Psalm 120: The Journey Begins

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.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier.

PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family

How does Psalm 120 prompt or improve your praise of God?

Psalm 108: God’s

Today’s reading is Psalm 108.

An Ancient Beginning

In Genesis 32-33, Jacob brought his family back to the Promised Land. However, he feared Esau. Did Esau carry his grudge over Jacob’s deception and theft from so many years ago? Was Esau bringing the 400 men with him as a war party?

You can go back and read the story for the details if you are unfamiliar. For now, simply note Esau embraced Jacob instead of attacking him. God made room for Jacob in the land. Then, in Genesis 33:17-18, we specifically see Jacob journey to Succoth and to Shechem. God provided mercy for Jacob and made room for him in the land.

A Psalmist Remembers

In Psalm 60, when David had been defeated in battle by Edom (the nation descended from Esau, by the way), and now in Psalm 108, when Israel has been belittled and cursed by Edom at their Babylonian defeat, the psalmists bring to mind God’s ancient mercy on their forefather. As God made room for Jacob alongside Esau (Edom), bringing him safely to Succoth and Shechem, the psalmists show God as saying, “With exultation I will divide up Shechem and portion out the Valley of Succoth” (Psalm 108:7).

God has promised the Land to Israel. Though the remnant travels back from Assyrian and Babylonian captivity into a land filled with those who will come to be called Samaritans, God will make room for them. God will rebuild their fortified city. God will defeat their enemies before them. Though it feels like Israel has wrestled with God Himself, He will bless them and make room for them.

Mine!

God wanted to make it clear through the psalmist, Israel would find room in the land. But not because Israel was so good. No, they would find room because the land belonged to God and He is so good. He marked each part of it, “Mine!” Gilead on the east of the Jordan was God’s. Manasseh with allotments on both sides of the Jordan was God’s. Ephraim on the west side of the Jordan was God’s. Judah the southern kingdom was God’s. These lands had been Israel’s not because Israel was so great, but because they were God’s. God let them have these lands. But guess what! God didn’t just own the Israelite lands. He also owned the lands of their enemies. Moab, Edom, Philistia, were actually God’s. He would do with them whatever He wanted.

Israel, heading home from Babylonian captivity, had every reason to rejoice. The Lord their God loved them with a steadfast love and He owned all the land. He would find a place for them.

Ours!

Let’s face it, we have it pretty good. We don’t suffer that much and we don’t feel much like outcasts. We aren’t on a pilgrimage back to a homeland after being held in captivity for two generations. Yet, we fear days of suffering are on the horizon. We expect our latter years and perhaps those of our children will be spent as outcasts.

We can take comfort in this: the heavens and the earth belong to our God. He looks down on it all and says, “Mine!” We are His children. We are heirs of His kingdom. He is our heritage. All that is His is our heritage. Even if the enemies of God drive us off this rock and kill us, we know in eternity, the Lord will make a place for us in His place.

May our hearts be steadfast in the Lord, the owner of all things. May we rejoice no matter our situation. Praise the Lord!

Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 108.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier.

PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family

How does Psalm 108 prompt or improve your hope in God?

Psalm 60: Standing on the Promises

Today’s reading is Psalm 60.

David’s psalm begins with great lament over an awful defeat. However, the final lines envision a coming terrific victory by the power of God. David moves from claiming God has not gone out with his armies to believing his armies will do valiantly by the strength of God. What prompted the shift?

The hinge, I think, comes in vss. 6-8. The geographical markers mean more than David knew his maps. Shechem and Succoth in vs. 6 are particularly important. In Genesis 33, Jacob traveled back to the Promised Land from his time serving Laban. However, he feared his brother Esau (the father of the Edomites) might still want vengeance over the stolen blessing from years earlier. Instead of attacking and destroying Jacob and family, Esau welcomed Jacob into the land and actually moved out of his way. In Genesis 33:17-18, the two places mentioned to which Jacob traveled were Shechem and Succoth. In other words, David recalls an ancient time when Israel faced defeat from Edom (Esau). God made room for them because God keeps His covenants and promises. David is standing on the promise of God in this prayer.

The statement that God would divide and portion the land also calls God’s promises to mind. In Joshua, God promised the land to Israel and claimed He would divide and apportion it to the various tribes. All that land was His and He was giving it to Abraham’s offspring. Gilead, on the east of the Jordan, was God’s. However, He had promised it to Israel. Manasseh’s land, found on both sides of the river, was God’s. However, He had promised it to Israel. Ephraim and Judah, the two main tribes on the west of the Jordan, were God’s. However, He had promised it to Israel. These lands belonged to tribes of Israel because God had promised that land to Abraham’s descendants. David knew God would not simply give Abraham’s land to other nations. In fact, he knew Moab, Philistia, and Edom actually belonged to Israel’s God as well. David is standing on God’s promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob when he asks God to go with his armies.

We today should stand on God’s promises in our prayers. Learn what God has promised. Even when it seems those promises are not being fulfilled, stand on them, pray for them. Then watch them come to pass.

Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 60.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier sparked by this post.

PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family

How does Psalm 60 provide or increase your trust in God?