Sermon Central
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The Psalms Of Ascent - Psalms 120 To 134
Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jan 27, 2023 (message contributor)
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1. The Songs Of Ascent – Part 1 – The Introduction To These Psalms
Contributed on Jan 27, 2023
We are going to take up a study of The Psalms of Ascent, the Psalms numbered 120 – 134. They are called by various names but they are a wonderful collection of Psalms sung by the pilgrims three times a year as they ascended to Jerusalem in pilgrimage. This is the Introduction.
THE SONGS OF ASCENT – PART 1 – THE INTRODUCTION TO THESE PSALMS We are going to embark on a journey with the study of 15 Psalms that are called “The Songs of Degrees” in the AV, but “The Songs of Ascent” in most other versions. These Psalms go together and were sung on a pilgrimage as the Jews ...read more
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2. The Songs Of Ascent – Part 2 – Psalm 120 – Trouble And Persecution
Contributed on Jan 27, 2023
The first Psalm of Ascent looks at trouble and what to do with lying lips and a deceitful tongue. We have difficulties and persecution but God is the Mighty Rock and our refuge. We dwell in an evil world but God is in control!
THE SONGS OF ASCENT – PART 2 – PSALM 120 – TROUBLE AND PERSECUTION (A). O, THE GRIEF OF THE TROUBLED SOUL {{Psalm 120:1 “In my trouble I cried to the LORD and He answered me.”}} The Introduction for these Psalms has been done in Part 1, and today we commence with Psalm 120, obviously the ...read more
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3. The Songs Of Ascent – Part 3 – Psalm 121 – Can You Know The Lord Who Helps, Keeps And Guards?
Contributed on Feb 1, 2023
We have a faithful God who keeps us always. The Lord will guard all our ways, right through adversity. The testing of faith can only happen in a storm. It will never happen when all is calm and gentle. Angels have charge over us – so much help God has given to us.
THE SONGS OF ASCENT – PART 3 – PSALM 121 – CAN YOU KNOW THE LORD WHO HELPS, KEEPS AND GUARDS? [A]. FROM WHERE DO I FIND MY HELP? {{Psalm 121:1 “I will lift up my eyes to the mountains. From whence shall my help come? Psalm 121:2 My help comes from the LORD who made heaven and earth.”}} This ...read more
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4. The Songs Of Ascent – Part 4 – Psalm 122 – Where Does Your Desire Really Lie?
Contributed on Feb 3, 2023
The pilgrims wound their way to Jerusalem with singing and at last stood before its Gates. Where are our priorities for the things of the Lord? We examine our commitment and our relationship to God, and then consider the future of Israel with regard to thrones.
THE SONGS OF ASCENT – PART 4 – PSALM 122 – WHERE DOES YOUR DESIRE REALLY LIE? PSALM 122:0 A SONG OF ASCENTS, OF DAVID. [A]. THIS IS A MATTER OF COMMITMENT AND RELATIONSHIP {{Psalm 122:1 “I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD.”}} Let us hear from Justin:- ...read more
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5. The Songs Of Ascent – Part 5 – Psalm 123 – Lift Up Your Eyes To The Most Gracious God
Contributed on Feb 9, 2023
The pilgrims sang as they made their way to Jerusalem but they knew the joy of lifting up their eyes to the Lord. Lifting up our eyes is most important. We look at the world of scoffers and contempt, and consider the great persecution of French Christians.
THE SONGS OF ASCENT – PART 5 – PSALM 123 – LIFT UP YOUR EYES TO THE MOST GRACIOUS GOD Psalm 123 A Song of Ascents. Today we continue the Psalms of Ascent with the next in the series, which is a short Psalm, number 123. The psalm looks upward to God and then inwardly to the problems, and ...read more
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6. The Songs Of Ascent – Part 6 – Psalm 124 – The Lord Is On Our Side For He Is Our Help
Contributed on Feb 17, 2023
This psalm speaks of the great help of the Lord to deliver from enemies and the ability of the Lord to keep His own. Israel failed over and over, but the nation will turn to the Lord and be saved. Failure and defeat are not always the end.
THE SONGS OF ASCENT – PART 6 – PSALM 124 – THE LORD IS ON OUR SIDE FOR HE IS OUR HELP Psalm 124 - A Song of Ascents, of David [A]. INTRODUCTION We are moving steadily through the Psalms of Ascent and today we do Psalm 124. This collection of 15 beautiful Psalms was sung by the Hebrew pilgrims ...read more
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7. The Songs Of Ascent – Part 7 – Psalm 125 – The Unmovable Mountain And The Righteous And The Wicked
Contributed on Feb 17, 2023
Mt Zion was a comforting security for the pilgrims. It means our stability too. Wickedness rules our nations but we must uphold the scepter of righteousness and do good to one another for God does good for us. Contrast of good and evil.
