July 13 - Psalm 120 | Psalm 121 | Psalm 123 | Psalm 125 | Psalm 126

Good morning everyone,

Today we get to take a look at five of the fifteen “Songs of Ascent”, also commonly known as “Songs of Degrees” or “Songs of Steps.” Three times a year the men of Israel, were required to attend the pilgrimage festivals, traveling “up” to Jerusalem to appear before the Lord God at the Temple; on Passover, which celebrates the exodus of the Jewish people from Egypt; on Pentecost, (the  Feast of the Weeks), which is an agricultural celebration; and on Sukkot, (the Festival of Booths), celebrating not only the wandering of the Israelites in the desert for 40 years, when they had to rely only upon God for food and protection but also the year’s harvest. 

The word “ascents” is exactly as it suggests, going up. Jerusalem was located in the hills of Judea on a rocky plateau at about 2,5oo ft. above sea level. However, even when traveling from Mt. Meron which is at 3,963 ft. above sea level, they would still refer to their journey as “traveling up to Jerusalem” because for them it was more than a physical destination, it was traveling to the Holy City, where through worship and praise they would grow closer to God on high. Make sense?

The journey to Jerusalem could take three or four days, often longer if they were traveling from out of the country. Of course, they did not have modern methods of transportation, no busses, mopeds or even bicycles, actually most of them walked. Now while I love to walk myself, I do find it a little boring if I don’t have my iPod tuned into a teaching or music while down the road I go, though, I have been known to talk to myself a time or two when the battery has gone dead, soliciting looks of confusion from animals and neighbors alike. So while I am sure some of these fine men, like me, would to talk to themselves, the majority of them would pass the time by singing these psalms of ascent as together they all, (Josephus would report that nearly 2 million would attend) traveled to keep their date with God. 

For a moment I would encourage you to close your eyes, and in your mind’s eye see a group of several hundred men, some old, weathered, wrinkled, they have been making this journey for years, decades even, looking forward to meeting up with an old friend or maybe a relative that they only get to see once a year, someone they look forward to worshipping with. Some of the guys are younger, maybe it's even their first time to make the trek, they are excited, anxious, perhaps a little nervous about the unknown, but very enthusiastically bouncing about like Tigger. Together these men, with sandals on their feet, carrying their back packs of food, they have their lambs for sacrifice in tow baaaing, all travel down the hot, dusty road. Can you see them? They may be passing a wineskin with water between them, laughingly enjoying life and singing. Still yourself for a moment and listen, can you hear their sound, the harmony, the reverence in their telling of their story through song? The hope of their God rings through their voices. Psalm 121:1-2, “I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”

Friends, this is more than a story, this is an account of the lives of some very real people, given to us to by God help us sort out our journey. The Psalms of Ascent remind us that, as Christians, we are all traveling the same road and that we have the privilege and responsibility to encourage one another along the way. God designed the singing psalms together as a means for building one another up in the faith. Ephesians 5:19 says, “speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord.” 

One more quick note on praise, I promise you that when you are feeling down, or upset on any level, if you would start singing praises to God the enemy will flee and your heart will fill lighter. An atmosphere which is filled with sincere worship and praise to God by humble hearts is disgusting to the Devil. He fears the power in the name of Jesus, and flees. There is power in the blood! Amen??

Have a super good day and to God be the glory.

God bless you all …..