The Psalms of Ascent
Pilgrim Songs for the Journey to God
Bless the Lord!
August 20, 2023 • Drake Osborn • Psalm 134
Psalm 134 // We were created to tell the truth about God, to bless God by honoring and praising him for his perfect blessedness. The Gospel of Jesus answers all of our objections to this great purpose, and brings us into the Great blessings of God for us.
Unity From Above
August 13, 2023 • Dave Becker • Psalm 133
Psalm 133 // In Psalm 133 we learn that the unity of God's people comes down from God as a gift of his grace. Unity is the resting pulse of the Church as each of us has been joined to Christ as sons and daughters, and to one another as brothers and sisters, by faith. The unity of the church is not the accomplishment of the church, but a revelation of God's anointing and life giving grace.
A Calm and Quiet Soul
July 23, 2023 • Drake Osborn • Psalm 131
Psalm 131 // The psalm is short enough to put on a coffee mug or commit to memory. But if we are really going to put it to practice, we need to understand two actions: embracing limitation as a gift from God, and unburdening our cares before God.
Is Persecution the Worst Thing?
July 16, 2023 • Mark Roberts • Psalm 129
Psalm 129 // A key marker of our identity as pilgrim followers of Jesus is our association with Jesus in persecution and opposition. When we understand God's righteousness and mercy towards us, we see that persecution is not the worst the worst thing. The worst thing that could happen to us is being cursed by God, and it already happened to Jesus so that we could be blessed.
Work and Blessedness
July 9, 2023 • Drake Osborn • Psalm 127, Psalm 128
Psalm 127 & 128 // Satisfying and lasting work is not linear—working towards an end goal where we cease working—but cyclical, cultivating and enjoying the fruit of our labor. None of it can be done without God's help, which means the blessing of work only comes through throwing aside the chains of self-importance and depending on God for our value in work. In the gospel, we know our work is not in vain, because Jesus died and rose to build us into God's house and give us purpose and welcome in his kingdom.
God's Faithfulness Propels Our Faithful Witness
July 2, 2023 • Phil Barnes • Psalm 126
Psalm 126 // When we face trials and difficulties, often the first thing to go is our confidence in God. But Psalm 126 directs us to trust in the faithfulness of God despite our circumstances. With his help, God leads us to recall his faithfulness, count on his faithfulness, and take part in his faithfulness.
What We Came Here To Do
June 18, 2023 • Dave Becker • Psalm 122
Psalm 122 // In Psalm 122 David shows us that a sense of arrival on the journey to God is marked by anticipation and zeal for the worship of the Lord… “Let us go to the house of the LORD!” We see from the Psalm that our journey is one that is shared - so even though it is deeply personal it’s not privatized. We see that the Lord has set a place for worship that is characterized by the unity present among God’s people as an overflow of their worship and thanksgiving to the Lord. We also learn that our worship leads us to seek God’s peace and God’s good for the community of faith, and for those outside of the peace of God to be invited in.
Our Eyes Look to the Lord
June 11, 2023 • Dave Becker • Psalm 123, Psalm 121
Psalm 121, 123 // On our pilgrim journey to God we all need help. We are regularly beset by weaknesses, obstacles, temptations, frustrations, and more. Where we turn for help in our time of need and where we fix our eyes in the days of our journeying shows us who we are and who we trust. In Psalm 121 & 123 the psalmist shows us through songs of honest lament and honest confidence that we look to the Lord, who has made the heavens and the earth and who is enthroned in the heavens, for our help. The Lord tirelessly keeps watch over his people, protects his people in his mercy, and delivers his people safely to himself now and forever.
In My Distress, I Called
June 4, 2023 • Jake Anthony • Psalm 120
Psalm 120:1-7 // The first psalm of ascent is challenging to our ears and hearts because we would likely not sing it very often. God gives us songs of lament like Psalm 120 to make sense of the deceptive and violent world around us so that, in our distress, we might cry out to him for deliverance; lamenting the realities of sin sets our longing hopes on the coming reign of Jesus. Until his return, we mourn the realities of sin with hope, knowing that God hears us and salvation is coming soon.