Psalms of ascents Psalms of Ascents: Road trips and Play lists Pt 3
Psalm 126 If this Psalm could described with one word it would be joy.
Verse 1 In the Hebrew, this first phrase is something like, “restored from our previous condition.”
- And is a reference to the exile in Babylon.
- Psalm 124 they were remembering the Exodus, here they are remembering the exile.
Verse 2 This is still in the context of them remembering the return from exile.
- Their mouths were filled with laughter and joy.
- This is the first of four times that joy is mentioned in this Psalm.
- There is a lot of similarity here to Psalm 124 where they remembered the exodus and what God did there.
- Seems to me that part of the antidote to our troubles is to remember what God has already done.
Verses 3 & 4 Like Hebrew poetry often does. It is repeating something for emphasis.
- The restoration that God did was so great it was like streams of water in the desert.
Verse 5 This verse could be translated this way. “They who sow in tears, in glad songs will reap.”
- The sowing here should be seen as spiritual. Although the principle still applies to physical seeds.
- They are talking about the sowing they did in faith during the difficult times.
- Those who continued to walk in faith during the exile, now reap unabundant joy.
- Even when things seem bleak and very difficult, we can keep sowing spiritual seeds of faith.
- Knowing that we will reap joy.
- Don’t despise difficult times, for they are seed bed of future joy.
Verse 6 There is a strong picture imagery here.
- Somone going out with just a few meager seeds in their hand while weeping. Then coming back in with huge bundles of harvested grain singing songs of joy.
- The key spiritual principle here is keep planting seeds of faith, even in troubled times.
- They are painting this picture against the back drop of lying lips, deceitful tongues, the Exodus, and the Exile.
- In difficult times there is a temptation to give up and just eat the seeds.
Psalm 130 This Psalm starts out with a deep cry in prayer.
- Robert Alter points out that this phrase “from the depths” refers to profound despair or even death.
- Notice the shift from the Joy of Psalm 126 to the profound despair heart cry here in this Psalm.
- It’s okay for us to have these big mood shifts.
- Notice what they cried out for.
- They did not demand God punish or remove the lying lips and deceitful tongues.
- They simply cried out for mercy. Similar to Psalm 123.
Verses 3 & 4 Now they shift again and begin to think about their sins and the Lord’s forgiveness.
- They are not pointing out the sins of others.
- They are acknowledging their own sins. And the Lord’s forgiveness.
Verse 5 I love this, my whole being waits for the Lord.
- This is deep waiting on the Lord.
- And the best part is they are putting all their hope in the word of God.
Psalm 134. This is the final Psalm of Ascents.
- This Psalm can be divided into two parts.
- The first two verses are blessing the Lord.
- The last verse is being blessed by the Lord.
- The NIV starts with “Praise the Lord” but a better rendering of the Hebrew would be “Bless the Lord”
- This psalm mentions those who minister before the Lord by night.
- Robert Alter points out that the acts of sacrifice and the cult practice of the Temple stopped at sun down.
- Perhaps this refers to pilgrims who have come all this way to the Temple in Jerusalem and they are not going to leave until they get what that came for. So, they are staying in the Temple praying and Praising.
- This is perhaps reminiscent of Jacob in Genesis 32 when he wrestled with God all night to get a blessing from the Lord.
Verse 2 One of the ways they bless the Lord is to raise their hands in praise.
Verse 3 The Pilgrims now get a blessing from the Lord.
- They now end their pilgrimage and begin the journey home with the blessings of the Lord.