Psalm 120

Reading for August 29, 2012      Psalm 120

The next fifteen psalms, 120-134, are in a group titled, “A Song of Ascents.” Some translations may render the title, “A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.” These psalms may refer to the three pilgrimages the Jews were required to make to Jerusalem: Passover, Shavuot (Pentecost), and Sukkot. All three are related to the Exodus: Passover – the beginning of their exodus from Egypt; Shavuot – God giving Moses the Ten Commandments; and Sukkot, Festival of Booths – remembering the Israelites wandering in the desert and living in tents. (See Exodus 34:24) However, I believe they relate to a spiritual ascent to God, as the psalms are calling Israel to return to their faith and trust in God.

Psalm 120 is a lament of the psalmist who is living in corrupt times. There are certainly many parallels in the psalm to this present age. There is an old joke that asks how you can tell if a politician is lying; they move their lips. A bit cynical, but very close to reality, as truth in politics and the media is a very rare commodity.

If there is only one thing you can take away from this psalm, let it be,

“I took my troubles to the Lord;

   I cried out to him, and he answered my prayer.”

Psalm 120:1

Sē’lah

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What word or phrase in today’s reading of the Psalms

 attracts your attention?

Reflect on that word or phrase.

What insights come to you?

How does this passage touch your life today?

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

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Reading for August 30, 2012      Psalm 121