1201 I call on the Lord in my distress, and he answers me.
1201 In my distress I cried unto the Lord, and he heard me.
1201 In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me.
1201 I'm in trouble. I cry to God, desperate for an answer:
1201 A Song of Ascents. In my distress I cried to the Lord, And He heard me.
1201 I took my troubles to the Lord ; I cried out to him, and he answered my prayer.
7 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
7 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
7 "Don't bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need.
7 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
7 "Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.
(Read Matthew 7:7-11)
Prayer is the appointed means for obtaining what we need. Pray; pray often; make a business of prayer, and be serious and earnest in it. Ask, as a beggar asks alms. Ask, as a traveller asks the way. Seek, as for a thing of value that we have lost; or as the merchantman that seeks goodly pearls. Knock, as he that desires to enter into the house knocks at the door. Sin has shut and barred the door against us; by prayer we knock. Whatever you pray for, according to the promise, shall be given you, if God see it fit for you, and what would you have more? This is made to apply to all that pray aright; every one that asketh receiveth, whether Jew or Gentile, young or old, rich or poor, high or low, master or servant, learned or unlearned, all are alike welcome to the throne of grace, if they come in faith. It is explained by a comparison taken from earthly parents, and their readiness to give their children what they ask. Parents are often foolishly fond, but God is all-wise; he knows what we need, what we desire, and what is fit for us. Let us never suppose our heavenly Father would bid us pray, and then refuse to hear, or give us what would be hurtful.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 120:1
Commentary on Psalm 120:1-4
(Read Psalm 120:1-4)
The psalmist was brought into great distress by a deceitful tongue. May every good man be delivered from lying lips. They forged false charges against him. In this distress, he sought God by fervent prayer. God can bridle their tongues. He obtained a gracious answer to this prayer. Surely sinners durst not act as they do, if they knew, and would be persuaded to think, what will be in the end thereof. The terrors of the Lord are his arrows; and his wrath is compared to burning coals of juniper, which have a fierce heat, and keep fire very long. This is the portion of the false tongue; for all that love and make a lie, shall have their portion in the lake that burns eternally.