The Songs of Ascent
A Sermon Series
by
Jim Bordwine, ThD
Psalm 120
Introduction
What is the most important duty which you fulfill in this life? What is the most significant activity of the people of God when you consider them as a body? What pleases God most and what brings forth His favor most readily? What causes the greatest excitement in the heart of the believer? What testifies most distinctly to the world concerning the glorious work of redemption? The answer to all these questions is worship—the worship of the Triune God.
Among all the duties which you pursue in this life, the most important, the most influential, the most edifying is the worship of the Triune God. It is in worship that you learn who God is and how He is to be approached and what He has done for you; it is in worship that your children see your countenance and observe your conduct and thereby learn whether you rejoice in God’s presence. Of all the goals that the assembled people of God set for themselves, no goal is more meaningful than right worship. When you consider all the various ways in which we can please God, nothing surpasses the pleasure brought to God when His people worship Him rightly—with all of their hearts and all of their minds and all of their strength; with voices raised in hymns of praise and thanksgiving. Of all the aspects of life in Christ which you experience, no aspect should bring greater excitement to your soul than the worship of the Triune God. When the world looks upon Christians, nothing we do bears a more striking testimony to the reality of redemption than our worship.
Each week, we make a pilgrimage to the House of God. Each week, we rise early and we gather the members of our families and we make our way to this place, this place where God dwells, this place where the saints congregate, this place where we hear words which declare to us what wonderful things God has done, this place where we respond to God with thankful hearts and where we raise our petitions to Him knowing that He cares for us. There is no other place like this in your life because this is the place where, along with other members of Christ’s Body, you worship the Triune God.
Today, I begin a new series of sermons having to do primarily with our worship of the Triune God. I plan to concentrate on the character and works of the God we worship; and I plan to concentrate on how the character and works of God should affect us as we meet here Sunday after Sunday. It is our worship of God that determines what kind of people we’ll be the rest of the week; it is our worship of God that determines what kind of parents we will be, what kind of children we will be, what kind of employees we will be and what kind of homemakers we will be. The worship of God is central to our lives and if our worship is what it should be, other areas will reflect that fact.
Where do we turn in the Bible to learn about the character and works of God; and where do we turn to learn how these elements should affect us as we meet here? Where can we look to learn what thoughts should fill our minds as we make our way to the House of God each Sunday morning? You may think there are many places in the Bible which would answer these questions, and you would be correct. But there is one place, one section of Scripture which I think will be of enormous benefit to us as we consider the issue of worship. That place is a section in the Book of Psalms.
Psalms 120-134 are known as “Songs of Ascent.” The Psalms are also known
as “pilgrimage songs.” There are fifteen of these Songs. These songs were
sung as worshipers made their way to Jerusalem during the three great festivals
held each year in
I’m particularly interested in making application of these Psalms to our
worship of God each Lord’s Day. I say that because, as noted earlier, these
Psalms were sung by the people of God as they made their way to Jerusalem
where they would worship Him and engage in one of the festivals which reminded
them of some great epoch in
As we examine these Psalms, I will follow a simple, three-point outline each week. First, I’ll ask “What does this Psalm teach us about God?”; second, I’ll ask “What does this Psalm teach us about those who worshiped God?”—that is, those who originally sang these songs; third, I’ll ask “What does this Psalm teach us about our worship of God?” Under this third point, I will make application of the text to our present circumstances and duties.
Let’s begin now with the first of the Songs of Ascent, Psa. 120:
1 A Song of Ascents. In my trouble I cried to the LORD, and He answered me. 2 Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue. 3 What shall be given to you, and what more shall be done to you, you deceitful tongue? 4 Sharp arrows of the warrior, with the burning coals of the broom tree. 5 Woe is me, for I sojourn in Meshech, for I dwell among the tents of Kedar! 6 Too long has my soul had its dwelling with those who hate peace. 7 I am for peace, but when I speak, they are for war.
01. What does this Psalm teach us about God?
This song brings to the forefront several aspects of God’s character. For example, the first verse states a truth of incredible significance and comfort to us as we live out our years here in this world. The writer says that “in my trouble I cried to the LORD...” God cares for His people; He has instructed us to call upon Him in the day of trouble. God’s character is such that it is only natural that the LORD should be the One to whom creatures turn in times of distress. This Psalm teaches us that the LORD waits for the cries of His people; He anticipates their calls for help. And He is not a God who ignores us when we cry; He is not a God like those so often fashioned in the minds of sinful men—He cares for us.
