Sharp Arrows of the Mighty - Psalms 120:4

In Psalms one hundred twenty the Psalmist asked, “What shall be given unto you? or what shall be done unto you, you false tongue?”, and in chapter one hundred and twenty and verse four of Psalms the Psalmist answered, “sharp arrows of the mighty” where we read,

Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper.

The verse begins, “Sharp arrows of the mighty, ...” The Psalmist began with the words, “sharp arrows” or “whet, piercing and pricking spears, darts or archers' projectiles” “of the mighty” which means “belonging to the strong, brave and powerful”. The Psalmist said piercing darts of people who are strong and powerful should be given to the false tongue.

The verse goes continues, “with coals of juniper.” The Psalmist added the words, “with coals” or “by the use of burning, glowing and kindled embers”, “of juniper” which means “belonging to the broom plant which has pole-like stems”. The Psalmist said the false tongues of people who were powerful and strong deserved to be burned by the glowing embers of the juniper tree or broom plant.

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn how the Psalmist described what should be given to the “false tongues” of people who lie. Their words were like “sharp arrows” of powerful people whose words penetrate the soul of those who hear them, and they should have “sharp arrows” sent into them. Their “lying lips” burned like fiery darts from the broom-plant, so they should have fiery darts like those from a broom-plant applied to them. God knows that people lie, and because they lie, they have sinned against Him. Paul the apostle wrote, “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (See Romans 6:23), and this is the reason God sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind. When we believe and trust in Him as our personal “Savior and Lord”, we will be forgiven of our sins (even lying), granted everlasting life and be assured that Jehovah God will fiercely contend with everyone who “lies” and does not come to Him for forgiveness.

Next time the Psalmist says, “woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".