31st March - 6th April 2025
In recent weeks, through some apparently ‘unconnected’ circumstances, I found myself drawn to what are known as ‘Songs of Ascent’ – a series of 15 Psalms that run from Psalms 120-134.
They are an intriguing collection of Psalms, and many Old Testament experts come to a range of conclusions trying to figure out the history and place of these Psalms in the life of the people of Israel. Several suggestions are made:
They are perhaps songs sung by those making a pilgrimage to Jerusalem for one of the major feasts in Israel – like Passover, or the Feast of Tabernacles. Given that Jerusalem is situated in the mountains, the suggestion is that ‘ascent’ ties in with the journey upwards.
Another suggestion is that these were songs sung in much later times in Israel, specifically by the captives longing to see a return to Jerusalem and the restoration of the nation and its worship.
Some might contend, however, that because four are ‘Psalms of David’ and one is a ‘Psalm of Solomon’ they must have been written much earlier than that. Although, others would suggest that a ‘Psalm of David’ may mean ‘in the style of David’, or in some way connected to David and what he represented in Israel.
For some, the fact that there are 15 Psalms of Ascent carries with it a certain significance. For example: every letter in the Hebrew alphabet is associated with a number, and the shortened form of Yahweh (the LORD) is ‘Yah’, which happens to be the number 15. Further, the major feasts in Israel took place on the fifteenth day of a month. And, intriguingly, there were 15 steps leading from the upper court to the lower court in the temple; it is suggested that the Levites would sing one of these Psalms on each step as they ascended and descended for worship.
Whatever the exact history of these songs, what is undeniable is that they all speak very clearly about the reality of our journey through life, with its ups and downs, trials and joys and how we experience God at work in each situation.
As we journey with God this week, I have chosen lines from seven of these songs to help us reflect and consider our own experiences with God and to ask his help in our different circumstances. I hope that something from each of them will speak relevantly to where we find ourselves on our own journeys.
Written by Stephen Cave
MONDAY
I lift up my eyes to the mountains –
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
Psalm 121:1-2
Father God, as we head into another week, help us to start it by lifting our eyes to you. Some of us find ourselves staring at mountains right now, huge problems that we just don’t know how to handle, and we’re struggling to know what to do. Help us to grasp the truth of your mighty power, to take confidence in our God who made the mountains and to know that the one who made the heavens and the earth cares enough to reach down and help us in our lives. Thank you that, although you are the God who is eternal and holy, you are also the God who draws near to us. May we experience the reality of that nearness today.
TUESDAY
Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion,
which cannot be shaken but endures for ever.
As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
so the Lord surrounds his people
both now and for evermore.
The sceptre of the wicked will not remain
over the land allotted to the righteous,
for then the righteous might use
their hands to do evil.
Psalm 125:1-3
Lord God, we confess that sometimes we despair at what we see going on around us. We watch as wickedness at times seems rampant, as people are treated so badly by others, and as leaders we hoped might make a difference disappoint us. We confess that sometimes we are tempted to respond in worldly ways and we let our frustrations get the better of us. But we thank you, Lord, that your word brings us to the truth – that you are Lord of all, that you surround your people with your love and power and that your will will be done on earth as it is in heaven. We praise you that we can trust you with what frustrates and angers us, and we know that evil will not prevail. Help us to live out of that hope today.
WEDNESDAY
Unless the Lord builds the house,
the builders labour in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
the guards stand watch in vain.
In vain you rise early
and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat –
for he grants sleep to those he loves.
Psalm 127:1-2
Father, forgive us for so often going it alone with our lives and even our ministry. Too many times, we act as if everything depended on us, on our plans and our abilities, and we neglect to look to you for help and guidance. We have so much going on in our families, and our day to day lives, and even in our service for you, and we get caught up too easily with the busyness of it all. We end up exhausted, run down, burnt out, and we sometimes wonder why. Today, Lord, help us to pause and consider where we have left you out of our thinking and actions. Teach us to start by listening to you, trusting you and obeying you, rather than running ahead on our own and then asking you to bless us afterwards. Help us to build our lives around you and then give us true rest as we trust and obey.
THURSDAY
Blessed are all who fear the Lord,
who walk in obedience to him.
Psalm 128:1
Lord God, today, above all else, help us to acknowledge that you alone are God. Help us to give you the honour and respect that are due to your name. Deliver us from the temptation to behave as if we are in charge, and when our will is about to conflict with what you have revealed, help us to surrender willingly to you. Teach us the blessing of obedience and help us to see that your wisdom is so much greater than ours. We thank you that obedience brings freedom, that when we choose to obey you, we remove so much of the pressure that comes to those who are desperately trying to work out their own path in life.
FRIDAY
Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord;
Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive
to my cry for mercy.
If you, Lord, kept a record of sins,
Lord, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness,
so that we can, with reverence, serve you.
Psalm 130:1-4
Father God, we are only too aware of our failure and our sin. We confess that too often we make our own decisions, and we dishonour you, harm ourselves and damage our relationships with others. And yet, Lord, we thank you that you reveal yourself to be a God of mercy and grace. You hold out forgiveness to us when we repent, you do not hold our sins against us and you even enable us, despite our failure, to serve you. We thank you that your greatness is seen best in your mercy, and today again we throw ourselves on that mercy. Lord, forgive us for our sin and, as we go through today, help us to carry that same message of forgiveness to those around us, particularly when it seems hardest to forgive.
SATURDAY
How good and pleasant it is
when God’s people live together in unity!
It is like precious oil poured on the head,
running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron’s beard,
down on the collar of his robe.
It is as if the dew of Hermon
were falling on Mount Zion.
For there the Lord bestows his blessing,
even life for evermore.
Psalm 133
Lord, as we come to the weekend, and many of us anticipate being together in worship, we pray for the unity of our church fellowship. We thank you that you have brought so many of us together from diverse backgrounds and that you have joined us together in fellowship. Lord, you know our weaknesses and sometimes we are not careful enough about unity, both in local churches and more widely. We are careless in how we speak, and we assign motives that are unfair and wrong. Help us to realise that the unity of your people is something you value greatly, that our unity is a real source of blessing to us and also a powerful witness to the world around of the power of the gospel. Help us not to treat it carelessly, or to take it for granted, and enable us to value, protect and build up the unity of your people.
SUNDAY
I rejoiced with those who said to me,
‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’
Psalm 122:1
Father God, we look forward today to coming together with your people to worship you. We thank you that we no longer need to visit a temple or a ‘holy place’ to engage in worship and encounter you, because you are present with your people. And yet, Lord, there is something special when we come together to share, to be equipped and taught, to fellowship and to worship you. We thank you that we get to be with ‘our people’, those who love and care for us and who encourage us in our life together. We thank you that, as we sing songs of worship, our perspective is made right – that we remind ourselves again that you are God, the one in control, the one who loves us, who forgives us and who calls us to yourself. We pray that as we worship together, and others join us online, we may experience the reality of your presence, that we will give you worship from our hearts and that we will hear your voice as we engage with your word together.