THE SONGS OF ASCENT – PART 7 – PSALM 125 – THE UNMOVABLE MOUNTAIN AND THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED Psalm 125 A Song of Ascents [A]. THE GREAT SIMILE – THE MIGHTY COMPARISON {{Psalm 125:1 “Those who trust in the LORD are as Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever.”}} We take ...read more
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8. The Songs Of Ascent – Part 8 – Psalm 126 – Sow In Bitter Tears And Reap The Joyful Harvest
Contributed on Mar 2, 2023
Why is it we are slow or forgetful to recall the good things the Lord has done for us; not JUST the good things, but GREAT things. Those who sow in tears will reap in joyful shouting. Some forget what God did for them. Never lose hope for joy will come.
THE SONGS OF ASCENT – PART 8 – PSALM 126 – SOW IN BITTER TEARS AND REAP THE JOYFUL HARVEST Psalm 126:0 A Song of Ascents. [A]. NOT A DREAM, NOT AN ILLUSION, BUT NOW REALITY {{Psalm 126:1 “When the LORD brought back the captive ones of Zion, we were like those who dream.”}} “I just can’t ...read more
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9. The Songs Of Ascent – Part 9 – Psalm 127 – Without The Lord All Labour Is In Vain – And A Look At The Evil Of Solomon
Contributed on Mar 19, 2023
The Lord must build the house (be the foundation for your life). There is no other foundation and it is vain to think otherwise. The Psalm says children are a gift from the Lord. We look at the evil of Solomon who was an idolater, but wrote this Psalm early in his life.
THE SONGS OF ASCENT – PART 9 – PSALM 127 – WITHOUT THE LORD ALL LABOUR IS IN VAIN – AND A LOOK AT THE EVIL OF SOLOMON PSALM 127 A SONG OF ASCENTS, OF SOLOMON [A]. SADLY WE WILL CONSIDER SOLOMON WHO WROTE THE PSALM The first things we note here is that this Psalm was penned by Solomon. This ...read more
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10. The Songs Of Ascent – Part 10 – Psalm 128 – The Blessing Of The Lord With Flow On Results. Fear The Lord!
Contributed on Mar 22, 2023
Those who fear the Lord and walk in His ways will know God’s blessing. For the Jew it meant blessing in the land, but for Christians we have blessings in the heavenlies and spiritual blessings. Nations have rejected the Lord and can’t be blessed, but will get worse.
THE SONGS OF ASCENT – PART 10 – PSALM 128 – THE BLESSING OF THE LORD WITH FLOW ON RESULTS. FEAR THE LORD! PSALM 128:0 A SONG OF ASCENTS. BLESSING IN EVERY VERSE [A]. INTRODUCTION This is such a mixed Psalm dealing mostly with blessing but the whole of it must depend on verse 1. The ...read more
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11. The Songs Of Ascent – Part 11 – Psalm 129 – Israel Is The Most Persecuted Nation In History Yet The Lord Is Righteous – Part One Of Three
Contributed on Sep 4, 2023
This Psalm of Ascent has its focus on Israel and the constant persecution it endured. We look at the role churches played in this persecution (and Martin Luther). History must NOT be eradicated but we need to learn from it.
THE SONGS OF ASCENT – PART 11 – PSALM 129 – ISRAEL IS THE MOST PERSECUTED NATION IN HISTORY YET THE LORD IS RIGHTEOUS – PART ONE OF THREE [A]. THE INTRODUCTION The next Psalm in the Songs of Ascent is not an easy one on which to deliver a message as it is more of a bible study Psalm. Also it ...read more
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12. The Songs Of Ascent – Part 12 – Psalm 129 – Israel Is The Most Persecuted Nation In History Yet The Lord Is Righteous – Part Two Of Three
Contributed on Sep 4, 2023
The deepest persecution for Israel is yet to come in the time of the Tribulation. Here we look at the Gog and Magog war and the Battle of Armageddon. In the second half of the Tribulation Israel is heavily persecuted but deliverance comes from God.
THE SONGS OF ASCENT – PART 12 – PSALM 129 – ISRAEL IS THE MOST PERSECUTED NATION IN HISTORY YET THE LORD IS RIGHTEOUS – PART TWO OF THREE The Psalms or Songs of Ascent were sung by the pilgrims going yearly to Jerusalem for three designated feasts, and as they made their way up the incline to ...read more
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13. The Songs Of Ascent – Part 13 – Psalm 129 – Israel Is The Most Persecuted Nation In History Yet The Lord Is Righteous – Part Three Of Three
Contributed on Sep 5, 2023
Psalm 129 continues with this third message looking at how Israel has faced persecution. The final end for the nation is glorious as the Lord’s heritage is Israel, and Jerusalem is the city of the Great King. This Psalm is very Jewish and after the long years of persecution, blessing will come.
