Wednesday, May 9, 2018

Song of Ascents - Psalm 125, Verse 1



Trust is a word that is so frivolously used by those who acknowledge You as a Saviour, that the true meaning is often lost when they speak about it. Few recognize that "trust" actually means depending on You completely—not partially and certainly not through lip service—but by leaning on You and clinging to You in complete confidence for every aspect of our lives. It echoes what Paul quoted from the prophets when he wrote, "The righteous shall live by faith." There is no other way for the righteous to live but by depending on You as their only Source; clinging to You as their only Helper; and believing in You as their God, Saviour, Redeemer, Covenant-keeper, Faithful Father and Friend. The blessedness of Thy word is in the fact that those who trust in You are truly unshakeable, just like Mount Zion. No matter how great the trouble that may hem in from every side, just as Mount Zion stands firm forever, so will those who "trust" in You.


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 38 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 38 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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