The Psalms of Ascent Psalms 120-134

The Psalms of Ascent – Psalms 120-134

Garrison COGSeries: Getting Up Going Up!

Garrison COGSeries: Getting Up, Going Up!

The theme of each psalm of ascent:

Ps. 120 is a recognition of the impact that living in a sinful world has on our attitudes.

Ps 121 is a recognition of the LORD’s trustworthy nature.

Ps 122 reflects the joy of being in God’s presence.

Ps 123 is a commitment to follow the LORD even when facing intimidation.

Ps. 124 celebrates God’s deliverance in our circumstances.

Ps. 125 expresses confidence in God’s protection and justice.

Ps. 126 celebrates victory over suffering.

Ps. 127 reminds us that God is the author of all blessings.

Ps. 128 reflects on the blessings of productive work and relationships.

Ps. 129 differentiates between those who serve God and those who serve their own interests.

Ps. 130 is a plea for God’s attention and a statement of repentance and confidence.

Ps. 131 is a prayer of humility.

Ps. 132 is a prayer for the Messiah to come and the kingdom of God to triumph.

Ps. 133 reflects on the joy of fellowship.

Ps. 134 is an invitation to worship and a blessing.

“Sorting Out Priorities.” Psalm 127

Aug. 22, 2021 -Garrison COGSeries: Getting Up, Going Up!

Jesus Calls the Children To Him – James Tissot

[Mark 10:13-16]

Psalm 127 reflects the priority of

Children in God’s thinking. This priority is

first established in Deuteronomy 6. But

God also alludes to it in Genesis 18:18-19.

In Mark 10, Jesus is busy and his disciples

are trying to manage his schedule to

reflect what they thought was important.

Children, especially small children were in

their eyes not vey important, but Jesus

rebuked them and took time for the small

children and their mothers. It reflects

what God prioritizes in the world. As

Christians we too should prioritize what

God thinks is important.



Jesus Calls the Children To Him – James Tissot

[Mark 10:13-16]

As with most of the Psalms of Ascent

except Psalm 134, they form a couplet.

Psalms 126 and 127 form a type of

couplet that reflect on those things which

are important. Psalm 126 was likely

written while the 2nd Temple was being

built and reflects the sense of joy the

Exiles feel at returning and rebuilding

Jerusalem. According to Jewish tradition

the prophets Haggai and Zechariah used

Psalm 127 to motivate the rebuilding of

the Temple.

Psalm 127 [ESV]

Garrison COG

1 « A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon. » Unless the LORD builds the house, those who

build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman

stays awake in vain.

2 It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of

anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.

3 Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a

reward.

4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth.

5 Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to

shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

Series: Getting Up, Going Up! The Psalms of Ascent


Aug. 22, 2021 -Garrison COGSeries: Getting Up, Going Up!Rebuilding the Temple – likely

by Gustave Dore’ [1832-1883]

Zerubbabel returned to rebuilding the temple in 522

BC at the instigation of the prophet Haggai and with the

encouragement of the prophet Zechariah. According to

Jewish tradition Haggai and Zechariah used Psalm 127 as a

call to action. Psalm 126 a Psalm celebrating the return of

the Exiles and their rebuilding of Jerusalem was likely

written during this time. It reflects a new found optimism.

This may be why these 2 Psalms are associated in the

Psalms of Ascent with each other. Both reflect on 2

aspects that deal with the importance of priorities in our

lives. Psalm 127 challenges us to establish proper

priorities, while Psalm 126 reflects on the resilience that

results in our lives when we have proper priorities.

Psalm 126 [ESV]

Garrison COG

1 « A Song of Ascents. » When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we

were like those who dream.

2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with

shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, "The LORD has

done great things for them."

3 The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad.

4 Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like streams in the Negeb!

5 Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy!

6 He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall

come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.



Aug. 22, 2021 -Garrison COGSeries: Getting Up, Going Up!Rebuilding the Temple – likely

by Gustave Dore’ [1832-1883]

For 16 years the Exiles had allowed themselves to be emotionally defeated because their focus was on themselves and their own priority. Haggai challenges this mixed up sense of priorities in Haggai 1:4-7

4 “Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?” 5 Now therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts: “Consider your ways! 6 “You have sown much, and bring in little; You eat, but do not have enough; You drink, but you are not filled with drink; You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; And he who earns wages, Earns wages to put into a bag with holes.” 7 Thus says the LORD of hosts: “Consider your ways!



Typical American

Pyramid of Priorities

One of the hardest things we struggle with are our priorities. For a typical person in America we would view the most important thing as survival/self-fulfillment, our family would come a close second while success and social acceptance comes in 3rd

place, Personal Success comes 4th and last comes Career. Notice anything missing? God through Haggai put His finger on the problem. Notice that all these priorities share one thing, “self-interest”. None are wrong in principle but organized like this they fail to recognize God as central to our priorities. Jesus challenges this with the Rich Young Ruler about his priorities. After the young man departs in sorrow Peter has a profound question for Jesus in Mark 10:28-31.

Mark 10:28-31[ESV]

Garrison COG

28 Then Peter began to say to Him, “See, we have left all and

followed You.”

29 So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no

one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or

wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s,

30 “who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time — houses

and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with

persecutions — and in the age to come, eternal life.

