Dawn's Devotions - The Songs of Ascents

In this devotion, I would like to focus on one of my favourite topics,

 " The Songs of Ascents. "

These are Psalms 120 to 134. I know it is a lot of reading but I really recommend reading and meditating on them.

The Songs of Ascents are pilgrimage psalms.

Three times a year, every Israelite would make the pilgrimage to Jerusalem, for Passover,

 " Pesach, " The festival of weeks, " Sukkot, " and the Feast of Tabernacle, " Shavuot. "

Jesus would have known these songs by heart.

Imagine Jesus making the journey to Jerusalem with thousands of other Israelites.
As they sang, or chanted the Songs of Ascents, they would remember their beautiful and troubled heritage.
They would prepare their hearts for the days to come.
From Nazareth to Jerusalem was about a week's walk.

Jesus quoted from the Psalms 11 times that we know of in the gospels.

He a!so famously quoted Psalm 22 from the cross.

Even in His final moments, Our Lord quoted the Psalms!

The Psalms are the original hymn book and I have to agree with N T Wright, who wrote in " The Case for the Psalms, "

" The churches neglect for its original hymn book is a great impoverishment! "

I know that N T Wright, along with Billy Graham believed in reading 5 Psalms a day.

This is a practice I try to follow, when I wake I every morning.

 I find a beautiful quietness and stillness, deep in my heart as I slowly meditate and often pray the psalms.

The Song so Ascents are gradual Psalms, which  deliberately build in intensity!

 Maybe the praises intensified as the worshippers neared Jerusalem.

They express so much, and I believe they should be read together.

Psalm 121 " I lift my eyes to the mountains. Where does my help come from?

Keep walking, keep focusing ahead, and keep your eyes on God!
The remaining psalms express beautifully the hope of the people.

Psalm 122 " I rejoiced with those who said to me, Let us to to The house of The Lord. "

Let us enter His gates with thanksgiving.
Everlasting Joy is our inheritance!

Psalm 126 " The Lord has done great things and we are filled with joy.

Themes of praise, joyfulness, thankfulness, friendship, unity, contentment, justice, protection, salvation,  assurance, security and the knowledge of God's unfailing love are packed in these psalms!

It is a perfect picture of our walk, with our God and king!

I love the picture in Psalm 133, it makes me smile to imagine, the anointing oil, running down Aaron's beard!
What a joyful picture!

Psalm 131 " I do not concern myself with great matters, or things too wonderful for me! "

This reminds me of the vastness of the knowledge of God!
What can I know? If God's mind is like the ocean, mine is a leaky tea cup!
Even what I think I know, I forget!

It reminds me of Job 42 v 2-3 " Things too wonderful for me to know! "

What is your favourite, I wonder?

I hope that you take some time this week to ponder on the " Songs of Ascents! "

Let us walk with God everyday, with songs of rejoicing!