Song Deep Dive: Psalm 120 (In My Distress)
About Psalm 120
Psalm 120, the first Song of Ascent, begins in lament, a deep expression of sorrow in the presence of God. The psalmist feels distant from God’s presence, His peace, and the covenant community of Israel. He is in utter distress. Yet he cries out to the God who hears.
Unlike most laments, which typically follow the pattern of 1) address, 2) request, 3) protest, and 4) expression of praise, Psalm 120 offers no expression of praise to God. Instead, it leaves the tension unresolved. But this psalm is part of a collection, and the movement toward praise and thanksgiving will emerge as we journey forward.
Author and pastor Eugene Peterson referred to Psalm 120 as a “cattle prod.” With a jolt, it declares, I am not satisfied with where I am, and pushes you to begin the journey. It starts in distress, but it does not leave you there. It moves you forward and points you in the right direction, toward the LORD, our true home.
Psalm 120
1 I call on the Lord in my distress,
and he answers me.
2 Save me, Lord,
from lying lips
and from deceitful tongues.
3 What will he do to you,
and what more besides,
you deceitful tongue?
4 He will punish you with a warrior’s sharp arrows,
with burning coals of the broom bush.
5 Woe to me that I dwell in Meshek,
that I live among the tents of Kedar!
6 Too long have I lived
among those who hate peace.
7 I am for peace;
but when I speak, they are for war.
Stephen's Thoughts
I wrote this song of lament during the lockdown of the COVID pandemic in 2020. We were unable to gather with our church family, and many could resonate with the psalmist who felt distant from the people of God.
As the psalmist cried, “Too long have I lived among those who hate peace. I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war.” (verses 6–7) We live in a world where everyone seems to be at war with one another. Yet Psalm 120 calls us to long for the peace that only the LORD can provide.
My original attempt at writing a melody for this song failed, not because of the melody itself. The melody was very pretty, but it did not express the grief of the psalmist. This completely new version contains all minor notes until the resolution in major when we sing, “He answers me.” The hope within this psalm is that God not only hears us, He answers us.
Listen to Psalm 120 (In My Distress)
Musical Credits
Stephen Vesolich (Guitar and Vocals)
Stephanie Wilsey (Vocals)
Ariel Goehring (Cello)
© 2025 Stephen Vesolich. All rights reserved.
Lyrics
I call on the LORD in my di-stress. I call on the LORD in my di-stress
And He answers me. He answers me. And He answers me. He answers me.
I call on the LORD in my di-stress. I call on the LORD in my di-stress
And He answers me. He answers me. And He answers me. He answers me.
Woe to me, that I dwell in Meshek,
I live among tents of Kedar!
(I Call on the LORD)
Too long have I lived
(In My Distress)
among those who hate peace
(I Call on the LORD)
I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war.
Woe— Woe Woe
I call on the LORD in my di-stress. I call on the LORD in my di-stress
And He answers me. He answers me. And He answers me. He answers me.
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