The Lord Has Done Great Things
(ESV) A SONG OF ASCENTS.
1 When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion,
we were like those who dream.
2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with shouts of joy;
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 glad.
4 Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
like streams in the Negeb!
5 Those who sow in tears
shall reap with shouts of joy!
6 He who goes out weeping,
bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
bringing his sheaves with him.
As the Pilgrims made their way to Jerusalem, they sang this psalm to commemorate the release of the Israelites from captivity in Babylon. They had learned that those who weep especially over their spiritual condition will ultimately shout with joy.
Think of those who suffered terribly during the Diaspora—some were never to see their homeland again, nor were they allowed to worship the One, True and the Living God. Many were separated from their families.
Some were part of the national tragedy of captivity and slavery, while others, such as Rebecca, Rachel, and Hannah suffered the very personal distress of being barren. These women each wanted a child so desperately they could not imagine ever smiling again. Yet, each woman was given her heart’s desire, but only after a season of weeping.
Although there were times it seemed impossible, God enabled the brokenhearted to know joy again, and with that knowledge came the awareness that along with restoration, we are given the opportunity to give glory to God.
Today, it is vital that we understand that happiness is tied to our circumstances, but responding to our situation with joy is a choice.
Just as God turned the weeping of the Israelites into joy, He can do the same for us. Remember what He has done in the past, be thankful for the present, and face tomorrow with confident expectation that He will give us not just what we want, but what we need.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Psalm 125
(NIV) Psalm 125
A song of ascents.
1 Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion,
which cannot be shaken but endures forever.
2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
so the LORD surrounds his people
both now and forevermore.
3 The scepter of the wicked will not remain
over the land allotted to the righteous,
for then the righteous might use
their hands to do evil.
4 LORD, do good to those who are good,
to those who are upright in heart.
5 But those who turn to crooked ways
the LORD will banish with the evildoers.
Peace be on Israel.
There is a steadfastness about this scripture where we find the enduring love of God is promised to those whose trust is in the Lord. The Lord is compared to the mountains surrounding Jerusalem, and just as they provide protection for that holy city, so does God.
How do modern day pilgrims apply this passage? When we place our trust in God, we have a confidence built upon that trust. I am reminded of Matt 7 and the house built on the rock versus one built on the sand. Just as a house built on rock provides a solid foundation, confidence placed on Jesus is never shifting. Sometimes we need that visual reminder of Who God is and who we are in Him.
May we cling to the Rock of our Salvation, Jesus Christ, today and forever.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
A SONG OF ASCENTS.
ESV Ps 123
1 To you I lift up my eyes, O you who are enthroned in the heavens!
2 Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master,
as the eyes of a maidservant to the hand of her mistress,
so our eyes look to the LORD our God, till he has mercy upon us.
3 Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us, for we have had more than enough of contempt.
4 Our soul has had more than enough of the scorn of those who are at ease,
of the contempt of the proud.
As we continue to look at the Psalms of Ascent, we see the writer once again lift up his eyes as he prays for help. When we are young, we are taught the proper posture for prayer is to bow our heads and clasp our hands together. But the older I become, my prayer posture is to raise my face toward heaven in expectation, and lift my hands in praise and adoration.
And, I wonder as the psalmist wrote yet another plea for mercy, had he made the connection between action and outcome? Does everything we suffer come as a result of something we did? No, much of our suffering is due to the fallen state of man and the world in which we live.
So this morning I begin my day with praise for my God, and petition for His mercy.
For those who are young, and have not yet found their way, I pray for direction and wisdom. I pray the lessons teaching humility would be quick and gentle.
For those whose illness has been diagnosed, I pray for healing that would be swift and sure.
For those who are suffering from an undiagnosed condition, I pray that You would give the doctors a supernatural wisdom to be able to see beyond what is readily visible.
For those in emotional distress, I pray that You help them overcome disappointment to revel in the joy that comes not from watching their circumstances but from relying on the Creator of the heavens and the earth.
May we know that our strength, our hope, and our help is in You.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
(NIV) Psalm 122
A song of ascents. Of David.
1 I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD.”
2 Our feet are standing in your gates, Jerusalem.
3 Jerusalem is built like a city that is closely compacted together.
4 That is where the tribes go up— the tribes of the LORD—
to praise the name of the LORD according to the statute given to Israel.
5 There stand the thrones for judgment, the thrones of the house of David.
6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May those who love you be secure.
7 May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels. ”
8 For the sake of my family and friends, I will say, “Peace be within you.”
9 For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your prosperity.
What a great psalm! There was much rejoicing as all of the tribes joined together to go up to the house of the Lord during the holy festivals. And why were they going to Jerusalem? To praise God! And beyond the journey to that city was David’s encouragement to others to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
We know the Temple had not yet been built, but David understood the spiritual aspect of Jerusalem. David also had a unique perspective regarding Jerusalem. There had been hard fought wars to gain control of that city, and sometimes peace seemed just outside of the reach of those who lived there. But peace is never so precious as it is to those who have long lived without it.
So, David issued an exhortation to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. And in the 21st century we continue to lift up prayers to God for peace for His holy city. May we be ever faithful to remember Jerusalem before God as Israel stands on the precipice of yet another threat to her existence.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
My Help Comes from You
(NIV) Psalm 121
A song of ascents.
1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The LORD watches over you—the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. 7 The LORD will keep you from all harm — he will watch over your life;
8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
When we look for help, where do we turn? As a child, we had a large volume known as the Yellow Pages. This directory was used for much more than as a source of information. For a small child like me, it was put in a hairdresser’s chair, often paired with the Sears catalogue, and I was lifted up into the air and placed upon those books where I actually sat still while the stylist worked her magic.
I suppose now there are kiddie seats that fit nicely into the stylist’s chairs, because both the Yellow Pages and the Sears Catalogues are relics of the past. But what if it is my soul that needs a lift? Then I look up!!! Because just like the Psalmist, I know where my help comes from.
In this song, we see the literary device of changing voices being employed. After the author declares “I will lift up mine eyes,” he switches to second person point of view, bringing the reader into the story. But more importantly, we witness a timeless aspect of God’s care where we are assured He will watch over us all of our lives. Isn’t that comforting? And remember, Psalms is a book of poetry and poetry is meant to be read out loud.
May we today and every day turn our faces toward God and lift up our eyes. He will watch over our coming and going both now and forever.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Seeking Holiness 