The First Step in Following Jesus Isn’t What You Think
- Thad DeBuhr
- 1 day ago
- 12 min read
Study Guide: Psalm 120
Have you ever been driving somewhere and suddenly realized you were going the wrong direction?
Maybe you missed a turn twenty miles ago. Maybe you misunderstood the directions.
Maybe you were talking and simply weren't paying attention. Whatever happened, there's a moment when you look at the map and realize:
I'm going the wrong way.
At that point, you have a couple of options.
You can get angry about it. You can blame whoever gave you the directions. You can complain about how much time you've wasted. You can convince yourself that maybe this road will eventually get you there anyway.
Or you can do the one thing that actually changes your situation.
Turn around.
Here's what won't help: driving faster.
You can have a full tank of gas, a powerful engine, great intentions and your foot on the floor, but if you're traveling the wrong direction, going faster just gets you farther from where you wanted to be.
That's a pretty good picture of where our journey through the Psalms of Ascent begins.
Psalm 120 is the first song.
And surprisingly, the journey doesn't begin with someone walking.
It begins with someone realizing they don't want to stay where they are.
SETTING THE SCENE:
Psalm 120 is the first of fifteen Songs of Ascents, Psalms 120–134, connected with people making their way toward Jerusalem. If we're picturing this series as a pilgrimage, this is where someone packs their bags and starts the journey.
But the song doesn't begin in Jerusalem, at the Temple, or with a beautiful mountain view. It begins with trouble:
“I took my troubles to the LORD…”
We don't know who wrote Psalm 120 or exactly when it was written. What we do know is that the writer feels surrounded by lies, hostility and conflict. He wants peace, while the people around him seem ready for a fight.
He's essentially saying, “I've lived here long enough.”
And that's where our journey begins.
🎵 Worship the Word With Us
What if the Scripture you’re studying this week became the song you were singing all week long?
YJJ Worship features unique worship music inspired by the very passages we’re studying together. These songs are designed to help the truth of God’s Word move from your head to your heart—and stay with you long after the Bible study ends.
Listen during your drive, morning coffee, prayer time, or throughout your day.
Study the Word. Sing the Word. Live the Word.
Learn more about our exciting out-of-the-box ministry here
Before you go through the study guide, read the whole Psalm.
I would suggest reading or listening to the Bible passages in two different bible translations:
First read it in NASB or NKJV, then read it again from a NLT, NIV or ESV Bible.
READ PSALM 120
Before going any farther, read the entire Psalm.
It's only seven verses.
As you read, don't try to figure everything out yet. Just listen for the emotion.
What does this person want?
What is bothering him?
What does he seem tired of?
And maybe most importantly:
Why would this be the song that begins the journey?
1. THE JOURNEY BEGINS WITH TROUBLE
The first words immediately tell us something is wrong:
“I took my troubles to the LORD; I cried out to him, and he answered my prayer.” — Psalm 120:1 NLT
That's an interesting way to begin a journey toward God.
The writer doesn't have everything figured out. He isn't describing some amazing spiritual high. He's in trouble, and he calls out to God.
That's actually encouraging.
Sometimes we think we need to straighten ourselves out before we can seriously follow Jesus.
Psalm 120 starts with someone right in the middle of the mess.
That's where you begin too.
You don't need a better starting point.
You simply need to decide which direction you're going from here.
2. “RESCUE ME FROM LIARS”
The writer's first complaint isn't poverty, sickness or hardship. He's sick of lies and deception.
“Rescue me, O LORD, from liars and from all deceitful people.” — Psalm 120:2 NLT
The sharp arrows and burning coals in verses 3–4 aren't instructions for revenge. They picture the seriousness and destructive power of deceit and God's judgment of it.
Elsewhere in the Bible, harmful speech is similarly compared with weapons because words can do real damage.
But there's another connection for us.
Following Jesus begins to open our eyes to the lies around us—and the lies we've believed ourselves.
3. SOME LIES DON'T SOUND LIKE LIES ANYMORE
That's where Psalm 120 can get uncomfortable.
Most of us would say:
“Of course I don't like lying.”
But some lies have been repeated so many times that we don't recognize them as lies anymore.
