[We
continue with the Songs of Ascents (Psalms 120-134). These are songs
that the people of Israel sang on their pilgrimage to Jerusalem for
the annual feasts and festivals days.]
PSALM
126 – “Return from Exile”
(A Song
of Ascents)
This is
a Community Lament, likely composed after the Babylonian exile but
could also be referring to David's return to Jerusalem (2 Samuel
15-19).
Vs. 1a –
“When the LORD brought back the captivity of Zion”:
Most scholars associate this with Israel's return from Babylon
under Ezra and Nehemiah. A gathering of the exiles.
Vs. 1b –
“We were like those who dream”:
In the ancient days, “those who dream” referred to prophets who
communicated messages between God and His people (Joel 2:28-29). The
psalmist could also be describing the ecstatic joy that he speaks
about in verse 2.
Vs. 4 –
“As the streams in the south”:
This would be language familiar to the residents of Israel,
describing “flash floods”. The plea was for God to work swiftly
and strongly for a flood of continued deliverance of His people.
While verses 1-3 spoke of gratitude for God's restoration, this verse
is a prayer for more.
Vs. 5-6
– “Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy”:
This suggests that over time, God uses our pain and suffering to
bring joy. Notice the sorrow isn't kept... it is planted.
“Both
the going forth and the coming home are stressed by a doubling of the
verb, and might be translated, ‘He that surely goes forth
weeping…will surely come home with shouts of joy.’” (Kidner)
VIDEO: Shir Ha Ma'alot - Song of Ascents:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eISRutmI-r0
READING FOR TOMORROW: Chapters 131-136
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PSALM
127 – “It is Vain”
(A Song
of Ascents. Of Solomon)
This is
a Wisdom Psalm of Solomon with a look toward eternal life through an OT perspective. To the ancients, eternal blessings were manifested
in generations... children and grandchildren were a guarantee of
blessing beyond death.
Vs. 1 –
“Unless...”: Without
God, our plans are futile.
💛NUGGET:
In 1736, Edinburgh, Scotland registered their official Coat of Arms.
It bears a motto taken from the first words of this psalm: “Nisi
Dominus Frusta”, which
means, “Without the Lord, All is Vain”.
Vs. 3 – “The Jew would ask, why is the house being built if it is not for the family? And why are the watchmen protecting the city if not for the families that live in it? Then as now, the family was the basic unit and most important element of society.” (Boice)
Vs. 5 –
“But shall speak with their enemies in the gate”: The gate
of an ancient city was the gathering place to conduct business and
often settle disputes. A man surrounded by plenty of sons would
feel unafraid to face his enemies in the gate. From another
perspective, a man whose children are upright will never bring him
shame, but rather strengthen his reputation.
[A bit
ironic that this verse was written by Solomon who had 700 wives and 300 concubines and likely conceived more children than anyone on the
planet, yet the Bible only mentions one son, Rehoboam, his heir to the
throne and a disappointment to God.]
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PSALM
128 – “Fear the Lord”
(A Song
of Ascents)
Psalm
128 is a Wisdom Psalm and is considered to be a companion to Psalm
127. Both psalms focus on the family and emphasize the importance of
Godliness in the home. The previous psalm ended with the “blessed
(happy) man". This psalm expounds on his blessedness.
Vs. 1 –
This blessing is for EVERY ONE who fears the Lord and walks in His
ways.
VERSES
2-6: THE BLESSING
Vs. 3 –
“Fruitful vine... olive branches”: In the context of
ancient Israel, a man's greatest blessings were a productive farm and a "productive" wife who provided him with a passel of children around his bountiful table.
“The
interesting thing about these two images, vines and olive plants, is
that they are biblical symbols of the abundant life. They are not
food staples like wheat or corn. They symbolize rich blessing.”
(Boice)
Vs. 4 –
“Thus shall the man be blessed who fears the LORD”: Just
as in verse 1, the blessing is conditional: it requires honor and
respect to God.
Vs. 5b -
“The prosperity (or good) of Jerusalem” is
the glory of God. A single godly man can widen his sphere of
influence so as to affect a nation.
Vs. 6 –
“May you see your children’s children”: Grandchildren
are nothing but pure blessing from God.
💛NUGGET:
If God's blessing is based on the fear of the Lord, then peace at
home is based on fear of the Lord. If peace at home is based on the fear of
the Lord, then the peace of a nation is based on the fear of the
Lord. (Are you picking up what I'm laying down?)
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PSALM
129 - “They Have not Prevailed”
(A Song
of Ascents)
Psalm
129 is a Prayer of Confidence in God’s continued protection. It was a historical reminder and also a future prophecy of God’s
never-ending care.
Vs. 1-3
– The statement of affliction (or persecution) is repeated twice to
show emphasis, and it ain't no lie. Just look at some of the people who have tried to obliterate Israel: Egyptians,
Canaanites, Philistines, Syrians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Greeks,
Romans, Muslims, and Nazis... to name a few. Yet God preserves His
people.
“The
Jews are the longest-enduring distinct ethnic people on the planet.
They have been slandered, hated, persecuted, expelled, pursued, and
murdered throughout their long existence, but they have survived
intact.” (Boice)
Vs. 5-7
– These verses are filled with imprecations against the enemy. The
psalmist doesn't wish them death, just a “withering away”
Vs. 8 –
In Ruth 2:4, Boaz came upon the workers reaping wheat in his field
and yelled out to them, “The LORD be with you!” to which
his workers replied, “The LORD bless you”. No such
blessings were to be exchanged with the enemies of Israel.
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PSALM
130 - “Out of the Depths”
(A Song
of Ascents)
Psalm
130 is one of the seven Penitential Psalms (6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130,
143) and is an individual Lament Psalm. As an Ascent Song, Psalm 130
was sung by the pilgrims to direct their thoughts towards forgiveness and prepare
their hearts for worship.
Vs. 1 –
“Out of the depths”:
“Depths” is taken from the root word for "deep" (Hebrew: “amoq”)
which means “to make deep”, as in all the way down to the bottom of one's soul. We
note the intensity and intimacy of the psalmist's words as he cries
out to God, alternating "LORD" and "Lord" eight times within the eight verses of
this song.
LORD:
Yahweh (Covenant name of God)
Lord:
Adonai (Master / Ruler)
💛NUGGET:
While Yahweh is the “name” of God, Adonai is the “title” of
God. “Adon” means, “master” or “Lord” and the possessive
ending, “ai” means “my”. When we use the name of Adonai, we
are acknowledging that God IS our Sovereign Master and we ARE his
servants.
Vs. 4a –
“BUT there is forgiveness with
you”:
Where would we be without this “but”?
Vs.
4b – “That You
may be feared.”:
We love His mercy but fear His justice. And as Adam and Eve proved,
we can't have one without the other.
“It
was a Welshman in the midst of the wonderful revival of 1905 who
rendered verse Psalm 130:4, ‘There is forgiveness with Thee –
enough to frighten us!’ which if not accurate translation is fine
exposition.” (Morgan)
Vs. 5b –
“And in His word I do hope”:
His Word is filled with promises.
💛NUGGET:
Hope in God and hope in His Word are inseparable.
Vs. 8 –
“He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities”: The
psalmist ends with confident trust in the God of redemption... not
just for himself, but also for the nation. And because God is God, the psalmist didn't waste his hope on any
ol' garden variety redemption. He hoped for ABUNDANT redemption (verse 7).
This psalm reminds us of God’s promise to Abraham for a LAND, a SEED and a BLESSING.
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