire. Carbon is coal. Carbon dioxide is found in the atmosphere. Humans have about 18% carbon per body weight. Today we would say that these missiles are meant to ignite something; in this case the cities on the outskirts of Judah and the city of Jerusalem. Who was firing these arrows?
We have called anthrax a bacterial infection or weapon which is a mistranslation of the Greek word. Prophetically we could be speaking of chemical warfare, where missiles containing bacteria are fired, or missiles which ignite fire are being shot from the desert. The idea is that this is coming from a solitary or deserted place, a place that is barren, outside of Judah. We have seen this one scripture play out in the desert over and over in our own lifetime.
The overall encompassing idea is that Hezekiah and the people of Judah/Jerusalem are being cursed and physically fought against with both unacquired languages of curses, and arrows/missiles with coals in the desert.
Hezekiah is pointing out two fronts for this warfare. It seems that David had similar experiences. Yet, we too have these experiences in our age. We have governments that have treasonous people subverting the will of Yahweh, physical enemies and spiritual enemies. This is the same story played out over and over, because the god of this world continues to do the same things and humans fall for it. This means that we should be wise to these matters. Christians should be warring like David did. Let’s remember, Hezekiah giving pallets of cash to the Sennacherib didn’t stop the attacks. An angel of the Lord stopped the attacks. But is it also possible that there were others fighting as a proxy for Sennacherib?
Psalms 120:5 G3629.3 Alas, G3754 for G3588 G3940 my sojourn G1473 G3118.2 was far; G2681 I encamped G3326 with G3588 the G4638 tents G* of Kedar.
“Woe that their dwelling in a strange land (foreign residence) long-lived (was removed) tabernacled in the midst of the encampment Kedar”.
Kedar is an Arabic people named for the second son of Ishmael, Qedar. Kedar means “blackness”, “sorrow”, and means “dark skinned”. They were skilled archers like Ishmael. They were nomadic as well. This is a strange idea because Hezekiah didn’t live or encamp among the Kedarites/Qedarites. He is speaking of the proxy warriors. Isaiah helps us here.
Isaiah 21:13-17 (KJV)
13 The burden upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye travelling companies of Dedanim.
14 The inhabitants of the land of Tema brought water to him that was thirsty, they prevented with their bread him that fled.
15 For they fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war.
16 For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Within a year, according to the years of an hireling, and all the glory of Kedar shall fail:
17 And the residue of the number of archers, the mighty men of the children of Kedar, shall be diminished: for the LORD God of Israel hath spoken it.
Did Sennacherib hire the Kedarites/Qedarites to use arrows to take the outlying cities of Judah for Assyria?
Isaiah 21:16 For thus hath the Lord said unto me: Within a year, according to the years of a hired servant, and all the glory of Kedar shall fail; 17 and the residue of the number of the archers, the mighty men of the sons of Kedar, shall be diminished: for Jehovah, the God of Israel, hath spoken. https://studybible.info/Darby/Isaiah%2021
Isaiah 21:16 For this is what the LORD is saying to me: "Within three years, according to the years of a contract worker, the pomp of Kedar will come to an end. 17 And there will be few archers, those who are descendants of Kedar, who survive, because the LORD, the God of Israel, has spoken."https://biblehub.com/isaiah/21-16.htm
It is interesting that we have been hearing of “proxy wars” lately. Proxy wars are fought by hired or contracted people on behalf of a nation. It seems that Hezekiah gave Sennacherib gold, sliver, and treasures when he started taking the fortified cities. Sennacherib then paid the Kedarites/Qedarites to fight against the outlying cities. Sennacherib called this a victory for himself. Sennacherib in his own words claims that he took over 200,000 people from forty-six fenced cities by the force of arms and might of his power.
Psalms 120:6 G4183 [3much G3939 2sojourned G3588 G5590 1My soul] G1473 G3326 with G3588 the G3404 ones detesting G3588 G1515 peace.
“My soul dwell beside many in the midst of the hate peace.”
Hezekiah knows that the people dwelling beside him hate peace. What does he mean? We notice from 2 Chronicles 32 Sennacherib mocks Jerusalem for Hezekiah taking down the high places. The politicians and religious leaders were probably not happy. To Hezekiah, peace comes from worshipping Yahweh and Yahweh alone. To the politicians and religious leaders, peace comes by rejecting Yahweh and allowing idol worship. Nothing has changed today. It is all the same story playing out again.
As we know, there were many defiled worship practices in the temple after the kingdom split. This was the way of appeasement the politicians and priests chose so that foreigners would not war against the nation. It is similar to what Solomon did in marrying so many wives and having so many concubines. He did this to appease the surrounding nations so that they would not fight against Israel. Solomon was a man of wisdom and peace, but after Solomon’s time others pushed the nation to accept idolatrous practices in the temple. This went on for over 337 years, until Ezekiel saw the glory leave the temple and the southern kingdom went into captivity.
Psalms 120:7 G1510.7.1 I was G1516 peaceable G3752 whenever G2980 I was speaking G1473 to them; G4170 they waged war G1473 against me G1431 without charge.
“I am disposed to peace whensoever I speak, battle me freely.”
It seems that the politicians and religious leaders were advocates or defense attorneys for Sennacherib. They probably behaved like our politicians of today, where one political party always defends our nations’ enemies. No matter what was happening, there seems to be a faction of people who were trying to play both sides of the conflict. I’m sure these people were running a social persuasion campaign within Jerusalem arguing to allow Sennacherib to take them all to Assyria, like they did with the northern kingdom. But Yahweh had another plan.
2 Kings 19:20 (KJV)
20 Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, That which thou hast prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria I have heard.
Sennacherib did not win this one. His proxies, the Kedarites, eventually lost too. Evil resided within the temple and within Jerusalem. Hezekiah cried out to the Lord for deliverance from those who were cursing him from within Jerusalem. He then tells us about the arrows of fire coming from Kedarites who were hired by Sennacherib to overtake the fortified cities of Judah. Hezekiah seems to be a man who first pursued peace, but also invoked the courts of heaven against Sennacherib, the Kendarites, and those people who opposed Yahweh and Hezekiah.
Seeing that the Psalms were written as personal invocations to Yahweh helps us pursue a deeper prayer life in the heavenly courts because Yahweh Elohim of Israel hears.
