John Gill Commentary Psalms 120:1

"In my distress I cried unto Jehovah, And he answered me." — Psalms 120:1 (ASV)

In my distress I cried unto the Lord
Being at a distance from his own country, or, however, from the house of God; persecuted by men, under the lash of their tongues; reproached, abused, and belied by them: in this his case and circumstances, he betook himself by prayer to the Lord, and importuned help and deliverance of him, knowing that none could help him as he; see (Psalms 18:6) ;

and he heard me ;
answered him, and delivered him. The petition he put up follows, which shows his case, and his particular distress.