Songs of Ascent- Part 2

Songs of Ascent- 

Psalms 120-135

Part 2

Psalm 125

Psalms 125:1-5 (NASB20) 1 A Song of Ascents. 

Those who trust in the LORD Are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved but remains forever. 2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem, So theLORD surrounds His people From this time and forever. 3 For the scepter of wickedness will not rest upon the land of the righteous, So that the righteous will not extend their hands to do wrong. 4 Do good, LORD, to those who are good And to those who are upright in their hearts. 5 But as for those who turn aside to their crooked ways, The LORD will lead them away with those who practice injustice. Peace be upon Israel.

We continue on in our journey by reaffirming the love and protection of the Lord. He surrounds us with protection like the mountains surround Jerusalem. He is the one who does good. Indeed, He is the one, the only one, who is Good.  Peace (Shalom) be on you.

Psalm 126

Psalms 126:1-6 (NASB20) 1 A Song of Ascents. 

When the LORD brought back the captives of Zion, We were like those who dream. 2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter And our tonguewith joyful shouting; Then they said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.” 3 The LORD has done great things for us; We are joyful. 4 Restore our fortunes, LORD, As the streams in the South. 5 Those who sow in tears shall harvest with joyful shouting. 6 One who goes here and there weeping, carrying his bag of seed, Shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.

We have been studying Nehemiah in one of my men’s groups. His is the story of returning from Exile to rebuild Jerusalem. This psalm reminds me of that time and of Nehemiah’s struggle to rebuild the ruined city. He was full of joy at being given the opportunity to go back and rebuild Jerusalem, but at the same time he recalled all the tears that his people had shed over the destruction of the city and of their being carried off into exile.

Our story of salvation is similar. Many of us were far out into the world and our rebellion caused our lives to be shattered. We shed many tears over shattered relationships and broken lives. We were overjoyed to be saved by the Lord, but had to face the prospect of rebuilding the rubble of our lives into a functioning city once again. Fortunately, the Lord is there to help and if we utilize the seeds of faith, hope and love that he plants in our heart, we can return with shouts of joy. We also return with sheaves of grain with us, which is the fruit of repentance, and the compassion to help others find the same hope and salvation. Our joy is in rebuilding the rubble of our former lives into a city of God, and a temple of the Holy Spirit, where other lost souls can find refuge and restoration.

Psalm 127

Psalms 127:1-5 (NASB20) 1 A Song of Ascents, of Solomon. 

Unless the LORD builds a house, They who build it labor in vain; Unless the LORD guards a city, The watchman stays awake in vain. 2 It is futilefor you to rise up early, To stay up late, To eat the bread of painful labor; This is how He gives to His beloved sleep. 

3Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward. 4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth. 5 Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; They will not be ashamed When they speak with their enemies in the gate.

In rebuilding our house, it is important to know that it is the Lord that enables us to build on a solid foundation. In my own case, when I was first saved, there was a lot of rubble in my life that had to be removed in order for me to begin to build on a solid foundation. This is the work of repentance. As the psalmist says, it is futile to try to build on our own without asking for the Lord’s help, guidance and inspiration. But if we ask the Lord to rebuild our lives, we can rest in His peace and the Lord can work in us, even as we sleep.

The psalm ends with a blessing for families and thankfulness for children. This introduces the idea that in rebuilding lives, the most important place to start is with the family. That is why the enemy is trying so hard to destroy families in this day. Pray for the peace (shalom) in families.

Psalm 128

Psalms 128:1-6 (NASB20) 1 A Song of Ascents. 

Blessedis everyone who fears the LORD, Who walks in His ways. 2 When you eat the fruit of the labor of your hands, You will be happy and it will go well for you. 3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine Within your house, Your children like olive plants Around your table. 4 Behold, for so shall a man Who fears the LORD be blessed. 5 The LORD bless you from Zion, And may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life. 6 Indeed, may you see your children’s children. Peace be upon Israel!

The next psalm reinforces this idea by repeating the blessing on families. Blessed families lead to prosperity and peaceful societies. Indeed, it is a blessing to see our grandchildren prosper and grow in the Lord. Thus we should continually pray for the peace (shalom) of Jerusalem, and of our families.

Psalm 129

Psalms 129:1-4 (NASB20) 1 A Song of Ascents. 

“Manytimes they have attacked me from my youth up,” Let Israel say, 2 “Many times they have attacked me from my youth up; Yet they have not prevailed against me. 3 “The plowers plowed upon my back; They lengthened their furrows.” 4 The LORD is righteous; He has cut up the ropes of the wicked.

The next psalm takes a different tack and inserts a Messianic prophesy into the songs of ascent. Remember that these psalms were sung in the Old Covenant when they were still looking forward to the coming of the Messiah. Thus as they were marching up to Jerusalem, their thoughts would turn to the promised Messiah and of the day of peace that He wold bring. As the prophet Isaiah said it, by His stripes we are healed. (Isa 53:5) Jesus’ back was indeed plowed by the scourge cruelly administered by the Roman soldier, but it was by His wounds and the blood He shed that He broke the ropes of the wicked and freed us from the bonds of sin and death. That is the true peace (shalom) of Jerusalem.

Psalm 130

Psalms 130:1-8 (NASB20) 1 A Song of Ascents. 

Out of the depths I have cried to You, LORD. 2 Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive To the sound of my pleadings. 3 If You, LORD, were to keep account of guilty deeds, Lord, who could stand? 4 But there is forgiveness with You, So that You may be revered. 

5I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, And I wait for His word. 6 My soul waits in hope for the Lord More than the watchmen for the morning; Yes, more than the watchmen for the morning. 7 Israel, wait for the LORD; For with the LORD there is mercy, And with Him is abundant redemption. 8 And He will redeem Israel From all his guilty deeds.

In psalm 130 we are getting closer to the temple and begin to contemplate our sinful condition. How can we enter into the temple? What sacrifice is sufficient to absolve us from our sins? The Lord keeps accounts of our guilty deeds, so how can we measure up?

Of course, we now know that it is by the blood of Jesus, alluded to in the previous psalm, that we can approach the holy place, “For with the LORD there is mercy”. We wait on the Lord and hope in His salvation, and then rejoice that we are redeemed by the blood of the lamb, the ultimate lamb, the Messiah, Jesus.