Think about messages like:
If I just make a little more money, then I'll be happy.
If enough people approve of me, then I'll know I'm valuable.
If someone hurts me, I have every right to hurt them back.
More stuff will make my life better.
Success means people know my name.
My side is always right and those people are always wrong.
I can follow Jesus without allowing Him to interfere very much with how I actually live.
Those messages surround us.
And if we hear something long enough, we can start living as though it's true without ever stopping to question it.
Psalm 120 begins with somebody waking up and saying:
Wait a minute. Something about this isn't right.
4. “I HAVE LIVED TOO LONG…”
Then we reach the emotional center of the Psalm:
“How I suffer in far-off Meshech. It pains me to live in distant Kedar.” — Psalm 120:5 NLT
What are Meshech and Kedar?
Meshech was associated with people far to Israel's north or northwest. Kedar was associated with Arab tribes in the desert regions to Israel's southeast. They were nowhere near each other, which is one reason many interpreters understand the writer's language as a picture of alienation rather than a literal claim that he somehow lived in both places.
In plain language, he's saying:
“I feel like a stranger here. I don't belong with what is happening around me.”
Then comes the line that really matters:
“I am tired of living among people who hate peace.” — Psalm 120:6 NLT
In other words:
I've been here long enough.
Sometimes that's where real change begins.
I'm tired of being angry all the time.
I'm tired of carrying this grudge.
I'm tired of constantly comparing myself with everyone else.
I'm tired of pretending.
I'm tired of chasing things that never satisfy me.
I'm tired of saying I follow Jesus while allowing everything else around me to determine how I live.
That dissatisfaction doesn't have to be the end of something.
It can be the beginning.
5. THIS IS WHAT THE BIBLE MEANS BY “REPENT”
Here's one of those church words that can sound much more complicated than it is.
Repent.
Repent doesn't mean “feel terrible about yourself.”
It means turn around.
You're heading one direction, realize where that road leads, and change direction.
Remember our opening story?
You can drive incredibly fast in the wrong direction and only get farther away.
Following Jesus doesn't begin with:
“Try harder.”
It begins with:
“Change direction.”
That's why Psalm 120 works so beautifully as the first song of this journey.
Before the pilgrim can travel toward Jerusalem, he has to recognize:
I'm not where I want to be.
6. “I SEARCH FOR PEACE”
The Psalm ends with a striking contrast:
“I search for peace; but when I speak of peace, they want war!” — Psalm 120:7 NLT
The writer knows what he wants.
Peace.
The Hebrew word behind this is shalom. It means more than simply nobody fighting. It carries the idea of life being whole, healthy and as it should be.
The writer looks at the world around him and essentially says:
This isn't right.
Lies aren't right.
Deception isn't right.
Constant fighting isn't right.
Hatred isn't right.
There has to be something better than this.
That desire for something better gets him moving.
And that's where Psalm 120 begins sounding a lot like the invitation of Jesus:
“Follow me.”
There is another way to live.
7. YOU'RE NOT JUST LEAVING SOMETHING
This is really important.
Turning around has two parts.
You're turning FROM something.
But you're also turning TOWARD something—or, for a follower of Jesus, toward Someone.
If following Jesus becomes nothing more than:
Don't do this.
Stop doing that.
Quit this.
Avoid that.
We've missed the point.
The ancient pilgrim wasn't leaving home simply because he hated where he lived.
He had a destination.
Jerusalem.
The same is true for us.
We're not simply trying to become people who lie less. We're learning to become truthful.
We're not simply trying to stop hating people. We're learning to love.
We're not simply trying to become less selfish. We're learning generosity.
We're not simply trying to give up bad things.
We're learning to follow Jesus.
That's a very different way of looking at change.
8. THIS ISN'T JUST FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE NEW TO JESUS
It's easy for someone who has followed Jesus for thirty or forty years to hear a lesson about repentance and think:
“Yep. New Christians really need to hear this.”
Not so fast.
We all drift.
We pick up attitudes.
We believe things that aren't true.
We become comfortable with habits we once knew weren't healthy.
We get bitter.
We get distracted.
We start chasing things.
And sometimes Jesus gets our attention and says:
You're heading the wrong way here.
