John Calvin Commentary Psalms 120:5

"Woe is me, that I sojourn in Meshech, That I dwell among the tents of Kedar!" — Psalms 120:5 (ASV)

Alas for me! that I have been a sojourner in Mesech. David complains that he was doomed to linger for a long time among a perverse people, his condition resembling that of some wretched individual who is compelled to live until he grows old in sorrowful exile. The Mesechites and Kedarenes, as is well known, were Eastern tribes; the former of which derived their origin from Japhet, as Moses informs us in Genesis 10:2; and the latter from a son of Ishmael (Genesis 25:13).

To take the latter for a people of Italy, who were anciently called Hetrurians, is altogether absurd and without the slightest probability. Some would have the word Mesech to be an appellative noun; and because מש mashak, signifies to draw, to protract, they think that the Prophet bewails his protracted banishment, seeing no prospect of its end.

But as immediately after he adds Kedar, by which term the Ishmaelites are unquestionably intended, I have no doubt that Mesech is to be understood as referring to the Arabians who were their neighbors. If anyone believes that the Mesechites obtained this name from their dexterity in shooting with the bow, I will make no objections, provided it is admitted that the Prophet—as if he had been confined within a country of robbers—expresses the irksomeness of an uncomfortable and annoying place of residence.

Although he names the Arabians, yet under the terms employed he speaks metaphorically of his own countrymen, just as he elsewhere applies the appellation of Gentiles to the corrupt and degenerate Jews. But here, in order to put even more dishonor upon his enemies, he has purposely selected a name to designate them, taken from some of the savage and barbarous nations whose horrible cruelty was well known to the Jews.

From these words we are taught that scarcely a more distressing evil can befall the people of God than for them to be placed in circumstances where, despite living a holy and inoffensive life, they still cannot escape the calumnies of venomous tongues. It should be observed that although David was living in his own country, he was still a stranger in it, nothing being more grievous to him than to be in the company of wicked men.

Hence we learn that no sin is more detestable to God, by whose Spirit David spoke, than the false accusations which shamefully deface the beauty of God’s Church and lay it waste, causing it to differ little from dens of robbers or other places made infamous by the barbarous cruelty committed there.

Now if the place where the uprightness of good men is overwhelmed by the accusations of lying lips is converted for the children of God into a region of miserable exile, how could they have pleasure, or rather, how could they fail to feel the bitterest sorrow, in abiding in a part of the world where the sacred name of God is shamefully profaned by horrible blasphemies and his truth obscured by detestable lies?

David exclaims, Alas for me! because, dwelling among false brethren and a bastard race of Abraham, he was wrongfully harassed and tormented by them, although he had behaved toward them in good conscience. Since, then, at the present day, in the Church of Rome, religion is dishonored by all manner of disgraceful imputations, faith torn in pieces, light turned into darkness, and the majesty of God exposed to the grossest mockeries, it will certainly be impossible for those who have any feeling of true piety within them to remain in the midst of such pollutions without great anguish of spirit.