Have we ever been in exile for a time, from family, from church, sick, deployed or ostracized? How did it feel coming back? Let’s begin in Psalm 126.
A Song of Ascents. (WEB)
When Israel returned from national subjugation and captivity, perhaps the Babylonian exile, what was the atmosphere like? When we return to God out of our own Babylonian exile in the world, what is on our heart?
When the Lord brought back Zion’s exiles, we were like dreamers. Then our mouths were filled with laughter, and our tongues formed joyful shouts. Then it was said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” The great things that the Lord has done for us gladden us. (Ps 126:1-3 ISV)
When we are in trouble, be it national disaster or personal catastrophe, do we look to the Lord?
Turn again our captivity, O Lord, as the streams in the south. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. (Ps 126:4-6 KJV)
In her prayer, often called the Magnificat because that is one of the first words in Latin, did Mary sing about God’s rescue of His people?
And His mercy is to generation after generation Toward those who fear Him. He has done mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones, And has exalted those who were humble. He has filled the hungry with good things, And sent the rich away empty-handed. He has given help to His servant Israel, In remembrance of His mercy, Just as He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and his descendants forever. (Luke 1:50–55 LSB)
Whether our trials are national or individual, what does Paul encourage us to do?
For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith. (Gal 6:8-10 LSB)
Have we ever been in exile for a time, from family, from church, sick, deployed or ostracized? How did it feel coming back? You decide!
Abiding Forever (Ps 125)
If we trust in the Lord, are we like Mount Zion, abiding forever? Let’s look at Psalm 125.
A Song of Ascents. (WEB)
In a world of shifting cultures, what is the one thing that cannot be moved?
Those who trust in the Lord Are like Mount Zion, Which cannot be moved, but abides forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, So the Lord surrounds His people From this time forth and forever. (Ps 125:1-2 NKJV)
Do we pray for godly leaders in our land or as a sinful nation do we get the bad leaders that we deserve?
The wicked will not rule the land of the godly, for then the godly might be tempted to do wrong. (Ps 125:3 NLT)
Do we pray for those who are upright in their hearts, that God would bless them in the world?
Do good, Yahweh, to those who are good, to those who are upright in their hearts. (Ps 125:4 WEB)
What are the consequences for those who choose evil over good? What do we choose? Do we pray for peace?
But as for those people who turn to their own twisted ways—may the Lord march them off with other evildoers! Peace be on Israel! (Ps 125:5 CEB)
Is there another greater Mount Zion that the hill in Jerusalem only symbolizes?
But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. (Heb 12:22-24 ESV)
How are those who trust in the Lord like the city of the living God, which cannot be moved, but abides forever?
My sheep hear My voice, I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish—ever! No one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one. (John 10:27-30 HCSB)
If we trust in the Lord, are we like Mount Zion, abiding forever? You decide!
A Song of Ascents. (WEB)
In a world of shifting cultures, what is the one thing that cannot be moved?
Those who trust in the Lord Are like Mount Zion, Which cannot be moved, but abides forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, So the Lord surrounds His people From this time forth and forever. (Ps 125:1-2 NKJV)
Do we pray for godly leaders in our land or as a sinful nation do we get the bad leaders that we deserve?
The wicked will not rule the land of the godly, for then the godly might be tempted to do wrong. (Ps 125:3 NLT)
Do we pray for those who are upright in their hearts, that God would bless them in the world?
Do good, Yahweh, to those who are good, to those who are upright in their hearts. (Ps 125:4 WEB)
What are the consequences for those who choose evil over good? What do we choose? Do we pray for peace?
But as for those people who turn to their own twisted ways—may the Lord march them off with other evildoers! Peace be on Israel! (Ps 125:5 CEB)
Is there another greater Mount Zion that the hill in Jerusalem only symbolizes?
But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. (Heb 12:22-24 ESV)
How are those who trust in the Lord like the city of the living God, which cannot be moved, but abides forever?
My sheep hear My voice, I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish—ever! No one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one. (John 10:27-30 HCSB)
If we trust in the Lord, are we like Mount Zion, abiding forever? You decide!
We Have Escaped (Ps 124)
In a dangerous world with many traps, who can we consistently rely on for escape? What have we escaped through faith in Jesus? Let’s begin in Psalm 124
A Song of Ascents. By David. (WEB)
Do we need God on our side for protection, for guidance, for blessings?