Turn around.
The mature follower of Jesus isn't someone who never needs to turn around.
It's someone who learns to recognize the wrong direction sooner.
9. THE FIRST STEP OF A LONG OBEDIENCE
Throughout this series we're using Eugene Peterson's wonderful phrase:
“A long obedience in the same direction.”
Psalm 120 forces us to deal with something before we can talk about staying in the same direction for a long time.
Which direction?
The writer has had enough of the lies.
He's tired of the fighting.
He wants peace.
He cries out to God.
And something inside him says:
It's time to leave.
Maybe that's exactly where someone reading this needs to begin.
Not necessarily leaving your house, your job or your town.
Maybe it's leaving behind a lie you've believed.
A grudge you've carried.
A habit that's controlling you.
A priority that's quietly taken over your life.
A way of treating people that doesn't look anything like Jesus.
You don't have to have the entire journey figured out.
You just need to face the right direction.
Learn more about supporting this ministry here.
Why Context Changes Everything
Without context, Psalm 120 can sound like a strange little seven-verse complaint about liars, Meshech, Kedar, arrows and burning coals.
You might read it and think:
“Okay...what am I supposed to do with that?”
But put it where the Bible puts it.
It's Psalm 120.
It's the first Song of Ascent.
The Psalms that follow increasingly draw us into the world of pilgrimage, Jerusalem, Zion, worship and people traveling together. Psalm 122 explicitly pictures people going up to Jerusalem.
Now Psalm 120 takes on another dimension.
The collection doesn't begin at the destination.
It begins with distress, alienation and longing for peace.
Meshech and Kedar also make more sense when we understand their geography. They represent distant peoples on opposite edges of Israel's world, reinforcing the writer's feeling of being far from where he belongs.
And the arrows and burning coals make more sense when we understand how seriously the ancient world took destructive speech. Lies weren't harmless words; words could function like weapons.
Context changes this Psalm from:
“God, protect me from some bad people.”
Into a much richer opening song:
“God, I'm surrounded by a way of living I don't want anymore. I'm calling to You. I want peace. It's time for me to start moving in another direction.”
And that is an incredibly appropriate place to begin a journey toward God.
FOUR WAYS TO THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU'VE LEARNED
1. LOOK BACK — What did I hear?
What part of Psalm 120 stood out to you?
Was it the lies?
The writer crying out to God?
His statement that he'd lived there too long?
His desire for peace?
Before thinking about what you need to do, simply ask:
What did God bring to my attention?
2. LOOK IN — Is there something I need to leave?
The writer reaches a point where he's essentially saying:
I've lived this way long enough.
Is there anything in your life where you're beginning to feel the same way?
Maybe you've carried bitterness long enough.
Maybe you've been chasing approval long enough.
Maybe you've believed something about yourself that simply isn't true.
Maybe you've allowed anger, fear, money, politics, success or something else to shape you more than Jesus has.
Ask yourself:
Is there a direction in my life that needs to change?
3. LOOK AROUND — What lies am I hearing?
Think about the messages you're surrounded by every day.
Advertising.
Social media.
Entertainment.
Work.
Friends.
News.
Our culture constantly tells us what should make us happy, what success looks like, who our enemies are and what we need in order to matter.
Ask:
Which messages have I accepted without ever stopping to ask whether they're actually true?
And don't just look at “those people.”
Look at yourself.
4. LOOK AHEAD — What's my next step?
Don't make this complicated.
If Jesus is showing you that you're traveling the wrong direction somewhere, what's one actual step you could take?
Maybe you need to apologize.
Forgive.
Tell the truth.
Ask for help.
Walk away from something.
Start spending time with people who will help you follow Jesus.
Whatever it is, remember:
Turning around isn't the entire journey. It's simply the next step.
And that's enough for today.
Journey Group OR ME & 3 Small Group Discussion Starters:
If you're using this guide with your Journey Group, Me & 3 group, or a few friends, don't feel like you need to work through every question. Start with something that gets people talking and then let the conversation go deeper.
Psalm 120 begins with someone realizing, “I’ve lived here long enough.” Before digging into the Psalm, think about your own journey:
Have you ever reached a point where you realized something in your life needed to change direction? What finally helped you see it—and what happened next?
