Verse 7. "l am for peace " - We love to be quiet and peaceable; but they are continually engaged in excursions of rapine and plunder. It is evident that the psalmist refers to a people like the Scenitae or wandering Arabs, who live constantly in tents, and subsist by robbery; plundering and carrying away all that they can seize. The poor captives wished them to cultivate the arts of peace, and live quietly; but they would hear of nothing but their old manner of life.
ANALYSIS OF THE HUNDRED AND TWENTIETH PSALM
The psalmist in distress: - I. Flees to God by prayer.
II. Sets forth the miseries of a foul and deceitful tongue.
III. Complains of his banishment.
I. 1. He is in distress, and cries to the Lord; the surest and best way.
2. He tells us of the success of his prayer: "God heard him." 3. Of the matter of it: "Lord, I beseech thee deliver my soul! " 1. "From lying lips." Detractions, calumnies, and defamations. 2. From "a deceitful tongue," which, under the colour of friendship, covers deceit.
A detractor does his mischief openly, a flatterer secretly; so that when a deceitful tongue is joined with lying lips, the mischief is intolerable.
II. He sets forth the evil that shall fall on such deceivers and slanderers.
1. Arrows-which wound afar off, suddenly and invisibly.
2. Sharp arrows, well-headed and keen, that can pierce deeply.
3. "Sharp arrows of the mighty," shot by a strong hand, and so much the more dangerous.
4. "With coals-inflamed arrows," such as set all things on fire.
5. "With coals of juniper," which of all coals are the hottest, and keep fire the longest.
III. The psalmist complains of his banishment.
1. He laments his situation on account of the wickedness of the people among whom he sojourned.
2. They were barbarous and inhuman, enemies to piety and civility.
3. His state was the more intolerable, as it had been of long duration: "My soul hath long dwelt," &c.
His disposition was quite contrary to theirs.
1. "I am for peace." I wish to live in peace, and cultivate it.
2. But when I speak of peace, they are for war; They are fierce and inhuman. It was said of the Macedonians in Philip's time, Illis pacem esse bellum et bellum pacem. "To them peace was war, and war was peace." Such were the people of the provinces, among whom many of the Israelites were in captivity.