Psalms of Ascents

Near the end of the book of Psalms we find the Songs of Ascent, or the Pilgrim Psalms as they are sometimes called.  The Psalms in this group (Psalm 120-134) bear the superscription (title) a song of ascents.  Some of them are also ascribed to an author (four by David, one by Solomon).  Sometimes our English translations of the bible have titles put into other books.  You may find titles like “The Crucifixion” or “The Feeding of 5000”.  These are put in by the publisher to help us find things.  They are not from the original manuscripts of the biblical books.  The titles in the book of Psalms however, come form the original manuscripts.  They are, in every sense, biblical.  In fact in the Hebrew bible the verse numbers are usually inconsistent from the English numbers because in Hebrew they count the title as verse one.  (Verse numbers were also put in later to make it easier for people like us.)

The Psalms with the title “A Song of Ascents” is directly translated.  The Psalms that bear this title from  a worship book that was used in celebrations, at festivals in the Temple in Jerusalem in Jesus’ day.  These songs would also be sung as the pilgrims ascended to Jerusalem for the festival.  Jerusalem is on a hill. So from miles around on their approach those journeying to the festival would be ascending.  It is a beautiful picture of corporate worship, lines of people on converging roads heading up to the city and singing together.  Estimates of the population of Jerusalem during the first century range from 30, 000 to 50, 000 people but during the festivals it would swell to 80,000 to 100, 000 people.  Imagine them all singing together.

These songs would also be sung as the sacrifice went up the 15 steps into the holy place. It would pause on each step and the congregations would sing.  Year after year they would sing these same 15 songs.

As with all prepared prayers or songs I am sure that each person singing would view the words differently from year to year.   One of the beauties of praying the same psalm at different times or using the same prayer (like the “Our Father” for instance) is that it connects to our own experience differently from one time to the next.  Take Psalm 127 for example:

Psalm 127:1-5 (NIV)
A song of ascents.

¹ Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.
² In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat-- for he grants sleep to those he loves.
³ Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him.
⁴ Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth.
⁵ Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate.

The first few verses would take on a different meaning to some one who was just starting a project than it would to a person who had just completed a project that had either been a success or a failure. 

I can’t remember where I read it but someone once wrote that prepared prayers and songs are like coat hangers that we hang our emotions and experiences on.  I think that is true.  Think of how differently a person would pray/sing verses 3-5 depending if they had no children but desperately wanted them, or if they had just had their first child, or if they had a child who was turning their back on the Lord, or their child had just died. 

God’s Word is alive and it has meaning for us no matter our circumstances.  I challenge you to pray one of these prayers and see how it speaks to you and then pray it again in a few months and see what God has to say through it then.

Mark Wallace