What is the meaning of Psalm 120:4? Sharp arrows Psalm 120:4 opens with the vivid image, “Sharp arrows…”. The psalmist has just asked in verse 3 what the deceitful tongue deserves, and now he declares the answer. Arrows illustrate: • Precision – they strike the exact offender (cf. Psalm 64:7, “God will shoot them with arrows; suddenly they will be wounded”). • Penetration – they pierce past outward show and reach the heart (Hebrews 4:12). • Pain – they hurt as the lies once hurt others (Proverbs 25:18). Taken literally, God’s judgment is neither blunt nor accidental; it is pointed, personal, and unavoidable. will come from the warrior Judgment is not random; it “will come from the warrior.” Scripture repeatedly calls the Lord a warrior who fights for righteousness (Exodus 15:3; Psalm 24:8; Isaiah 59:17). When enemies of truth persist, He acts: • His aim is sure—none escape (Revelation 19:11-15). • His timing is perfect—“in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance” (2 Thessalonians 1:7-8). • His authority is final—no counter-strike can prevail (Isaiah 42:13). The psalmist comforts pilgrims: the God who defends them is armed and active. with burning coals of the broom tree! Broom-tree wood (a desert shrub) burns hotter and longer than ordinary wood. Pairing arrows with these coals heightens the picture: swift wounds are followed by lingering, consuming heat. Scripture uses burning coals to describe God’s purifying wrath (Psalm 11:6; 18:13-14). For the deceitful: • Intensity – the heat is fierce, not mild. • Duration – broom-tree coals stay hot, showing judgment that endures (Isaiah 30:33). • Purpose – pain can lead to repentance, or, if spurned, to final ruin (Romans 12:19-20). The verse promises that God’s response to lies is both immediate and sustained. summary Psalm 120:4 assures sufferers that God’s justice is sharp, sure, and searing. He personally targets deception with precise arrows and enduring heat, proving that falsehood never has the last word. |
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