31 “But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”



Aug. 22, 2021 -Garrison COGSeries: Getting Up, Going Up!“Vanity Of Vanities; All Is Vanity” by Isaak Asknaziy [1856-1902].

Solomon is said to be the author of Psalm 127, traditionally Jewish rabbis attribute it to David as an exhortation to build the Temple. But the Hebrew structure generally is used to attribute authorship. Psalm 72 is also attributed to Solomon and is a dirge written in tribute to his father David after his death.



Both Psalms seem to have been written early in Solomon’s reign before his apostasy. His apostasy may have been the reason Jewish rabbis felt uncomfortable attributing these Psalms to Solomon as author. Because they were used as part of Jewish worship as the use of failed Christian artists makes us uncomfortable using their music in worship.



Solomon’s priorities became scrambled as he became more successful and married pagan princesses as part of his alliances. He began to incorporate idolatry with his worship of God. The more self-absorbed he became the more disillusioned he became. The book of Ecclesiastes, written in his later life reflects this sense of despair.

Ecclesiastes 2:9-11 [ESV]

Garrison COG

9 So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in

Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me.

10 And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept

my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my

toil, and this was my reward for all my toil.

11 Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had

expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after

wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.




Solomon had accomplished all his priorities. This painting by Isaak Asknaziycaptures the mood on an aged Solomon reflecting on his “meaningless successes”. Asknaziy was a Hasidic Jew living in Russia. His deep Jewish faith and commitment to accuracy deeply influenced his painting. He refused commissions that violated his faith. Solomon in Ecclesastes5:12 restates Psalm 127:2

Ecclesiastes 5:12 [ESV]

Garrison COG

10 He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his

income; this also is vanity.

11 When goods increase, they increase who eat them, and what advantage has their

owner but to see them with his eyes?

12 Sweet is the sleep of a laborer, whether he eats little or much,

but the full stomach of the rich will not let him sleep.13 There is a grievous evil that I have seen under the sun: riches were kept by their owner

to his hurt,

14 and those riches were lost in a bad venture. And he is father of a son, but he has

nothing in his hand.

15 As he came from his mother’s womb he shall go again, naked as he came, and shall take

nothing for his toil that he may carry away in his hand.




Priorities in life are the

signposts that keep our life

on target.

In Ecclesiastes Solomon’s final recommendation is to “Remember your Creator”. This had been his failure in life. Moses in Deuteronomy had warned the Israelites that when they became successful that it would be tempting to set their selfish goals as the priority of life rather than God’s purpose. Solomon at the dedication of the 1st

Temple had reflected back on this statement in his prayer. He had asked God to hear the prayers of His people after they went into exile due to losing sight of this priority. He asked that when they repented and turned their faces back toward the Temple that God would restore them. Unfortunately, Solomon lost sight of this priority himself.

In the late Middle Ages, following the dissipation and despair of the plague years, noble families incorporated Psalm 127 into their mottos to remind themselves to keep their priorities straight.

Philippians 2:1-5 [ESV]

Garrison COG

1 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of

love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy,

2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of

one accord, of one mind.

3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in

lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.

4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for

the interests of others.

5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,




Elizabeth Barrett Browning [1806-61]. Her most famous

poem is “How Do I Love Thee?” Her husband, Robert

Browning [1812-89]. Both were master poets still read

today.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning was one of the great literary figures in English literature. Her poem “The Sleep” is a reflection of Psalm 127:2. Elizabeth was a deeply committed Christian, a suffragette, an Abolitionist and a woman deeply in love with her husband Robert, who returned that devotion. Together they were a ‘Power Couple’ of Victorian culture. Elizabeth was disinherited by her father due to her marriage and struggled with TB and a rare physical disease. She died of TB in 1861.



Elizabeth Barrett Browning [1806-61]. Her most

famous poem is “How Do I Love Thee?” Her

husband, Robert Browning [1812-89]. Both were

master poets still read today.

The Sleep

Of all the thoughts of God that are

Borne inward unto souls afar,

Along the Psalmist's music deep,

Now tell me if that any is,

For gift or grace, surpassing this—

'He giveth His belovèd sleep'?

What would we give to our beloved?

The hero's heart to be unmoved,

The poet's star-tuned harp, to sweep,

The patriot's voice, to teach and rouse,

The monarch's crown, to light the brows?

He giveth His belovèd, sleep.

…. [1st two stanzas]

1 Corinthians 3:10-15 [ESV]

Garrison COG

10 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I

laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care

how he builds upon it.

11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is

Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver,

precious stones, wood, hay, straw — 13 each one’s work will become

manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the

fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14 If the work that anyone

has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s

work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only

as through fire.




Ephesians 6:1-[ESV]

Garrison COG

1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

2 “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first

commandment with promise:

3 “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the

earth.”

4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath,

but bring them up in the training and admonition of the

Lord.




The structural components of a house.

Paul in Ephesians 5 and 6

establishes Christian Priorities

as first, God’s Will, Second our

spouse, 3rd our children and

parents, next the body of

believer and then our social

responsibilities. In 1

Corinthians 3 he compares this

to building a temple, in fact he

tells us we are that temple

that God wishes to inhabit.



Jesus Calls the Children To

Him – James Tissot

[Mark 10:13-16]

What do

you

prioritize in

life?

Documents

The Psalms of Ascent Psalms 120-134