Today’s reading is Psalm 120.
Dwelling in Enemy Territory
The lament of vs. 5 is admittedly odd. The Israelites never dwelt in Meshech or Kedar. Meshech was a descendant of Japheth (Genesis 10:2; 1 Chronicles 1:5), whose people dwelt far north of Israel by the Black Sea. Kedar was a descendant of Ishmael (Genesis 25:13; 1 Chronicles 1:29) who dwelt in the Arabian desert southeast of Israel. To my knowledge, there is no connection with these locations and either the exodus from Egypt or the exiles in Assyria and Babylon. The point seems to be metaphorical. As the statement “from Dan to Beersheba” was often used to try to metaphorically encompass all Israel, it seems Meshech and Kedar are used to refer to opposite extremes of being stuck outside the Promised Land.
When the psalmist cries, “Woe to me, that I sojourn in Meshech, that I dwell among the tents of Kedar!” we discover the first step of pilgrimage. We have to realize we don’t dwell where we truly want to dwell. We have to look at our surroundings and believe they are lamentable. “Woe to me, I am not on God’s holy hill.” This may be one of the most difficult steps. If we have grown up in Meshech or Kedar, we likely won’t recognize the curse of dwelling there. What a shift to look at the place we were raised and decide some place else is better.
Again, I appreciate the insight of Eugene Peterson in his comments on Psalm 120 as the start of our pilgrimage. When we move out of the metaphor of Meshech and Kedar and move into the practical reality of our lives, this recognition that where we live is not where we should live, that actually we need to take a long journey to a different dwelling place is what we call Repentance.
I really hate to quote the same book two days in a row, but I simply can’t say it better than this:
Repentance is not an emotion. It is not feeling sorry for your sins. It is a decision. It is deciding that you have been wrong in supposing that you could manage your own life and be your own god; it is deciding that you were wrong in thinking that you had, or could get, the strength, education and training to make it on your own; it is deciding that you have been told a pack of lies about yourself and your neighbors and your world. And it is deciding that God in Jesus Christ is telling you the truth. Repentance is a realization that what God wants from you and what you want from God are not going to be achieved by doing the same old things, thinking the same old thoughts. Repentance is a decision to follow Jesus Christ and become his pilgrim in the path of peace.
Eugene Peterson, “A Long Obedience in the Same Direction,” IVP, Downers Grove, 2021, p 24
If you haven’t figured it out yet, Meshech and Kedar are awful. They hold nothing for you worth any value. This world is not our home. We are just sojourners here. Let us throw off the lies of the world and its ruler, grab hold of Jesus’s garments, and start the pilgrimage to God’s holy hill. Yes, this first step is hard. It is even painful. The liars around us will mock us and belittle us. It will seem unnatural and abnormal. We will experience pain. But the journey will be worth it. I promise you.
Praise the Lord!
Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 120.
PODCAST!!!
PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family
How does Psalm 120 prompt or improve your hope in God?
Read the Bible 