If the Lord had not been on our side—let Israel now say—if the Lord had not been on our side, when men came against us, (Ps 124:1-2 ISV)
What would have happened had God not been on their side? Was the stream literal or analogous of invading armies? What is the moral lesson about God’s protection? How does God protect us for all eternity?
Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us: Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul: Then the proud waters had gone over our soul. (Ps 124:3-5 KJV)
Though we may help each other, who is our ultimate help in a world of predators and many of their traps? Who alone can rescue us from the ultimate snare, death?
Blessed be Yahweh, Who has not given us to be prey for their teeth. Our soul has escaped as a bird out of the snare of the trapper; The snare is broken and we have escaped. Our help is in the name of Yahweh, Who made heaven and earth. (Ps 124:6-8 LSB)
If God is for us, who can fight against us and win the battle?
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? (Rom 8:31-32 NASB)
Who did Paul ultimately rely upon for help in difficult circumstances that he could not handle? Have we set our hope on Him that He will continue to deliver us now and into eternity?
Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many. (2 Cor 1:9-11 NIV)
In a dangerous world with many traps, who can we consistently rely on for escape? What have we escaped through faith in Jesus? You decide!
A Song of Ascents. By David. (WEB)
Do we need God on our side for protection, for guidance, for blessings?
If the Lord had not been on our side—let Israel now say—if the Lord had not been on our side, when men came against us, (Ps 124:1-2 ISV)
What would have happened had God not been on their side? Was the stream literal or analogous of invading armies? What is the moral lesson about God’s protection? How does God protect us for all eternity?
Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us: Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul: Then the proud waters had gone over our soul. (Ps 124:3-5 KJV)
Though we may help each other, who is our ultimate help in a world of predators and many of their traps? Who alone can rescue us from the ultimate snare, death?
Blessed be Yahweh, Who has not given us to be prey for their teeth. Our soul has escaped as a bird out of the snare of the trapper; The snare is broken and we have escaped. Our help is in the name of Yahweh, Who made heaven and earth. (Ps 124:6-8 LSB)
If God is for us, who can fight against us and win the battle?
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? (Rom 8:31-32 NASB)
Who did Paul ultimately rely upon for help in difficult circumstances that he could not handle? Have we set our hope on Him that He will continue to deliver us now and into eternity?
Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many. (2 Cor 1:9-11 NIV)
In a dangerous world with many traps, who can we consistently rely on for escape? What have we escaped through faith in Jesus? You decide!
Rescue from Abuse (Ps 123)
Do we humbly look to heaven for rescue from proud and arrogant abusers? Let’s look at Psalm 123.
A Song of Ascents. (WEB)
Do we ever raise our eyes towards heaven in prayer? Are we puffed up and proud, or do we have the humble attitude of a servant of the Lord?
I raise my eyes to you—you who rule heaven. Just as the eyes of servants attend to their masters’ hand, just as the eyes of a female servant attend to her mistress’ hand—that’s how our eyes attend to the Lord our God until he has mercy on us. (Ps 123:1-2 CEB)
Are there proud, conceited people in our lives that continually insult and abuse us? In a world captive to sin, should we expect some form of opposition?
Please have mercy, Lord! We have been insulted more than we can stand, and we can't take more abuse from those proud, conceited people. (Ps 123:3-4 CEV)
To whom do we look, government, science, technology, humanity or Jesus?
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Heb 12:1-2 ESV)
Does God sometimes ask us to do the opposite of what we would think, knowing the result will be good? Is humility good?
Be miserable and mourn and weep. Your laughter must change to mourning and your joy to sorrow. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you. (Jas 4:9-10 HCSB)
Do we humbly look to heaven for rescue from proud and arrogant abusers? You decide!
A Song of Ascents. (WEB)
Do we ever raise our eyes towards heaven in prayer? Are we puffed up and proud, or do we have the humble attitude of a servant of the Lord?
I raise my eyes to you—you who rule heaven. Just as the eyes of servants attend to their masters’ hand, just as the eyes of a female servant attend to her mistress’ hand—that’s how our eyes attend to the Lord our God until he has mercy on us. (Ps 123:1-2 CEB)
Are there proud, conceited people in our lives that continually insult and abuse us? In a world captive to sin, should we expect some form of opposition?
