A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon. A wisdom psalm.

v.1-2 In vain we build a house (raise a family), watch over a city, or rise early and stay up late (laboring for food). In vain that is unless the Lord builds the house, and the Lord watches over the city, and the Lord gives sleep (see Ps 4:8).
v.3-5 Children are a blessing and reward from the Lord.

What we do in life will either be the Lord’s doing or it will be pointless. Divine sovereignty trumps human plans and effort. Versus 1-2 appear in sharp contrast to Prv 24:33-34. They are perhaps paradoxically two sides of the same coin. We must avoid burning the candle at both ends while neglecting time with our family and God.

The psalm also instructs us to count our children as blessings not as a burden. All of life’s blessings are from the Lord. Parents have the responsibility to raise children properly trained in righteousness (Prv 22:6). This requires a lot of prayer, discipline, and love.

Read Psalm 127

A Song of Ascents.

This psalm appears to be set in the restoration of Israel following the Babylonian captivity (See Ezr and Neh).

v.1-3 The people rejoice that God has restored them from captivity. They where full of laughter and songs of joy. It was like a dream come true. The nations acknowledged that God had done great things for them.
v.4-6 But there were many hardships yet to be endured and the people petition God to restore them fully. Then those who sow weeping will sing songs of joy.

These words can also speak to revival in the church. Hard work in the dry parched land can turn to overflowing streams of joy.

Read Psalm 126

A Song of Ascents.

v.1-2 Two similes. First, those who trust in the Lord are like Mt. Zion. Second, the Lord himself is compared to the mountains surrounding Jerusalem (i.e. protection).
v.3 The troubles of the righteous will not last longer than their ability to bear them.
v.4-5 Prayer asking God to do good for those who are good. But, those who turn away from faith will be led away with the wicked. Finally, peace be upon Israel.

You must have a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ to avoid being led away with the wicked. See also Is 3:10-11.

Read Psalm 125

A Song of Ascents. Of David.

This psalm perhaps recalls the events in 2 Sm 5:17-25.

v.1-5 David recalls an event, perhaps a foreign invasion, where the Lord delivered the people of Israel. The people had been in great danger — “they would have swallowed us up alive.”
v.6-7 Blessed be the Lord who delivered them out of the snare.
v.8 The Lord, who made heaven and earth, is our great help in times of trouble.

With the Lord at our side, the church will surely have the victory against the devil and his forces. If God be for us, who can be against us? (Rom 8:31) That’s the Lord’s stand, are you in good hands?

Read Psalm 124

A Song of Ascents.

v.1-2 The psalmist lifts up his eyes to the one enthroned in heaven.
v.3-4 Petition for mercy in the face of contempt from the proud.

Waiting on the Lord is our proper posture, looking for mercy (which we all need). Lift up your eyes to the Lord in faith and humble reliance on him.

Read Psalm 123

A Song of Ascents. Of David.

v.1-2 The joy of the pilgrim’s ascent to Jerusalem. “Now at last our feet stand within your gates.” The long journey is over and the excitement that precipitated the journey returns.
v.3-5 At Jerusalem the people were to give thanks to the Lord.
v.6-9 David calls on the people to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

We should worship God in the company of other believers and in public. It should be our greatest joy to be called upon to worship God. When we are together, we should give thanks and pray for peace.

Read Psalm 122

A Song of Ascents.

v.1-2 The psalmist lifts up his eye to the hills (Mt. Zion) and declares that his help (salvation) comes from the Lord (who made heaven and earth).
v.3-4 The Lord is our keeper and the protector of the church. Our keeper does not slumber but is awake and ready to keep us.
v.5-6 He will keep as close to us as a shadow to the body. He is the shade that refreshes us.
v.7-8 The Lord will keep his people from all evil, from now to eternity.

He that made heaven and earth (all very excellent) is the powerful and sovereign Lord of the hosts and is able to save his people.

Read Psalm 121

A Song of Ascents. This is the first of 15 songs of ascents (Ps 120-134).

v.1-2 The psalmist recalls a past event when he called upon the Lord. He prays for deliverance from lying lips.
v.3-4 The answer is that the liar will be destroyed by arrows of truth and coals of destruction.
v.5-7 The psalmists situation is that he is living as an alien among gentiles (woe to me). His desire is for peace, but they are for war.

All believers suffer persecution in this fallen world (2 Tim 3:12). May we be like the psalmist and call out to God in our distress.

Read Psalm 120

ת Taw

v.169 -170 The psalmist prays (his cry and plea) that his petition might come before God. His supplication is for understanding (of the word) and deliverance from his troubles.
v.171-172 His lips pour out praise for God, grateful that God has taught him his statutes. His tongue sings of God’s word since all his commandments are right.
v.173-174 David chose God’s precepts and made the word his delight. He longed for God’s salvation and helping hand in time of need.
v.175 David prays that he might live to praise God and that the word might help him in this endeavor.
v.176 David confesses that he, like a lost sheep, has gone astray. But he confidently asks God to seek him for he has not (wickedly) forgotten his commandments.

The psalmist concludes the psalm with the confession that he has gone astray. All God’s people will go astray, but he can confidently pray to the Lord “seek your servant.” The finale is “I do not forget your commandments.” This is then our task, having read this psalm, to remember God’s word and keep his commandments.

Read Psalm 119:169-176

ש Sin and Shin

v.161 Persecuted without cause, even so, the psalmist stands in awe of God’s law.
v.162 Here David finds great joy in God’s word (as one that finds great spoil).
v.163 David loves God’s word, which is truth itself, and abhors falsehood (lying).
v.164 Seven times a day, David praised God. That is many times a day. Just once a week won’t do. Praising God is a duty we should very much enjoy. Praise him at every meal and in all things. Give thanks in every circumstance (1 Thes 5:18).
v.165 One can find great peace in loving and following God’s word. This peace is not found in the world’s ways.
v.166-168 David’s hope is in the Lord’s salvation and he keeps the Lord’s testimonies and precepts.

The more we see the beauty and truth of God’s word, the more we will detest a lie.

Read Psalm 119:161-168