Psalm 120

Psalm 120 is an angry lament for violence in the world.

As the Psalmist confronts unjust systems and leaders who lie,

he or she bellows, "I am for PEACE but when I speak, they are about war."

-- is one of the many faithful laments of ancient Israel, written maybe as far back as 3000 years ago.

-- Psalm 120 is not in the Revised Common Lectionary. As a result, many church folks

don't run into it much.

-- It's the first of fourteen “Psalms of Ascents”-- songs for the pilgrimage to Jerusalem,

the most glorious place on earth for ancient Israel.

About the Song

"I Am For Peace" has a refrain easily taught

“call-and-response” style on sidewalks, on

capitol steps, at church or sung alone on

your morning commute.

You might notice notice the verses don't rhyme

or have a regular meter.

That's to model for you that your circle can make

up your own verses.

Just yell out what's stirring in you and invite the

assembly to respond with the refrain.

The song comes from the album, "Love Stands With."

pic by Jens Karlsson

I Am For Peace (Psalm 120)

I am for peace

I see fear and sadness, people weary of the world

I don't know what to say but I will try

I am for peace

Terror and violence far away and close to home

Ammunition, words and hands-- Where do we stand?

I am for peace

News is streaming in Can't ignore the suffering

Evil only needs good people to be silent

I am for peace

Kitchen table, council meet-ing, hallways, sidewalks of the world

Texting, talking, meeting someone, I open my hand and reach out

I am for peace

Angry at myself, sometimes call myself bad names

Outrage in the mirror Let forgiveness start

I am for peace

Poison in the air, garbage in the soil and sea

Feel the planet strain I'll do what I can today

I am for peace

There are people we don't like Ones who rub us the wrong way

We don't have to be best friends, but find a way to share the world

I am for peace

I Am For Peace is on the "Love Stands With" album.

Album songbook available here.

I Am For Peace Charts:

piano score
lead sheet
guitar/bass chart
jpg of congregational line
songleader's notes

I Am For Peace Charts

$7.00

I Am For Peace Accompaniment Pack:

all charts above

PLUS:

powerpoint & keynote lyric slides
original recording
instrumental accompaniment track

I Am For Peace Accompaniment Pack

$10.00

It's a psalm we might turn to to feel our rage and sadness, rouse our imaginations toward hope and work for ways to share the planet together.

Are we suposed to be pacifists when we're done? No. :-)

In fact, maybe there's a time for war, like Ecclesiastes says.

Psalm 120 invites us to feel the tension between the hostility we notice in and around us and our intention for heart-open, generous ways to share the planet.

pic by Griszka Niewaidomski

pic by Bernadette Morris

Thanks for studying with us at PsalmImmersion.com.

Our intention is to publish music, liturgy, stories and theological reflections here for all 150 Psalms.

Our hope is to resource students, pastors, musicians, worship leaders, teachers, chaplains and spiritual directors for their vocation of presence in the world.

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