Therefore, of course, the writers adds: “...and He answered me.” What a simple, yet beautiful statement—“He answered me.” This is said of the Creator, the One who made all things and who holds all things together. This writer utters these amazing words—“He answered me.” Not only does the LORD expect to hear the petitions of His people, not only does He encourage them to cry to Him in time of need, but He answers them. Think about the implications of that statement. The petitions which the people of God raise to Him day after day are not so much empty rhetoric. No, the God to whom we pray hears us and answers us. He responds to the prayers of His people. They are never alone, never forsaken, never forgotten, never left to suffer as if their Maker cared not for them.
This song also tells us something else about the LORD. It tells us that He is a God of truth—a God who is truthful and a God who defends truth. Notice the substance of this petition: “deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue” (v. 2) The writer was in some manner suffering due to lies told about him or false reports given in his name. His enemies were not coming against him with swords, but with the much more potent weapon of a devious tongue. In armed conflict, you see your adversary and you see his weapons, but in this kind of conflict, the attack is subtle, hidden, secretive. The damage of such an attack is done before you realize you have been assaulted.
The writer knew he had one hope and only one hope—he had to depend upon the LORD because the LORD loves the truth, the LORD is righteous and defends righteousness, the LORD does not lie, the LORD, therefore, is the perfect refuge for the one being attacked by a lying tongue. While this writer could not defend himself against such violence, he knew that the LORD could. The LORD heard all the things said in secret, the LORD was fully aware of all the plans discussed in private which were designed to harm this child of His. Confidently, then, this man turns to the LORD and pours out his heart and takes courage in what he knew about God. The LORD can be counted on to uphold the truth.
Remember that this was a song sung by pilgrims making their way to Jerusalem. Their hearts must have been uplifted as they sang these words and were reminded of the righteous character of God. In this sin-cursed world, in this world torn by transgressions of every kind, the LORD stands as a Rock of Truth and He is immoveable. And so, the worshipers sang this song and their souls were filled with confidence and in that state they arrived in the city to join with their brethren in praising the God of truth.
02. What does this Psalm teach us about those who worshiped God?
This song is just as revealing about the character of the author. Let’s consider some of his statements. He says “In my trouble I cried to the LORD....” The word translated “trouble” (tsarah) refers to severe affliction or distress. This is the word used to describe what Joseph felt when his brothers mistreated him so terribly and eventually sold him to slave traders. It is used repeatedly throughout the Old Testament in reference to a prolonged and acute experience of danger—often the expectation of death is a prominent element in those contexts where this word is used. As is the case here, just about every reference where this term is found includes some expression of turning to the LORD for comfort.
Further, the word rendered “cried” (qara) is a common Hebrew term which means “to call out, to cry out, to utter a loud cry.” This word is used so often in connection with seeking help from God that Hebrew dictionaries actually assign as one of its meanings “to cry out to God for help.” Together, these two terms tell us that the writer of this Psalm was in deep, soul-shaking anguish. He was facing an enemy who was employing an unseen weapon—lies. He was being attacked, but could not defend himself. He was being wounded, but in a manner that defied prevention. He had one hope, as I noted before, and that was the integrity of God.
The LORD, he knew, would be aware of his circumstances. The LORD, he knew, would have an interest in establishing truth against the onslaught of falsehood. The character of God was this man’s salvation in this instance. We know, therefore, that he was a man who knew God, a man who knew more than that God existed; he knew what kind of God the LORD was. This worshiper was certain that he could count on God being true to His nature—and in this case, that meant defending the innocent against the liars and those who were hiding in the shadows whispering words intended to destroy.
We know that the writer of this Psalm knew something about justice and injustice, about holiness and sinfulness, about good and evil. And he learned all these things, no doubt, as one who worshiped God and who paid heed to the Word of the LORD. He not only calls on the LORD to take note of the wickedness being perpetrated against him, he also predicts the judgment that will fall upon this enemy: “sharp arrows of the warrior, with the burning coals of the broom tree” (vv. 3, 4). The “sharp arrows” we can understand. The enemy of this worshiper of the LORD would surely be found and struck down. But what are “the coals of the broom tree?”
The “broom tree” was a shrub that grew in the desert. It’s roots were particularly suited for creating extremely hot and long-lasting fires. Both of these images, of course, are meant to depict the righteous judgment of the LORD which the writer believes will be meted out to those who have abused him and sought to destroy him with their devious words. They spoke with sharp tongues and they will be felled by sharp arrows; they kindled the flames of falsehood against him and they will receive the fiery coals of divine wrath.