THE SONGS OF ASCENT – PART 13 – PSALM 129 – ISRAEL IS THE MOST PERSECUTED NATION IN HISTORY YET THE LORD IS RIGHTEOUS – PART THREE OF THREE Psalm 129 focuses on the persecution endured by Israel and in the two previous parts we looked into some of this. This last Part ends the Psalm but it still ...read more
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14. The Songs Of Ascent – Part 14 – Psalm 130 – From Out Of The Depths To God’s Forgiveness
Contributed on Sep 7, 2023
There are times we cry to the Lord in distress or because of sin. The Lord always hears us. We have a loving compassionate God who forgives our sin. All of us stand condemned but the Lord opened God’s presence for us. Our sins are remembered no more.
THE SONGS OF ASCENT – PART 14 – PSALM 130 – FROM OUT OF THE DEPTHS TO GOD’S FORGIVENESS Just a reminder that this Psalm forms a collection of 15 psalms that were sung by the pilgrims travelling each year to the feasts of Jehovah in Jerusalem and they came as representatives from all over Israel. ...read more
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15. The Songs Of Ascent – Part 15 – Psalm 131 – Resting In Contentment And The Hope Of Israel – Hope In The Lord
Contributed on Feb 8, 2024
Some churches run so many activities that some servants are just worn out. We need more exits and “coming aside to rest” for contentment. Remember activities in the Lord’s name could be a barrier that stops us knowing Jesus better! We look at hope in Israel.
THE SONGS OF ASCENT – PART 15 – PSALM 131 – RESTING IN CONTENTMENT AND THE HOPE OF ISRAEL – HOPE IN THE LORD PSALM 131 A SONG OF ASCENTS, OF DAVID {{Psalm 131:1 “O LORD, my heart is not proud, nor my eyes haughty. Nor do I involve myself in great matters or in things too difficult for ...read more
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16. The Songs Of Ascent – Part 16 – Psalm 132 – What Are The Desires Of Your Heart? Do You Receive Them? Jesus Shall Reign Eternally On David’s Throne
Contributed on Mar 1, 2024
We examine David’s great desire and our desires. What does it mean, “God will give you the desires of your heart?” We look at God’s dwelling place in Zion; the Lord Jesus who will reign from Jerusalem, that being an everlasting reign – “shall sit upon your throne forever” Psalm 132:12
THE SONGS OF ASCENT – PART 16 – PSALM 132 – WHAT ARE THE DESIRES OF YOUR HEART? DO YOU RECEIVE THEM? JESUS SHALL REIGN ETERNALLY ON DAVID’S THRONE [A]. ALL ABOUT DAVID THE KING AND HIS EVERLASTING KINGSHIP Just a recall here as we near the end of these Songs of Ascent. The psalms were sung ...read more
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17. The Songs Of Ascent – Part 17 – Psalm 133 – Brethren Should Dwell In Unity: Good And Pleasant It Is
Contributed on Mar 12, 2024
How blessed is a church that has full unity in the Lord. In this psalm UNITY IS THE THEME and two examples are included. It really is a delightful psalm for meditation and I hope you are blessed by the message.
THE SONGS OF ASCENT – PART 17 – PSALM 133 – BRETHREN SHOULD DWELL IN UNITY: GOOD AND PLEASANT IT IS Psalm 133 A Song of Ascents, of David {{Psalm 133:1 “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity! Psalm 133:2 It is like the precious oil upon the head ...read more
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18. The Songs Of Ascent – Part 18 – Psalm 134 – Blessing Both Ways – God And Man And Message To The Temple Night Watchers – Final Message
Contributed on Mar 22, 2024
This delightful Psalm sees the pilgrims arrive at Jerusalem and in the Temple where they encourage the Temple night watchmen to bless the LORD. A prayer is that the LORD will bless from Zion, and He certainly did and does. Blessings have come from Calvary in Zion. Bless the Lord!
THE SONGS OF ASCENT – PART 18 – PSALM 134 – BLESSING BOTH WAYS – GOD AND MAN AND MESSAGE TO THE TEMPLE NIGHT WATCHERS – FINAL MESSAGE {{Psalm 134:1 “Behold, bless the LORD, all servants of the LORD who serve by night in the house of the LORD! Psalm 134:2 Lift up your hands to the sanctuary and ...read more