When Israel crossed over the Jordan, the nations on hearing this found that "their hearts melted in fear and they no longer had the courage to face the Israelites." When You delivered Judah from Babylonian captivity and restored them back to their land after 70 years of desolation, "among the nations it was said, 'Adonai has done great things.' " Today too, it is evident to all over the face of the earth that Thou O great and mighty One has done great things with Israel; for at no point in the history of mankind has a people who were scattered all over the world for 2000 years ever returned. Israel has not only been restored as a nation in the promised land that lay desolate for two millennia, but also speaks the language of their fathers, and is a nation feared by their enemies. Lost tribes are returning. The ancient promises given through the prophets are being fulfilled. Our mouths are full of laughter, Adonai, and our tongues are shouting for joy. For once again all the nations are saying, "The Lord has done and is doing great things for His chosen people." I am so blessed to be a part of this nation.
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. The next feast is Shavuot (or Pentecost) which is 50 days from First-fruits. (This year it falls on May 20, 2018.)
From the day of First-fruits, which was the day our Lord rose from the dead, we have now completed 44 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 many others for 40 days before pouring out the Holy Spirit upon them and clothing them with power from on high. Having now seen the Lord ascend into heaven the disciples tarried in Jerusalem just as He instructed them. The Feast of Weeks was only ten days away when all Israel was to gather in Jerusalem according to the command of God. While Yeshua told them that they would receive the Holy Spirit “not many days from now”, could they have imagined that this glorious promise of the Father would be granted to them on the day of the Feast of Weeks? I wonder if they knew that God was to fulfil one more of His promises on His appointed ‘Moedim’, just as He did on His other three appointed days of Passover (in Yeshua’s death); the Feast of Unleavened Bread (in Yeshua’s burial) and in First-fruits (Yeshua’s resurrection).
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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