More of the writer’s experience is revealed when he makes reference to “Meshech” and “Kedar” (v. 5). It is believed that these are references to two savage tribes which roamed the region, one to the north and one to the south of Palestine. By making such references, the writer means to indicate both the vicious character of his enemies and the desperate nature of his plight. This notion is borne out when he adds that he had been dwelling “with those who hate peace.” (v. 6) This man, a worshiper of the LORD, would have been a man of peace and forbearance. But his enemies, whoever they were, seemed bent on disrupting peace and, in its place, creating painful confusion. The writer even declares that he is for peace even though others are for war (v. 7). In this simple statement, we have set before us the utter incompatibility of these two sides; they were completely irreconcilable because they lived by two different codes and sought to promote two vastly different perspectives.
This worshiper of the LORD could not have been in worse circumstances. Yet, at the same time, we must recognize that he could not have had a better, more effective defense. His defender was the God of truth, the God who is righteous and acts righteously. Again, therefore, we must imagine the hearts of those who sang this song as they ascended to Jerusalem to worship the God spoken of in these verses. As they sang, they could relate to the writer, they could understand his sense of desperation, his frustration over the tactics of his enemies. And they could relive also his sense of relief as the great city of God appeared before them and the words of this song sank deep into their hearts. We come to the city of the God of truth and justice, they could shout. We come to worship the One who is altogether righteous and who will not let liars and those with deceitful tongues overcome His people.
03. What does this Psalm teach us about our worship of God?
As I noted before, under this third point, I want to offer applications based on what we have learned from this Psalm. The first application which I would suggest to you comes from the opening verse. There the writer says that he cried to the LORD in a time of trouble. Do you think of this aspect of your relationship with God as you make your way to the church each week? Days before we meet for worship, do you anticipate this hour when you will be able to meet with the LORD and worship the One who has shown you mercy during your times of trouble? As we come to the LORD’s house, do you come as one who has had prayer for help answered by God? Do you enter this room remembering how the LORD has comforted you when you were afraid, how He has given you peace in the midst of confusion? Have you ever cried to God in a time of trouble and known His tender mercy in response? If you approach the LORD’s house as this writer did, with the memories of God’s unfailing and abundant help, then you will enter this sanctuary with a thankful heart and you will long each week to return to this place to praise the name of the LORD.
Let me add one more thought to this first application: If you don’t call upon the LORD during your times of trouble, then you don’t understand who God is and what He desires from His people. God is not “bothered” by your frequent cries for help—He is glorified by them. He is God; He is supposed to hear the cries of His people. God loves His people and He stands ready to hear their petitions and act according to His holy purposes. In Psa. 50:15, the LORD says: “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me.” Isn’t that a wonderful command from God? “Call upon Me,” He declares, “and I shall rescue you” and the result is that we will then honor Him in a spirit of thanksgiving. If you are in distress, write out this verse and put it in a spot where you will see it day after day. Trust God to do what He says; trust Him to rescue you and when He does, raise your praises of thanksgiving to Him.
The second point of application follows the first: the LORD answers the prayers of His people. I am making this a separate application in order to emphasize this great truth. In the Psalm, the writer said he cried to the LORD in his trouble and the LORD answered him. The comfort you have as a child of God is not only that you may take your petitions to Him time after time, knowing that He hears you. Your comfort is also tied to the fact that the LORD answers the prayers of His people. When you ask the LORD for help, He gives it! When you cry to Him during a time of grief, He hears and He comforts. When you face that which you cannot bear, God hears your plea and grants you the grace to persevere.
As you make your way to this house of worship each week, do you give thought to how much the LORD has done for you? Do you think about how often He has answered your petitions? Do you ever reflect upon answered prayer during the week? If you do, then you will make your way to the LORD’s house each Sunday morning with a fresh appreciation and love for Him, and that will make you anxious to join the other saints gathered here to sing about God’s majesty and His abundant mercy.
A third point of application comes from the petition offered by the writer of this Psalm. Remember that he asked the LORD to deliver him “from lying lips” and “from a deceitful tongue.” I noted how this portion of the Psalm reminds us that God is truthful Himself and is, therefore, a defender of truth. We live in a day when truth is increasingly thought of in non-absolute terms. As we gather for worship each week in this place, we should be encouraged as we remember that we are here to worship the God whose Word is truth, the God who reveals truth, the God who establishes and defends truth. His people need never fear the truth; His people need never hesitate to speak the truth or live according to the truth He has given us.
