When You Want Peace but Others Want War
A sermon on Psalm 120
“In my distress I cried unto the LORD, and he heard me.” — Psalm 120:1 (KJV)
Have you ever tried to make peace with someone who seemed determined to quarrel? You chose your words carefully. You tried to tell the truth. Yet your words were twisted, and the conflict carried on...
The writer of Psalm 120 knew that pain. He was surrounded by lying lips and deceitful tongues. By the end of the psalm, he says, “I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war.” That is a weary man speaking. But he is also a praying man.
Cry to the Lord first
The psalm begins with distress, but it also begins with a testimony: “I cried unto the LORD, and he heard me.”
The writer does not pretend the lies do not hurt. He does not say, “I am strong enough to manage this myself.” He takes his trouble to God.
Perhaps someone has misrepresented you. Perhaps you have tried to put a relationship right, and every attempt seems to make matters worse. Psalm 120 gives you words for that moment: Lord, deliver me. You can tell Him exactly what has happened and exactly how tired you are.
And remember the writer’s testimony: God heard him. The Lord may not settle every conflict as quickly as we wish, but our cry does not fall on deaf ears.
Leave judgment with God
In verses 3 and 4, the psalm speaks of the consequences of a deceitful tongue. The pictures are fierce: a warrior’s arrows and burning coals. Lies are serious. Words can wound a person, damage a reputation, and set families or communities against one another.
But notice who is being addressed. The writer does not say, “I will take revenge.” He brings the matter before God. He trusts the Lord to judge what is true.
That matters for us. When someone speaks falsely about us, we may be tempted to answer with a sharper tongue. Yet adding another lie or a cruel remark only spreads the fire. We can speak the truth plainly, seek to put things right where possible, and leave judgment in God’s hands.
Keep your heart set on peace
The writer says he feels as though he lives among strangers in Meshech and Kedar. He is weary of dwelling with people who hate peace. Then comes the line that reaches the heart of the psalm:
“I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war.”
Being for peace does not mean agreeing with a lie. It does not mean pretending that harmful behaviour is acceptable. It means refusing to let another person’s hostility decide what kind of person you will become.
Jesus calls His people blessed when they make peace. That can take courage. Sometimes it means having an honest conversation. Sometimes it means apologising for our own part. Sometimes it means stepping away from an argument that will only grow louder. We cannot make another person choose peace, but with God’s help, we can choose to speak truthfully and act peaceably.
Psalm 120 is the first of the Songs of Ascents, songs associated with the journey to Jerusalem for worship. What a place for that journey to begin: with someone in distress, crying out to God. Before he reaches the place of worship, he brings the pain he is carrying.
So if you come to the Lord today weary from conflict, come as you are. Tell Him the truth. Ask Him to guard your tongue as well as your heart. Ask Him for wisdom to know when to speak, when to listen, and when to walk away.
You may be surrounded by voices that want a fight. Still, you can say with the psalmist, “I am for peace.” And when you cry to the Lord, you can trust that He hears.
Prayer: Lord, You know the words that have hurt us and the conflicts we cannot resolve alone. Deliver us from deceit. Keep us truthful, give us wisdom, and help us seek peace without surrendering what is right. Hear us in our distress, as You heard the writer of this psalm. In Jesus’ name, amen.
GOD IS A GOOD GOD
GOD KNOWS, GOD LOVES, GOD CARES
Written for Georges Web Ministries.com
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29th September 2026