Please have mercy, Lord! We have been insulted more than we can stand, and we can't take more abuse from those proud, conceited people. (Ps 123:3-4 CEV)
To whom do we look, government, science, technology, humanity or Jesus?
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Heb 12:1-2 ESV)
Does God sometimes ask us to do the opposite of what we would think, knowing the result will be good? Is humility good?
Be miserable and mourn and weep. Your laughter must change to mourning and your joy to sorrow. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you. (Jas 4:9-10 HCSB)
Do we humbly look to heaven for rescue from proud and arrogant abusers? You decide!
The Lord's House (Ps 122)
Are we glad to assemble with fellow imperfect saints to praise the name of the Lord? Let’s begin in Psalm 122.
A Song of Ascents. By David. (WEB)
Though we don’t go to the temple in ancient Jerusalem, are we glad to go somewhere the Bible is preached? Oh sure, the people there are very faulty, just like you and me, but don’t some of them sincerely want to follow Jesus? Do you? Are you glad?
I was glad when they said to me, “Let’s go to the house of the Lord.” Our feet are standing Within your gates, Jerusalem (Ps 122:1-2 NASB)
Though modern Jerusalem is very different from what is described here, can we imagine heavenly Jerusalem in this picture?
Jerusalem is built like a city that is closely compacted together. That is where the tribes go up—the tribes of the Lord—to praise the name of the Lord according to the statute given to Israel. There stand the thrones for judgment, the thrones of the house of David. (Ps 122:3-5 NIV)
Do we pray for modern Jerusalem, that its inhabitants may eventually find peace? Do we pray for peace in all the assemblies of the saints?
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you. Peace be within your walls, Prosperity within your palaces.” For the sake of my brethren and companions, I will now say, “Peace be within you.” Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek your good. (Ps 122:6-9 NKJV)
Does the church focus on a troubled city in modern Israel or is the assembly of the saints somehow related to heavenly Jerusalem?
No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering. You have come to the assembly of God’s firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God himself, who is the judge over all things. You have come to the spirits of the righteous ones in heaven who have now been made perfect. (Heb 12:22-23 NLT)
Does Christ’s message to the church in Philadelphia reveal a little about New Jerusalem?
I am coming quickly! Hold firmly that which you have, so that no one takes your crown. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will go out from there no more. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God, and my own new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. (Rev 3:11-13 WEB)
Are we glad to assemble with fellow imperfect saints to praise the name of the Lord? You decide!
A Song of Ascents. By David. (WEB)
Though we don’t go to the temple in ancient Jerusalem, are we glad to go somewhere the Bible is preached? Oh sure, the people there are very faulty, just like you and me, but don’t some of them sincerely want to follow Jesus? Do you? Are you glad?
I was glad when they said to me, “Let’s go to the house of the Lord.” Our feet are standing Within your gates, Jerusalem (Ps 122:1-2 NASB)
Though modern Jerusalem is very different from what is described here, can we imagine heavenly Jerusalem in this picture?
Jerusalem is built like a city that is closely compacted together. That is where the tribes go up—the tribes of the Lord—to praise the name of the Lord according to the statute given to Israel. There stand the thrones for judgment, the thrones of the house of David. (Ps 122:3-5 NIV)
Do we pray for modern Jerusalem, that its inhabitants may eventually find peace? Do we pray for peace in all the assemblies of the saints?
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you. Peace be within your walls, Prosperity within your palaces.” For the sake of my brethren and companions, I will now say, “Peace be within you.” Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek your good. (Ps 122:6-9 NKJV)
Does the church focus on a troubled city in modern Israel or is the assembly of the saints somehow related to heavenly Jerusalem?
No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering. You have come to the assembly of God’s firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God himself, who is the judge over all things. You have come to the spirits of the righteous ones in heaven who have now been made perfect. (Heb 12:22-23 NLT)
Does Christ’s message to the church in Philadelphia reveal a little about New Jerusalem?
I am coming quickly! Hold firmly that which you have, so that no one takes your crown. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will go out from there no more. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God, and my own new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. (Rev 3:11-13 WEB)
Are we glad to assemble with fellow imperfect saints to praise the name of the Lord? You decide!
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