Psalms 120:1

A song of ascents. ²  In my distress I cried out to the Lord and he answered me.

Ps 18:6; Ps 30:7,8; Ps 50:15; Ps 107:13; Ps 116:3,4; Ps 118:5; Ps 121:1; Ps 122:1; Ps 123:1; Ps 124:1; Ps 125:1; Ps 126:1; Ps 127:1; Ps 128:1; Ps 129:1; Ps 130:1; Ps 131:1; Ps 132:1; Ps 133:1; Ps 134:1; Isa 37:3,4,14-20; Isa 38:2-5; Jon 2:2; Lu 22:44; Heb 5:7

¹ sn Psalm 120. The genre and structure of this psalm are uncertain. It begins like a thanksgiving psalm, with a brief notice that God has heard the psalmist’s prayer for help and has intervened. But v. 2 is a petition for help, followed by a taunt directed toward enemies (vv. 3-4) and a lament (vv. 5-7). Perhaps vv. 2-7 recall the psalmist’s prayer when he cried out to the Lord.

² sn The precise significance of this title, which appears in Pss 120-134, is unclear. Perhaps worshipers recited these psalms when they ascended the road to Jerusalem to celebrate annual religious festivals. For a discussion of their background see L. C. Allen, Psalms 101-150 (WBC), 219-21.