Today’s reading is Psalm 120.
Ascending the Mountain of God
In Book V of the Psalms, we’ve studied some exciting things. We studied the Hallel psalms (113-118). We spent eleven weeks with a deep dive into delight for God’s Word walking through Psalm 119. Now we begin another fantastic series: the Songs of Ascents. Psalms 120-134 are all labeled “A Song of Ascents.”
We don’t quite know why they were called that. Some suggest these were songs compiled for the return journey of Ezra or Nehemiah. Many suggest these were songs sung by Israelites as they traveled their annual pilgrimages to Jerusalem for the feast days. Apparently at some point, there is evidence the temple choirs would sing these psalms as they ascended the 15 steps of the temple one at a time during the feasts.
No matter what the origination was, the series presents a story of pilgrimage. We begin this week in Psalm 120 dwelling in enemy territory, we travel to Jerusalem over the next few psalms and by Psalm 134 we are ascending to the peak of God’s mountain to lift our hands in His holy place and worship the Lord.
As Psalm 48 declares, Zion is the envy of the world. It’s elevation is beautiful. It’s city is daunting. The kings of the earth panic at the sight of her. These psalms ascend that mountain. Psalm 24:3 asks who shall ascend the Lord’s holy hill. While that particular psalm had its own answer in context, we come back to that theme in these songs of ascents and we make the journey.
Whatever the original time of compilation, we can clearly see layers of application. We can see the original ascent from Egypt in the time of Moses to the Promised Land under Joshua to Jerusalem in the time of David. We can see the second Exodus from Babylon and the restoration of God’s people. We can see the annual ascent of pilgrims longing to be in the Lord’s city to worship. But perhaps most of all, we can see our own ascent. We can see our pilgrimage from this world up the heavenly mountain to find ourselves in eternity around the throne of God on His high mountain. Picture the scene of worship in Revelation 5.
Each step of this journey from Psalm 120-134 will give us insight to our path, holding on to Jesus’s hand, to the throne room of God in eternity.
I’m so excited as our journey begins this week. Don’t miss a single day. I believe we will all be blessed by this study of pilgrimage.
Praise the Lord!
Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 120.
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PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family
How does Psalm 120 prompt or improve your praise of God?
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