Day 19 - A Psalm of Ascent, Ps. 120

It’s crucial to see that life is a Pilgrimage.  We are “sojourners” according to the scriptures.  What does it mean to be pilgrims?, sojourners?  It means we understand the brevity, temporary aspect of life – and the need to be alert, wide awake and aware of all that surrounds us.

It's important to know that - that we are Pilgrims, not Tourists.

Psalm 120 is the beginning of the Pilgrim’s journey towards Jerusalem.  It is the beginning of his walk towards the place of worship and celebration of all God is doing. 

And to begin that journey, the Psalmist instructs this song…it may seem strange, but it is packed with meaning.

Psalm 120:1-7

¹  A song of Ascents.  In my distress I cried to the LORD, And He heard me.
²  Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips And from a deceitful tongue.
³  What shall be given to you, Or what shall be done to you, You false tongue?
⁴  Sharp arrows of the warrior, With coals of the broom tree!
⁵  Woe is me, that I dwell in Meshech, That I dwell among the tents of Kedar!
⁶  My soul has dwelt too long With one who hates peace.
⁷  I am for peace; But when I speak, they are for war.

Why make the pilgrimage to begin with? 

It’s as if he is walking out something needed for his soul.  The Psalm begins with that.  “Deliver my soul” and it reminds us why with “lying lips” that leads to “war”.  This is where we begin with the realization that this world we live in, that we are a part of, that we participate in and contribute to, has a pain connected to it that can’t be soothed with newer technology, more gizmos and platitudes of politicians. 

It begins with our soul… it begins deep within with the cry of our soul “O Lord”.  Twice in the psalm he says “Lord”.  He sang the song because he was caught in the tension of the pain and problems all around him and his deep faith in the Lord.  Now he knows, this is going to require a skillful and careful living rooted in faith in God.

I had a father who was a mechanic.  He didn’t work for an auto dealer, but rather worked on BIG diesel engines – the kind used in caterpillars and gravel trucks, etc…  He also worked on his own cars.  Watching him work on cars was valuable.  When there was a problem I’d see him hunched over the engine, with tools in hand, and yet he was not just doing things, he was thinking.  When he acted it was intentional, deliberate, skillful.  His furrowed brows told me “think until you know how to act”.  This is Psalmist.  Thinking, praying, then acting.

We are pilgrims, not tourists.

We walk on our journey of faith deliberately, intentionally, skillful, with one eye on the pain of the world around us and one eye on the God who knows how to act.

“I cried to the Lord”…a deep need to pray for help in discernment.

“lying lips…false tongues…sharp arrows”…all of them speak as a reality check.  You are for peace, but there is still a war going on.  It’s only the first day, but let’s walk on with eyes wide open and our shields of faith up.

Ephesians 6:14-18

¹⁴  Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
¹⁵  and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
¹⁶  above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
¹⁷  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
¹⁸  praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

We are pilgrims, not tourists.

We walk in confidence and in faith.

Hebrews 11:13  These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

Peace