Psalms 120 - 126 (Songs #1 - #7)
I call on the LORD in My distress, & HE answers Me. Save Me, O LORD, from lying lips & from deceitful tongues. What will HE do to you, & what more besides, O deceitful tongues? HE will punish you with a warrior's sharp arrows, with burning coals of the broom tree-- a type of desert tree (see 1stKi 19:4).
The following serves to demonstrate what was pointed out in PerspectivesB B.3. that the pilgrims were figuratively/spiritually joined from the get-go. Mentioned in PART I, D D.1.c. was that Noah had a son Japheth-- Japheth had a son Meshech (see Gen 10:2); the descendants of Meshech founded Russia, etc., far north of Israel; upon the kingdom of Israel dividing, the house of Israel was scattered there (never returning, they became known as the 10 lost tribes of Israel). In PART I, D D.2.a. it was pointed out that Abraham & Hagar had a son named Ishmael-- Ishmael had a son named Kedar (see Gen 25:13); the descendants of Kedar established the Arabs southeast of Israel; upon the kingdom of Israel dividing, the house of Judah (those that did not return) was scattered there.
Woe to Me that I dwell in Meshech, that I live among the tents of Kedar! Too long I have lived among those who hate peace. I am a man of peace; but when I just speak, they are for war.
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Psalm 121- Song #2 of the Songs of Ascents (also known as the Pilgrim Songs, the Songs of Degrees, etc.-- see PerspectivesB B.3. about the Songs of Ascents in gen'l.). Author anonymous-- some suggest Hezekiah; said to provide protection. The theme of this 2nd of 15 steps is a message to all pilgrims in transient-- the benefits of going-the-Jewish-way:
I lift up My eyes to the hills-- where does My help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of Heaven & earth. HE will not let Your foot slip--
- HE who watches over You will not slumber; Indeed,
- HE who watches over all Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD watches over You-- the LORD is Your shade at Your right hand; the sun will not harm You by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep You from all harm--
- HE will watch over Your life; the LORD will watch over Your coming & going both now & forevermore.
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Psalm 122- Song #3 of the Songs of Ascents (also known as the Pilgrim Songs, the Songs of Degrees, etc.-- see PerspectivesB B.3. about the Songs of Ascents in gen'l.). The theme of this 3rd of 15 steps is 'Why this pilgrimage?':
I rejoiced with those that said to Me, 'let us go up to the house of the LORD.' Our feet are standing in your gates, O Jerusalem. Jerusalem is built like a city that is closely compacted together. Jerusalem as it existed in Jesus' time:
- total: ~.5 mi. wide (west-east) x 1 mi. long (north-south);
- east & west sides: separated by Tyropoeon Valley;
- west side: Upper City (north) & Essene Quarter (south);
- northern part of the Valley: 2nd Quarter of the City (1st Wall to 2nd Wall);
- southern part of the Valley: Lower City;
- middle part of the Valley: bridge & steps to the Temple;
- east side: the Temple (plus a southern extension between the Tyropoeon & Kidron Valleys-- this was the location of the original City of David before the Temple was built; 2ndCh refers to a new courtyard, Jer 36:10 refers to the New Gate);
- this City of David was referred to often in the O.T. (1x in 1stSa; often in 2nd Sa & 1st Ki; sev. times in 2ndKi and 1st & 2ndCh; 2x in Neh; 3 x in Isa & 2x in Jer);
- When it expanded to encompass the ancient Jerusalem (referred to much earlier in Joshua), it was then simply called Jerusalem-- Reve 3:12; 21:2 says there will be a New Jerusalem).
That is where the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, to praise the name of the LORD, to praise the Name of the LORD according to the statutes given to Israel-- a ritual ascribed long before the Mosaic Law was given when the Israelites were about to enter the promised land (just after Mt. Sinai-- see Exo 13:10).
There the thrones for judgment stand, the thrones of the house of David. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: 'May those who love you be secure. May there be peace within your walls & security within your citadels.' For the sake of my brothers & friends, I will say, 'Peace be within you.' For the sake of the House of the LORD Our GOD, I will seek your prosperity.
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Psalm 123- Song #4 of the Songs of Ascents (also known as the Pilgrim Songs, the Songs of Degrees, etc.-- see PerspectivesB B.3. about the Songs of Ascents in gen'l.). Author anonymous-- some suggest Hezekiah. The theme of this 4th of 15 steps is turning to God & confessing dependence on Him-- but note the error-of-ways pointed out below:
I lift up My eyes to YOU now, to YOU whose throne is ever in Heaven. As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid look to the hand of her mistress, so Our eyes look to the LORD Our GOD, till HE shows Us HIS Mercy. Have mercy on Us, O LORD, have mercy on Us, for We have endured much ridicule from the proud, much contempt from the arrogant.
The error-of-ways? They lifted up their eyes-- then, some time after they had lived. The much ridicule endured-- was it deserved? Had they long since abandoned orienting/prioritizing their lives for YOUR Name's sake-- the last time that expression was used was when David authored Psa 109:21; keep in mind Eze 20:21,44 (written c580 B.C., well after Judah fell & Jerusalem was destroyed) which says, But the children of Israel rebelled against ME; they were not careful to keep MY Laws-- although the man who obeys them will live by them. You will know that I am the LORD, when I deal with You for MY Name's sake & according to Your evil ways & Your corrupt practices. Whereas between these 2, Hezekiah (author of this psalm) was king of Judah when Israel was taken to Assyria-- & thus presumed Judah had/would retain integrity.
