The Psalms of Degrees. The Psalms of Degrees have to do with the restoration of Israel, particularly the ten tribes.¹ The two tribes will be in the land of Israel during the great tribulation. When the king of the north sweeps through Israel, all of the unbelieving Jews will be killed. Only the faithful remnant will be sheltered. The ten tribes also will be brought back, from the dust of the nations (Daniel 12:1). Once the two tribes are purged, the ten tribes will be woken up. God will bring them back into the land. Psalm 120 – 139 are the Psalms of degrees, which are like the steps those ten tribes will take on their way back to the land. It begins in Psa. 120 with some dwelling in Meshech (Russia) and Kedar (Iraq), surrounded by their enemies. Then in Psa. 121 they look to the Lord for help. In Psa. 122 they encourage each other to go back. In Psa. 133 finally the two tribes and the ten are joined together, the old split healed, and brethren dwell together in unity. In Ezekiel we find that the rebels from the ten tribes will be purged out at the border of the land. The all the descendants of the remnant will not depart from the Lord (Isa. 59:20; 60:21). In this way, “all Israel shall be saved”.

 

Psalm 120. This Psalm gives us the first movements of faith in the ten tribes of Israel in their far off lands, surrounded by enemies. God will work in the hearts of the ten tribes before the angels are used to lead them home to Israel (Matt. 24:31). There are enemies around, and this might refer to apostate brethren on one hand, or else those of the nations around who resist their answering the call of God. There will be nations that do help the returning tribes, and they will be blessed (Isa. 49:22-23; 60:8-11).

 

vv.1-7 The Ten Tribes Awaking in the Far Off Lands. The Psalms of degrees, which give the steps the ten tribes will take on their way back to the land of Israel, begin here with the tribes dwelling in far off lands. They are in trouble, most likely because of the resistance they will face from the nations around. They call out to Jehovah, the God of Israel. This shows that God will do a work in their hearts, causing many of the scattered ten tribes to be born again. They look forward to the judgment of Jehovah against those who lie with a deceitful tongue. The ten tribes will begin to consider the error of remaining in their far off lands; “Woe is me, that I sojourn in Meshech, that I dwell among the tents of Kedar!” These places can be identified by their names; Meshech (Russia) and Kedar (Iraq). Kedar was a descendant of Ishmael, and they are associated with Arabia (Ezek. 27:21). However, some will definitely come from the “north country” (Jer. 23:7-8). Israel is seen as surrounded by their enemies, who hate peace and cannot be dissuaded.