THE SONGS OF ASCENT


"I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.  Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem.  Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together: whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the LORD." (Psalms 122:1-4).

 

Psalms 120 - 134 form a group of 15 songs that are designated as Songs of Degrees, or Songs of Ascent (literally, to go up, or steps).  There are a few differing theories as to their purpose, but all agree that they were sung by the Israelites as they made their way toward Jerusalem and the temple of God.  Some suggest that they were used by the Jews as they returned to the holy land from their captivity in Babylon.  Others believe that they may have been sung as the worshippers climbed the 15 steps that led from the court of the women to the court of the men in the temple at Jerusalem.  What I believe is the best explanation of the Songs of Degrees is that they were sung by the Jews as they ascended up to Jerusalem for the three main festivals: Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles.  Jewish males were required by the law to attend these feasts and bring their offerings and sacrifices to the temple of God.

 

Jerusalem sits at an elevation of about 2,490 feet.  From the Dead Sea and the plains of Jericho on the east to the coast of the Mediterranean Sea on the west the land climbs upward toward Jerusalem and the Judean highlands.  Pilgrims, therefore, who would be traveling from their various cities and villages would literally be "going up" to the holy city.  At various stages on their journey they would sing these Songs of Ascent to prepare their hearts and minds to worship the Lord and appear before their God.

 

I was struck by these psalms on two levels.  First of all, I was impressed by the heart attitude of those pilgrims who would use these songs to prepare themselves for worship as they went up to the temple.  For days they would consider the words of these psalms and examine themselves in the light of them before they would appear before God.  I thought of what a good example this is for us as we "go up" to worship God from week to week in our various assemblies.  Rather than rushing around on Sunday morning, hitting the parking lot on two wheels lest we be late, and never even whispering a prayer for the service or those who will share the Word, we should be preparing our hearts days ahead in preparation for worship.  There is a sort of progression in the Songs of Ascent that lead us to a place of peace and rest in the Lord. Psalm 120 begins, "In my distress I cried unto the LORD, and He heard me. Deliver my soul, O LORD."  The psalmist acknowledges that his soul is in distress, but he cries out to God for his deliverance.  Psalm 121 continues this theme as the psalmist realizes where his deliverance comes from, "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.  My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.  He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: He that keepeth thee will not slumber."  Psalm 122 begins with the happy declaration that, "I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.  Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem."  Following this progression, we finally come to Psalm 134 which is a song of pure praise to God.  "Behold, bless ye the LORD, all ye servants of the LORD, which by night stand in the house of the LORD.  Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD.  The LORD that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion."

 

Now, I am not suggesting that we read these 15 psalms every time we prepare to worship, but that we use the early Jewish pilgrims as a model for how we should approach our times of corporate worship.  I am a strong believer in the fact that every Christian has been given spiritual gifts of various types so that they might minister the same to their brothers and sisters in Christ.  We have become so lazy spiritually that we are content to let the pastors and elders do everything as far as ministering to the saints is concerned, and we have become dull and insensitive to the leading of the Spirit in our own lives.  We have even designed our services so that the opportunities for believers to share what God has laid on their hearts is eliminated.  Ask yourself these questions: what if each member of the body was praying for the Lord to move by His Spirit and use whomever He would like to when we gather together?  What if each believer was praying "Here I am, Lord, send me?"  What if the expectation of each of us was that when we come together it would be possible that, "...everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation." (1 Corinthians 14:26 NIV).  We should be coming together not out of duty, but in joyous expectation of what God is about to do in our midst.  Not that our church services are the only platform for our Christian service and ministry either; every day is an opportunity to be used of God, and everywhere we go can become "church" as we allow the Holy Spirit to lead us and we become more sensitive to His still, small voice within us.  After all, the Bible refers to the church as a body of believers, not as a building.

 

The other thing that struck me about these psalms is that they seem to be a metaphor for our individual spiritual journey through this life.  Our spiritual path should always be an ascent.  We should always be climbing higher and higher in our knowledge of the Lord and in our personal growth and maturity.  Just as I would be concerned about a child who never grew past two years old, I am equally concerned with Christians who do not grow spiritually.  The Lord is wanting us to grow up into the measure and stature of Jesus Himself. (Ephesians 4:13).  It is not always an easy path (going uphill never is), but the more we climb, the more we are strengthened by the climb and we gain more power the higher we go.  Our goal is to reach the heavenly Jerusalem and the presence of Almighty God and the great King, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  What a glorious journey this is!  No wonder the psalmist declared, "I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD."

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