Adonai, when I consider the history of Jerusalem and the nation of Israel, I see how for more than two thousand years, there has been turmoil, siege and destruction. I see how even now, having restored Jerusalem and the land back to Thy people (for Your anger is but for a moment but soon You turn Thy face in mercy) there is still so much unrest. I understand from all that You have foretold, days are coming when nations will gather against Thy chosen inheritance and Thy holy city.
All this puzzles me, Adonai. On one hand we are commanded to pray for the peace of Jerusalem yet on the other, her woes seem unending. I know that in Thy millennial reign you will enlarge the boundaries of both Israel and Jerusalem, just as Thou didst promise to Abraham and through Jeremiah; and You will reign from Thy holy city for a thousand years.
However, I ask that in the difficult times that remain, until You restore all things to Thyself, Thy bond-servants will love You (and the city You have established as Thy own) and hold fast to the end without growing weary; for the time is at hand when You who is coming will come and will not delay.
Song of Ascents comprises of a collection of 15 psalms from Psalm 120 to 134. While there are a number of suggestions as to what the phrase, “Song of Ascents” could mean, one thought is that these psalms were sung by Israel as they went up to Jerusalem to celebrate the three annual feasts that the Lord had commanded (Lev. 23; Ex. 23:14).
We have just concluded the Feast of Unleavened Bread which started on the 15th day of the first month of the Biblical calendar (or on the evening of March 30, 2018). During this seven day feast, Israel went up to Jerusalem singing these Songs of Ascent. We have now completed 21 days of counting up to the fifty days to Shavuot (Lev. 23:15-16), the next feast day of the Lord.
My purpose of posting a verse from these psalms each day (during these days between the Feast of Unleavened Bread and the Feast of Weeks (Shavuot) which in Greek is called Pentecost) is so that we too—if you are a son (or daughter) of Israel, even though you once may have been a Gentile but now through the great grace shown to us by the Father and through the blood of the Messiah Yeshua—can pilgrim into the presence of the Most High God (for we are the temple of God and the Holy Spirit dwells in us) singing these psalms to Him who sits on the throne (in heaven and in our hearts).
Join with me then O son of Israel and let us exalt the name of our God together as we pilgrim on His appointed feast days just as He commanded.
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