O God of eternal wisdom, Thou hast shown from the beginning of time how the righteous are always hated by the unrighteous. Your word tells us that it is because the light exposes their deeds of iniquity. While You walked on this earth, Adonai, You repeatedly warned that: "You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved." Yet we find that because a majority of Christians, instead of being set apart, have so blended with the world, their fruit bearing them witness; that their lives are at ease and the world does not trouble them. Yet days are coming when there can be no more fence-sitting; for You warned Your disciples: "Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name." At that time each man's devotion for You and stand for righteousness will be tested.
But they who choose You will never be disappointed for they know that they do not have to be afraid of those who kill the body, for after that they have no more that they can do. But rather as You so wisely counseled us: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell. May Your remnant rest secure in You and Your perfect plan for no matter what, because Adonai is for them, they are in the safest place possible.
But they who choose You will never be disappointed for they know that they do not have to be afraid of those who kill the body, for after that they have no more that they can do. But rather as You so wisely counseled us: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell. May Your remnant rest secure in You and Your perfect plan for no matter what, because Adonai is for them, they are in the safest place possible.
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 concluded the seven-day 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.
From the day of First-fruits, which was the day our Lord rose from the dead, we have now completed 30 days of counting up to the fifty days to Shavuot (Lev. 23:15-16), the next feast day of the Lord. This counting is also a good reminder of the fact that after our Lord Yeshua rose again, He revealed Himself to His disciples and to many others for 40 days. This means that even as we have counted 30 days to Shavuot, our risen Lord showed Himself with convincing evidence on each of these days—walking with them and eating with them—to help them understand that He truly is alive. Ten days after His ascension, on Shavuot, the Holy Spirit was poured out from heaven and filled men and women, clothing them with power from on high.
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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