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Psalm 124- Song #5 of the Songs of Ascents (also known as the Pilgrim Songs, the Songs of Degrees, etc.-- see PerspectivesB B.3. about the Songs of Ascents in gen'l.). Perh. written by David after his defeat of the Philistines (see 2nd Sa 5:17-25). The theme of this 5th of 15 steps is God's enduring love & mercy despite what we do. It's no accident that this step was on the toes of the 4th step; it returns to a psalm of David (king of the yet unified Israel); it communicates that GOD is again on Our side & we again experience His mercy (are off the shelf) just as soon as we confess sins:
If the LORD had not been on Our side-- let Israel say (always claim) --if the LORD had not been on Our side when men attacked Us, when their anger flared against Us, they would have swallowed Us alive; the flood would have engulfed Us, the torrent would have swept over Us, the raging waters would have swept Us away. if the LORD had not been on Our side when men attacked Us, when their anger flared against Us, they would have swallowed Us alive; the flood would have engulfed Us, the torrent would have swept over Us, the raging waters would have swept Us away.
Recall that Hezekiah is purported to have written that 4th step (Psalm 123) about the time of Israel's fall; note a small portion of Micah's prayer (Mic 7:18), written some 15 yrs. after Sennacherib surrounded Jerusalem (for the entirety of this prayer, see PerspectivesC C.14.): Who is a GOD like YOU, who pardons sin & forgives the transgression of the remnant of HIS Inheritance? YOU do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy-- the huge difference between the O.T. & N.T.? Most certainly not God, his willingness to forgive individuals & nations! Rather, Christians are a kingdom of priests-- & can approach the throne of grace any given moment.But now back to David's time-- before they were shelved (exiled & scattered): Praise be to the LORD, who will not let Us be torn by their teeth. We have escaped like a bird out of the fowler's snare; the snare has been broken, & We have escaped. Our help is in the Name of the LORD, the maker of Heaven & earth.
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Psalm 125- Song #6 of the Songs of Ascents (also known as the Pilgrim Songs, the Songs of Degrees, etc.-- see PerspectivesB B.3. about the Songs of Ascents in gen'l.). Author anonymous-- some suggest Hezekiah; said to provide protection. The theme of this 6th of 15 steps is the benefits/consequences of trusting/turning against the Lord:
Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion itself, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. Trusting in the Lord is something that has been so practiced that it is done reflexibly, each/every waking moment-- unlike driving defensibly, which also is done every moment, but only when 1 drives. Again, trusting in the Lord is done each/every waking moment. However, it is similar to driving defensibly:
- in the sense that it is a characteristic ability acquired through practice. 1 isn't born-again already mature with it;
- and also in the sense that there are 2-sides-to-the-coin: 1 drives defensibly for 1's own protection-- not making assumptions that the other driver is going to obey the laws, but also in regard to other's safety-- not creating/adding to a tense atmosphere, whereby other drivers might blunder.
But again, trusting in the Lord is done each/every waking moment-- not when the occassion warrants it or when convenient. Like the admonitions (1stThe 5:18) that we are to be joyful always: pray continually: give thanks in all circumstances-- not just if 1 happens to be driving. Those skills have been so developed/applied that 1 does them reflexibly throughout life-- whether daily, at work dealing with strangers (enemies betimes) or at home/restaurant/vacation/random encounters with family (etc.), or otherwise chronologically, like during the occasional fellowships with believers. And don't forget the flip-side-of-the-coin mentioned above.
As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds HIS People both now & forevermore. The scepter of the wicked will not remain over the land allotted to the righteous, for then the righteous might be tempted to use their hands to do evil-- recall Jesus advising us (Matt 6:13; 26:41): to pray, lead Us not into temptation, but deliver Us from evil; to watch & pray so that You will not be lead into temptation.
Do good. O LORD, to those who are good, to those who are upright in heart. But those who turn to crooked ways, the LORD will banish with the evildoers.
Peace be upon Israel.
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Psalm 126- Song #7 of the Songs of Ascents (also known as the Pilgrim Songs, the Songs of Degrees, etc.-- see PerspectivesB B.3. about the Songs of Ascents in gen'l.). Author anonymous-- perh. written to celebrate the exiles' return from captivity (see Ezr 1); said to provide joy & salvation. The theme of this 7th of 15 steps is that diligence in sowing reaps reaping:
When the LORD brought back the captives to (restored the fortunes of) Zion, We were like men who dreamed (restored to health). Our mouths were filled with laughter, Our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, 'The LORD has done great things for Them.' The LORD has done great things for Us, & We are filled with joy. Restore Our fortunes (Bring back Our captives), O LORD, like streams in the Negev.
Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves (the evidence of sowing/harvesting-- i.e., we do the sowing; the Lord provides the harvest; we carry the evidence) with Him.
