On My Way Up: A Summer Pilgrimage in the Psalms of Ascent | Psalm 123 & 124

A pilgrimage is the process of being shaped into the image of God through the person of Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit. A pilgrimage moves towards a determined destination, not a random landing place. This destination has two facets: the presence of God now and the presence of God for all of eternity. 

The setting for these 15 psalms were the 3 annual Jewish festivals celebrated in Jerusalem. These festivals celebrated seminal national moments brought about by the hands Almighty God:

·      The God who Delivers (Passover).

·      The God who guides and empowers life and mission (Pentecost).

·      The God who provides and sustains (Booths).

Psalm 123 I lift up my eyes to you, to you who sit enthroned in heaven. 2 As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a female slave look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till he shows us his mercy. 3 Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us, for we have endured no end of contempt. 4 We have endured no end of ridicule from the arrogant, of contempt from the proud.

Biblically, a lament is more than an expression of sorrow or grief; it is a prayer in pain that leads to trust. The goal of Biblical lament is restored hope and faith in God and His promises. Laments are a faithful response to pain, suffering, and injustice.

Psalm 123:4 4 We have endured no end of ridicule from the arrogant, of contempt from the proud.

We will not shut up and sit down in regard to…

·      All life is sacred. Life isn’t a choice, it’s a gift.

·      God is the Creator and Determiner of biological sex.

·      God has set a boundary for sexuality between one man and one woman and this boundary is for our good.

·      Parents are the most effective in parenting, not the state or federal government.

Psalm 123:3 3 Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us, for we have endured no end of contempt.

Salvation mercy is not getting what our actions/life deserves. In this case, the mercy ask is for God’s powerful and just action and intervention.

Psalm 123:1-2 I lift up my eyes to you, to you who sit enthroned in heaven. 2 As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a female slave look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till he shows us his mercy.

 “…enthroned in heaven”

1)  God is bigger than a place. If you limit God to a place, you limit God – God has no limits.  

2)  God doesn’t just sit in heaven, He is the King of heaven. In fact, He is the Creator of the heavens and earth. He sits above everything and everyone.

Psalm 123:2 2 As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a female slave look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till he shows us his mercy.

We look to God for mercy as a dependent of God. We can be independent of God, but that equates slavery. Only dependency equals freedom.

“…till” = a continuing, faithful, hopeful action. Biblical hope isn’t’ wishful thinking, it is a confident expectation.

Psalm 124

If the Lord had not been on our side— let Israel say— 2 if the Lord had not been on our side when people attacked us,3 they would have swallowed us alive when their anger flared against us; 4 the flood would have engulfed us, the torrent would have swept over us, 5 the raging water would have swept us away. 6 Praise be to the Lord, who has not let us be torn by their teeth. 7 We have escaped like a bird from the fowler’s snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped. 8 Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

“If God had not been on our side” – is an acknowledgment that if we had been on our own, we would have been swallowed up. But God was on their side and is on our side.

Psalm 124:6 6 Praise be to the Lord, who has not let us be torn by their teeth. 7 We have escaped like a bird from the fowler’s snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped. 8 Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. 

·      “who has not let” = who has intervened

·      “we have escaped” = this will not be our end

·      “the snare has been broken” = their weapons have been shattered

Our help is in the name, the reputation, the renown (fame) of God. The God who doesn’t just sit in the heaven, He made both heaven and earth. It’s that God who is on our side!

A lament is more than a sad song, it is faithful response to pain, suffering, and injustice. A Thanksgiving Psalm is more than a cheer, it is a truth, it is hope set to melody! 

To find comfort in God at your times of war, you have to believe 3 things…

1.     God sits over everything and everyone.

2.     God is the mercy giver and His mercy overwhelms that which is overwhelming.

3.     God is on our side.

Lamentation 3:21-26 21 Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: 22 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions [mercies] never fail 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore, I will wait for him. 25 The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; 26It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

Biblical hope isn’t wishful thinking, it is a confident expectation. To wait quietly is to wait with ease.

Romans 12:12 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.