Keep it as personal or light as you’re comfortable with. The goal is simply to get everyone talking before you dive into Psalm 120 together.
Remember This
Following Jesus begins when I recognize the direction I've been going isn't taking me where I want to go—and I turn toward Him.
You don't have to see the entire road. You just have to face the right direction and take the next step.
FINAL THOUGHT
Psalm 120 is a surprisingly fitting place for the Psalms of Ascent to begin.
The writer hasn't arrived.
He's not standing in Jerusalem celebrating.
He's surrounded by lies, conflict and people who don't want the same peace he wants.
And finally something inside him says:
I've been here long enough.
That's where many journeys with Jesus begin too.
We finally recognize that something we've believed, pursued or practiced isn't taking us where we thought it would.
And Jesus doesn't simply yell:
“Try harder!”
He invites us:
Turn around and follow Me.
Tomorrow the pilgrim will actually be on the road. He'll look toward the mountains and ask one of the most important questions any traveler can ask:
“Where does my help come from?”
That's Psalm 121.
Experience the God of the Wilderness
Throughout the Bible, the desert isn't just a place of heat and sand; it is God’s favorite classroom. It’s where He took Moses to see the burning bush, where He shaped the Israelites into a nation, and where Jesus was prepared for His ministry.
There is something about stepping away from the "safe structures" of the city and into the stillness of the high desert that clears the noise and lets you hear God's voice.
Are you willing to come to the wilderness for a time of preparation and growth? If you feel God moving you out of your comfort zone and into a deeper dependence on Him, we invite you to join us on our off-grid property in Northwest Arizona.
Arizona Bible Experience Retreat 📅 Dates: October 17-23, 2026 📍 Location: Meadview, AZ
Incredible scenery, excellent teaching, and friendships forged from slot canyons to campfires. We have limited spots available to keep the experience intimate and impactful.
Several lodging options. Daily excursions. Shared meals, campfires, and more! Includes a day at the West Rim of the Grand Canyon and so much more.
IT'S NOT TOO LATE:
Every September, the whole YJJ community rallies together in beautiful North Idaho for our annual gathering. We call it "The Pig Out-Play & Praise"—and for good reason! We smoke a whole hog and briskets for a week of incredible food, deep fellowship, and powerful worship led by two different teams.
The Biblical Connection:
Did you know that God actually built "big meet-ups" into the very rhythm of life for His people? From the Appointed Feasts to the harvest gatherings, the ancient Israelites were commanded to stop, gather, and celebrate what God was doing. The value of these rhythms remains true for us today. We need these "mountain top" moments to refuel and reconnect.
Registration is OPEN now! Get your tickets here:
HAVE YOU WATCHED THIS VIDEO YET?
MORE RESOURCES TO HELP YOU GROW AS A CHRISTIAN
Read Our Full Statement of Faith: CLICK HERE
Your Jesus Journey is an independent, non-denominational Christian ministry. We're fueled by God's grace and the generosity of our supporters. Our team—led by Pastor Thad and his wife Kaila—is made up of dedicated disciples from all over the United States. Together, we work to help people understand the Bible, find Christian friends, and grow as disciple-makers.
Be sure to grab our free E-Book, "Stop Reading the Bible Wrong: 7 Strategic Shifts that Change Everything." Just click the Free Gift button at the top of our website, and we'll send it to you today!
Go to https://www.yourjesusjourney.com/journeygroups to learn more about Journey Groups, get connected in one, or even learn how to start your own. It's like a spiritual potluck, but instead of questionable casseroles, we share insights and grow closer to God. See you there!
You can also get our FREE in-Depth Bible-Study Guides delivered to your inbox: https://forms.wix.com/r/7330608166566101604.
To learn more about YJJ, Thad and Kaila, and Your Jesus Journey, check out our ABOUT US section: https://www.yourjesusjourney.com/learn-about-thad-and-kaila-and-the-journey-church-online.
There's lots more to see and learn on our website, from our "what we believe" page to hundreds of blogs. We encourage you to swing on by and take a look around at www.YourJesusJourney.com!
Thank you!