Songs of Ascent
Introduction
Together we stand on the threshold of another new year. What will the coming 365 days hold for us. How can we prepare ourselves for the journey through this year? I want no better way to start this year than by focusing on the section of the book of Psalms known as " Songs of Ascents"
Why? Because we are captured today with a tourist mindset. We spend time visiting attractive religious sites when we have the time. We occasionally dip into the bible as if the bible is a special magical fortune telling book, we go and see and hear the latest Christianity personality on the scene, or investigate the latest blessing. Tourists only want the sensational points. But we cannot become mature this way. The Christian life is a climb—a journey of constant growth, sacrifice, and trusting God for what we cannot see. and of obedience. We are not wanderers but are pilgrims, but we are also disciples—always moving and always learning. Wanderers know where they come from but do not know where they are going to But pilgrims know where they came from and where they are going to - we are going to a city made by the hands of God - Heb. 11:10. We are going to a place prepared for us- that where He is we will also be - John 14:3 We are going home.!
The Psalms of Ascent (Psalms 120-134) were sung by worshipers as they made the journey up to Jerusalem for the annual feasts These are what someone called "songs for the road." These songs 15 in number - 120 to 134 are sung by the Hebrew men as they made their way to the Temple in n Jerusalem to attend to the 3 festivals - The feasts of Passover. Pentecost and Tabernacles.
Our places of worship are generally only a short distance from home. But we can still learn from this age-old practice. The life of the Christian is a journey, one with ups and downs. Sometimes the road is easy. Other times it’s not. And you will eventually come face to face with your own weakness. The trials this broken world has to offer, whether internal or external, tend to bring us to terms with our own frailty and vulnerability. But scripture teaches us that this isn’t a bad thing! It’s the humility God desires - Psalm 51:17. It’s a proper view of our place compared to God’s and our need for help. And it is in those moments of realization when we remind ourselves of the attributes of God, when we cling to the truths He has given.
While we wrap our minds around a medical diagnosis, we sing of His sovereignty (135:5-7). When we feel unworthy, we press into His guidance (131). We celebrate the gift of his forgiveness as we fail to reach righteousness (130:4), and in the midst of persecution, we solidify our courage in His strength (125). From the lowest valley of despair, we face upward, pleading for help (123), and trusting it will come.
True worship starts from a low place, knowing our Father carries us upward as we fix our eyes on Him .We do not fix our eyes on the hills but on Him the Maker of the Heavens and Earth. And as we go, with every step, we remind ourselves of the end of our journey. We dwell on the goal: worshiping the one true God
Some of these songs predate the building of the first temple, as four are attributed or written by David. One was written by Solomon, and ten are anonymous. At least one of the songs seems to have come from the post-exilic period, because it speaks of the return of the exiles, and the joy they had because of what God had done for them. Many focus on or refer to Jerusalem or Zion, as Jerusalem was sometimes called.
These Songs of Ascents have been a rich source of worship throughout the history of God’s people. They show that the people of God were not just ascending physically as they sang these song, their hearts were being lifted to God as they testify who He is and what He has done for them.
Psalm 121 uses the repeated words of “watches” and “watch” to remind us that we are always under the watchful care of our loving God. He never nods off on the job; our welfare is of the utmost importance to Him. Yes, in this troubled world we will experience hurt, but He will never allow us to be harmed in the eternal sense of the word. We will always arrive safely home, for no one can pluck us out of His hands.
As second Psalm from this collection that I’d like to highlight is 130. There are so many familiar verses and themes in this song. For those of us who have known “depths,” we also know what it is like to cry out to God with an anguish of soul that this first verse captures: “Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord; O Lord hear my voice.” What a wonderful truth that our loving God is attentive to our desperate cries!
Comforting, too, in such a profound way is the realization that God does not keep a record of our sins (v. 3), for truly who could stand? How grateful we should be that with Him there is forgiveness! But this psalmist reminds us that this is not just a cause for our gratitude, but for our reverential awe of Him. He is such a holy God that if He had not provided a way for us to be forgiven we would have no chance to stand in His presence. Truly His mercy is a reason to walk in the humble fear of the Lord.
Psalm 130 goes on to stress waiting on and hoping in the Lord. Andrew Murray has an excellent book, "Waiting on God" , and as I read it I discovered that many of the verses using the translated “wait” during his time, are now translated as “hope” in the NIV. There is a great link between waiting on God and having hope. We are to wait on Him in a hopeful, trusting manner—not just wishful thinking, but a certainty that He will answer with what is best for us, both good and loving. And, as we wait, we can look to Him to increase our hope, because we will learn more about how trustworthy He is.
When did the ascent up to Jerusalem begin? Abraham was the first one to go up to Jerusalem. At the very place where the Temple would one day stand, he was told to go up to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. In Genesis 22:8, Abraham tells Isaac, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.”
Jacob made the ascent and saw the stairway to heaven, with angels ascending and descending. He was awestruck by this place. In Genesis 28:17 Jacob says, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God (Bethel), and this is the gate of heaven!”
King David went up to Jerusalem and was visited by the Angel of the Lord. In 2 Samuel 24:24–25 we are told that he built an altar there. “Then the king said to Araunah, ‘No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price; nor will I offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God with that which costs me nothing.’ So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. And David built there an altar to the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the Lord heeded the prayers for the land, and the plague was withdrawn from Israel.” This is the site where his son, King Solomon, eventually built the Temple.
As God established his set-apart people, Jerusalem, also called Zion, was so important to Him that He brought them up to this place. He established it as the place where He was to be worshiped; His presence was there; He is zealous for it; and He will establish it again in the future as the New Jerusalem. The Songs of Ascents would have played a key role of remembrance, prayer, song, and worship for all the Jewish people and the priesthood as well.
As believers, we are on a spiritual pilgrimage or journey with the Lord. Psalm 84:5–7 describes the individual journey we make:
Blessed is the man whose strength is in You,
Whose heart is set on pilgrimage.
As they pass through the Valley of Baca (weeping),
They make it a spring;
The rain also covers it with pools.
They go from strength to strength;
Each one appears before God in Zion.
Before taking a look at the journey through the Psalms of Ascents, take a moment, if you will, to read these fifteen psalms (120–134). It may sound like a lot, but they are fairly short, mainly comprised of three to eight verses. Some of the most cherished, quoted, prayed, or sung verses in all of Scripture are found in the Psalms of Ascents.
Well, there are at least three things you must remember as we read these Psalms .
1. The world Is not our home
2. The hills are not our help
3. God cares about our everyday live
Take your pack on your shoulder and walk with us as we journey together. We are about to go to the heart of worship and finding peace—true peace in the arms of God. But first we must recognize where we are. We are dwelling in a world far from the Lord. We need to acknowledge our true condition. Change happens when we recognize the truth about ourselves and our need for a Savior. Only then can we begin our journey toward peace.
