Last time we talked about the first five of the Songs of Ascent. They mostly had to do with pilgrims journeying from far away lands, anxious to get away from people who put down the truth of who God is and come into God’s presence in Jerusalem.
This time we will see the next five psalms, which generally have to do with foreign people’s oppressing the children of Israel and trying to wipe them out. The Psalmist prays to Yahweh to turn that curse around to a blessing!
For us, we who are part of God’s family often live our lives under pressure—pressure to reflect God’s character and be an ambassador for the gospel while enduring difficulties, trials, tribulations, and temptations. Let’s look at some ways to handle these pressures and continue to bear fruit for the Lord.
1 – 2
The psalmist paints two pictures of the Lord. First, He is like Mt Zion, the mountain where the Temple stood. Trusting in God means trusting in something stable and lasting, unlike those that reject the Lord.
Jerusalem was built on a series of hills and the psalmist sees this and feels the protection of the Lord surrounding His people.
3 – 5
As opposed to those who trust in God, those that reject Him will not stay in power. This was both a promise to Israel but also a greater promise to us. God will remove those who reject Him. He will show His goodness to those who love Him and “banish” those that do not.
Those that do not want anything to do with God and His Messiah Jesus will not have to. But in that, they will be separated from everything that is good.
In terms of living the Christian life under pressure, the lesson here is two-fold:
Our God, and our relationship with Him, gives us stability through rocky times.
The king of this world has been defeated, along with his power; so don’t let him influence you any more.
Psalm 126
Psalm 126 seems to be written as a prayer for deliverance from Babylon.
1 – 3
When the children of Israel were taken to Babylon, they longed to come back to the Promised Land. In their dreams they laughed and sang again at home.
Two things come to mind here—one is the great thing that the Lord has done for us in bringing us salvation from sin and into eternal life through Jesus. That’s something to shout about!
The other are the dreams that we have of a coming age when evil will be banished and Jesus will rule this world in complete and total righteousness.
4 – 6
So here the psalmist is asking God to make those dreams come true. “Watercourses in the Negev” refer to wadis or occasional streams that only filled when there was a lot of rain. It might seem like a time of great dryness as they are prisoners in a foreign land, but when they return they will surely plant seeds and be there to reap the harvest.
The lessons on living a life of fruitfulness despite pressure are these:
1. We need to remember that it is the Lord who causes us to be fruitful, no matter how spiritually dry a place the Lord has placed us in.
2. The seeds that you plant for the Lord will bear fruit, no matter how much anguish or difficulty you encounter along the way.
John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me.
Psalm 127
This psalm was written by David’s son, Solomon.
1 – 2
It’s interesting that Solomon wrote this psalm as the one who oversaw the building of God’s temple. He realizes that no matter how big or small the project, unless God directs it, it will fail.
One thing we have to keep in mind is when the Lord does build something, it might not be as impressive as the Temple; it might be as simple as a kind word of encouragement to someone who is discouraged. But also, no matter how grand a thing that is built, if we do it in our strength and purpose, and not God’s, we might as well not even undertake it.
That’s important because sometimes when we don’t see success as this age defines it, we start working harder—trying to help God out. Don’t bother.
Yes, work hard, but do what God calls you to do and look for success metrics as He would define them—lives transformed, hearts mended, seeds planted. Then you can sleep peacefully knowing you have engaged in God’s work.
3 – 5
Here the psalmist declares the blessings of the Lord that would be very meaningful to his culture—children were a huge blessing in an agrarian society that depended on having hands to help in the labor. Sons were a special blessing because they could keep the family name going.
Success with a strong family was a badge of honor in that culture.
Lessons for a fruit-filled life are:
Build on what the Lord has done with the Lord’s direction and strength:
1Cor. 3:9 For we are God’s coworkers. You are God’s field, God’s building. 10 According to God’s grace that was given to me, I have laid a foundation as a skilled master builder, and another builds on it. But each one must be careful how he builds on it. 11 For no one can lay any other foundation than what has been laid down. That foundation is Jesus Christ. 12 If anyone builds on that foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw, 13 each one’s work will become obvious, for the day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire; the fire will test the quality of each one’s work. 14 If anyone’s work that he has built survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned up, it will be lost, but he will be saved; yet it will be like an escape through fire.
Blessings of your work may not be honor for you, but more workers for God.
Matthew 9:37 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. 38 Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”
Psalm 128
Just because fruitfulness may mean more for God’s kingdom does not mean we get no benefit, and Psalm 128 gives us a picture of those benefits.
1 – 4
There are distinct blessings to one who loves and serves God.
Your work will be blessed (vs 2)
Your relationships will be blessed (vs 3)
Your heart will be blessed. (vs 3)
This doesn’t mean that there will be no hard times. In fact, the very next psalm details some of those times.
But in the final analysis, those that love God experience a fruitfulness that is beyond compare. But notice it comes to one who “fears the Lord.” You cannot experience the blessings of God outside of a relationship that includes recognizing our lack and His purity and authority as King of Kings.
5 – 6
In the ancient Near East the ultimate earthly blessing was prosperity of the nation, long life, and healthy offspring. As families traveled together to Jerusalem, singing these songs, they could rejoice in the fruitfulness God had given them. And it is truly wonderful when God blesses us with children, both physical and spiritual.
1Cor. 4:2 In this regard, it is expected of managers that each one of them be found faithful.
Psalm 129
Even when you do everything right, the enemy will not let up on his attacks.
1 – 4
In its early days, Israel was often plagued by attacks, but no one was able to overthrow the land. The picture in verse 3 is of a master beating his slave, leaving striped scars on the back.
Yet the Lord cut the cords used as those whips even as He drove back Israel’s enemies.
5 – 8
The enemies of Israel are described like weeds that come up on the roof but are burned by the heat before they can even seed.
The enemy has weapons but they pail in comparison with God’s
Isaiah 54:17 “No weapon formed against you will succeed, and you will refute any accusation raised against you in court. This is the heritage of the LORD’s servants, and their righteousness is from Me.”
2 Cor 10:4 since the weapons of our warfare are not worldly, but are powerful through God for the demolition of strongholds. We demolish arguments 5 and every high-minded thing that is raised up against the knowledge of God, taking every thought captive to obey Christ.
The temptations and taunts of the enemy may seem constant, but they are also under God’s control
1Pet. 5:8 Be serious! Be alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. 9 Resist him and be firm in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are being experienced by your fellow believers throughout the world.
James 4:7 Therefore, submit to God. But resist the Devil, and he will flee from you.
Conclusions:
Our God, and our relationship with Him, gives us stability through rocky times.
The king of this world has been defeated, along with his power; so don’t let him influence you any more.
We need to remember that it is the Lord who causes us to be fruitful, no matter how spiritually dry a place the Lord has placed us in.
The seeds that you plant for the Lord will bear fruit, no matter how much anguish or difficulty you encounter along the way.
Build on what the Lord has done with the Lord’s direction and strength.
Blessings of your work may not be honor for you, but more workers for God.
Those that love God experience a fruitfulness that is beyond compare to the world’s rewards.
The enemy has weapons but they pail in comparison with God’s
The temptations and taunts of the enemy may seem constant, but they are also under God’s control
