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!
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!
I Lift Up My Eyes (Ps 121)
Though we may suffer in this life, and some are murdered for their faith, is there a promise of preserving our souls for eternal life? Let’s begin in Psalm 121.
A Song of Ascents. (WEB)
Is it a mandate that prayer always be made with our eyes lowered or even closed? May we lift up our eyes as we pray?
I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. (Ps 121:1-2 ESV)
Is God always ready to come to our aid, to protect us? Is this a promise fulfilled in eternity or this life only? What about those who have broken a leg?
He will not allow your foot to slip; your Protector will not slumber. Indeed, the Protector of Israel does not slumber or sleep. (Ps 121:3-4 HCSB)
Does God guard us, even providing something as mundane as shade? What are some other ways that God has refreshed us on life’s journey?
The Lord is your guardian; the Lord is your shade at your right side. The sun will not ravage you by day, nor the moon by night. (Ps 121:5-6 ISV)
Will the Lord protect us from harm, preserving our lives? What about martyrs who are murdered in some countries today?
The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore. (Ps 121:7-8 KJV)
Though Christians are persecuted across Asia and Africa today, and some face death, which may seem to contradict this Psalm, is there an eternal perspective that fulfills these promises?
My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. And I give them eternal life, and they will never perish forever, and no one will seize them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can seize them from the Father’s hand. (John 10:27-29 LSB)
Though we may suffer in this life, and some are murdered for their faith, is there a promise of preserving our souls for eternal life? You decide!
A Song of Ascents. (WEB)
Is it a mandate that prayer always be made with our eyes lowered or even closed? May we lift up our eyes as we pray?
I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. (Ps 121:1-2 ESV)
Is God always ready to come to our aid, to protect us? Is this a promise fulfilled in eternity or this life only? What about those who have broken a leg?
He will not allow your foot to slip; your Protector will not slumber. Indeed, the Protector of Israel does not slumber or sleep. (Ps 121:3-4 HCSB)
Does God guard us, even providing something as mundane as shade? What are some other ways that God has refreshed us on life’s journey?
The Lord is your guardian; the Lord is your shade at your right side. The sun will not ravage you by day, nor the moon by night. (Ps 121:5-6 ISV)
Will the Lord protect us from harm, preserving our lives? What about martyrs who are murdered in some countries today?
The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore. (Ps 121:7-8 KJV)
Though Christians are persecuted across Asia and Africa today, and some face death, which may seem to contradict this Psalm, is there an eternal perspective that fulfills these promises?
My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. And I give them eternal life, and they will never perish forever, and no one will seize them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can seize them from the Father’s hand. (John 10:27-29 LSB)
Though we may suffer in this life, and some are murdered for their faith, is there a promise of preserving our souls for eternal life? You decide!
He Heard (Ps 120)
Do we sing on the way to the church assembly, as the Jews did on the way to the temple, or as the priests did as they ascended the temple steps? Let’s look at Psalm 120.
A Song of Ascents. (WEB)
Is this the first of fifteen Psalms called songs of ascents (120–134)? Are lying lips and a deceitful tongue ubiquitous in our world?
In my distress I cried to the Lord, And He heard me. Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips And from a deceitful tongue. (Ps 120:1-2 NKJV)
Are there divine consequences for living a life of lies?
O deceptive tongue, what will God do to you? How will he increase your punishment? You will be pierced with sharp arrows and burned with glowing coals. (Ps 120:3-4 NLT)
Is our country known for false advertising, deceptive business practices, violence and constant fighting between politicians?
Woe is me, that I live in Meshech, that I dwell among the tents of Kedar! My soul has had her dwelling too long with him who hates peace. I am for peace, but when I speak, they are for war. (Ps 120:5-7 WEB)
How should we live as Christians in a hostile and dangerous world?
Dear friends, since you are immigrants [foreigners, aliens] and strangers in the world, I urge that you avoid worldly desires that wage war against your lives. Live honorably among the unbelievers. Today, they defame you, as if you were doing evil. But in the day when God visits to judge they will glorify him, because they have observed your honorable deeds. (1 Peter 2:11-12 CEB)
Do we look forward to that glorious eternal city, where the lies and deception of our age will no longer exist?
The glorious treasures of nations will be brought into the city. But nothing unworthy will be allowed to enter. No one who is dirty-minded or who tells lies will be there. Only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life will be in the city. (Rev 21:26-27 CEV)
Do we sing on the way to the church assembly, as the Jews did on the way to the temple, or as the priests did as they ascended the temple steps? You decide!
A Song of Ascents. (WEB)
Is this the first of fifteen Psalms called songs of ascents (120–134)? Are lying lips and a deceitful tongue ubiquitous in our world?
In my distress I cried to the Lord, And He heard me. Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips And from a deceitful tongue. (Ps 120:1-2 NKJV)
Are there divine consequences for living a life of lies?
O deceptive tongue, what will God do to you? How will he increase your punishment? You will be pierced with sharp arrows and burned with glowing coals. (Ps 120:3-4 NLT)
Is our country known for false advertising, deceptive business practices, violence and constant fighting between politicians?
Woe is me, that I live in Meshech, that I dwell among the tents of Kedar! My soul has had her dwelling too long with him who hates peace. I am for peace, but when I speak, they are for war. (Ps 120:5-7 WEB)
How should we live as Christians in a hostile and dangerous world?
Dear friends, since you are immigrants [foreigners, aliens] and strangers in the world, I urge that you avoid worldly desires that wage war against your lives. Live honorably among the unbelievers. Today, they defame you, as if you were doing evil. But in the day when God visits to judge they will glorify him, because they have observed your honorable deeds. (1 Peter 2:11-12 CEB)
Do we look forward to that glorious eternal city, where the lies and deception of our age will no longer exist?
The glorious treasures of nations will be brought into the city. But nothing unworthy will be allowed to enter. No one who is dirty-minded or who tells lies will be there. Only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life will be in the city. (Rev 21:26-27 CEV)
Do we sing on the way to the church assembly, as the Jews did on the way to the temple, or as the priests did as they ascended the temple steps? You decide!
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