Our text for today is only 7 verses long. Don’t let the length, however, shortchange the impact of its message. The Psalmist is calling out to God for help overcoming the impact of slander.
Slander – words falsely spoken that damage the reputation of another (vocabulary.com).
One of the hardest things about dealing with the impact of slander is that you don’t even know it has happened until after the damage is done. Have you ever experienced this? I have, and I will attest that the scars run deep. It is an incredibly hard experience to overcome especially when the perpetrator was someone you trusted and/or thought was on your side.
As I was preparing for today’s post, I consulted my Life Application Study Bible to see what insight it had on Psalm 120. Its message was just what I needed to hear today. Rather than focusing on the sin and its harmful impact, the notes for this chapter focus on a God-honoring response – peacemaking.
Peacemaking is not always popular. Some people prefer to fight for what they believe in. The glory of the battle is in the hope of winning, but someone must be a loser. The glory of peacemaking is that it may actually produce two winners. Peacemaking is God’s way, so we should carefully and prayerfully attempt to be peacemakers (Tyndale House, 1996).
Deciding when to fight for what is right and when to simply pursue peace, especially in the face of slander, isn’t easy. On one hand, you don’t want to be perceived as a pushover. But on the other hand, you also don’t want a bad reputation, to be seen as confrontational or viewed as closed-minded. This may also mar your reputation. I know peacemaking is supposed to produce two winners, but I will attest, it still feels like losing a lot of the time. My fourteen year old daughter and I often talk about “taking the high road” and “turning the other cheek”. It is hard in junior high, but even harder as an adult. Think about it, the stakes are higher when a bad reputation has the potential to impact things in which you’ve made long-term investment (like your career or long-term relationships).
The Bible gives Christfollowers clear direction on how we are to respond to those who sin against us – return good for evil. Turns out this is even harder than turning the other cheek and walking away! Fortunately we have a God who is willing to help us do the right thing even when we don’t feel like it. Can making peace with those who have sinned against you help repair your reputation? Perhaps. Even if it doesn’t though, obedience to the ways of the Lord will always produce a better outcome. It may not change your reputation, but it may change your heart.
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (Romans 12:17-21).