Every worship service is a declaration to us that truth matters because God is truthful and He does not allow that which is false to triumph ultimately. In Ex. 34:6, we are told that God abounds in lovingkindness and truth. In Psa. 31:5, the LORD is called the “God of truth.” We worship God each week because His Word is true and abides forever. We worship God each week because the destinies of our souls depend on the truthfulness of what God has told us. Our gathering each week should be a cause of great encouragement—this time because we know we are here to praise a God who is truthful, who promises and delivers, who commands and requires. We worship a God whose Word can be trusted and whose Word, therefore, can be the basis for how we think and speak and live. When you live on the basis of what God has revealed, when you make decisions on that basis, when you raise your children on that basis, you are demonstrating a trust in the integrity of God. What greater assurance could we have that His way is the way in which we should go?
A fourth application comes from the condition of the man who wrote this Psalm. I said that he was a man with one hope and that hope was the LORD. How would your perspective on worship change if, before coming to the church, you spent some of your time on Sunday mornings meditating on the fact that God is your only hope in life or in death? Don’t you imagine that such meditation would produce in you a strong sense of thanksgiving and humility? Don’t you imagine that such an exercise would make you eager to be here, eager to join others in singing God’s praises and eager to hear, once again, statements about His greatness?
As those Jews made their way to Jerusalem, they sang this Psalm and they were reminded that the LORD was their hope—He was their Deliverer, their Provider and the One who kept them as a peculiar people on the earth. Rehearsing these thoughts, as they must have as they sang, prepared those people to worship God rightly. The same would be true for us if we made a habit out of thinking on such truths each week, especially as the week begins to draw to a close and we realize that soon we will be in God’s house again. When all else fails us, hope remains for us and that hope is the LORD who loves us. When every single source of encouragement disappears in this world, hope remains for us in God’s unfailing regard for His people.
When you awoke this morning, were you thinking “today, I make my way to the house of God, the house of the God of truth and righteousness”? As you drove through the streets, were you thinking “soon, I will arrive at the house of God, the house of the God who defends the truthful, but who is opposed to liars”? This morning, did you think upon the Table of the Lord, prepared here before you? Did you think that, again today, I have access to His presence—again today, I will join the saints in singing the praises of the One who made me and of the One who gave Himself for me?
All that Psa. 120 teaches is here in the sacrament. It teaches that God is aware of the plight of His people and the sacrament declares in no uncertain terms that God undertook to rescue us because that is what He does for those loved by Him. He sent His Son to deliver us from wrath by taking our place under that wrath. The Psalm teaches that God is truthful and, therefore, a Defender of truth. The sacrament testifies to the truthfulness of God. He told Adam that the man would die through a single act of disobedience. The sacrament declares to us that this was a truthful statement from the Creator because this sacrament is chiefly about the redemption that had to take place so that we could be reconciled to God out of a state of disobedience and condemnation. God promised that He would accept the payment of His Son for our sins. The sacrament declares to us that God has kept His promise—we partake because what is pictured here is true, just as God declared.
On that last night, shortly before He was to be arrested, abused and finally crucified, our Savior sat with His disciples and He instituted a practice which would, in a simple yet unforgettable manner, testify to what He was about to do for them. He took a loaf of bread, broke it and gave it to the disciples. He told them: “take, eat, this is My body.” They must have pondered that statement. But soon it must have dawned on them—as they each shared in the one loaf, so they each shared in the same Savior. He was giving His life as a ransom for them all. And then the Savior took a cup of wine and announced that it was His blood, the blood of the covenant. My blood, Jesus said, “is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.” As they each drank the wine, the significance of what Jesus said was probably lost on the disciple. Later, they would come to understand that the wine they all shared that night also testified to their sharing in Christ—this time, they came to understand that they shared in the forgiveness of sins which resulted when the Son of God shed His precious blood for them all.
And now, as we come to the close of our worship, we are able to share in the same loaf and drink from the cup and these elements declare to us that our redemption is done; Jesus our Savior came as promised when we were in need. Jesus gave Himself for all of us. Receive the bread and the wine with gladness and much thanksgiving.
Let’s pray...
The sacrament is given...
Conclusion
Sometime this week, sit down with your family or by yourself and read Psa. 121. That is the Psalm we will be considering next Lord’s Day. Meditate on that Psalm for a few minutes as you imagine the people of God who sang that Psalm making their way to Jerusalem to appear before Him.