Living In a Hostile World

“Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech, [that] I dwell in the tents of Kedar!” (Ps 120:5 AV)

Mesech is another term for a remote and barbarous people bent on warfare.  Many scholars believe the reference is to an area which, today, is located in southern Russia.  They also believe this to be the area of Gog and Magog.  Some suggest that Mesech is an earlier form of Moscow.  The word Kedar means blackness.  They used blackened animal skins to make their tents.  These people were Bedouin in practice and extremely violent.  They survived by making victims of others.  This psalm is meant to share how the writer felt while living among those who hate God.  This could have been written regarding the diaspora, but if David wrote it, perhaps he was referring to his time fleeing from Saul or Absalom.  Either way, it perfectly describes the pilgrim’s experience as he journeys toward the land of Jehovah.  The writer specifically seeks God’s favor so his soul does not become a casualty to those who hate peace.  He is not asking for deliverance from those around him.  Rather, he is simply asking for protection so that which does surround him does not sap the life from his soul.

One can only imagine the internal struggles David had while fleeing family.  He had to run from his father-in-law for thirteen years.  He ran from Absalom for a few months.  During these times, no doubt, he felt deeply rejected and persecuted.  It might be argued that David did play a small part in the rebellion of Absalom.  But not Saul.  David did nothing wrong.  He endured slander and persecution from his father-in-law, who wanted him dead.  There is no record of David spending any time in Mesech or with Kedar, but the analogy is true, nonetheless.  To say these times were discouraging is putting it mildly, to say the least.  He had to be monumentally discouraged.  Maybe even bordering on serious depression.  People who were supposed to be his closest supporters wanted him dead.  This had to weigh down on him.  After a few years of running from Saul, David settled in the land of the Philistines.  He knew Saul, although crazy, would not venture into enemy territory.  He was safe for the moment.  But raiders came while he and his men were out.  They took everything, including their wives and children.  The men were so upset with David that David removed himself from everyone and “encouraged himself in the LORD.”

We live in a hostile world.  The world hates God and hates God’s people.  No one, no matter how hard one might try, will be immune from the wrath of the God haters.  No one.  We will all live in Mesech and dwell in the tents of Kedar.  We cannot understand it.  We are peaceful people.  We may talk about sin, conviction, and faith.  But we do not start wars.  Seeking conversion is not by force.  We don’t want to make enemies of anyone!  We seek to convert others to Christ.  But that is not because they are enemies.  Rather, we desire to be friendly.  The world simply cannot stomach any truth that will bring conviction to the soul.  If it does, then they seek to destroy it.  David did nothing wrong.  He served the king faithfully.  He honored the LORD’s anointed.  He loved the LORD with his whole heart.  But there he was.  He was living among those who loved to war.  Living like this had the potential to change who and what he was.  This is what he was concerned with.  This was his prayer.  If he had to live among those who loved war, then so be it.  It was freedom from the influence he was seeking, and not freedom from proximity.  We should pray the same.  We live in a hostile world.  We should pray this hostile world does not influence us contrary to Christlikeness.