Ascending to Worship

November 8

(Psalm 120:1-7 NIV) A song of ascents. “I call on the Lord in my distress, and he answers me. {2} Save me, O Lord , from lying lips and from deceitful tongues. {3} What will he do to you, and what more besides, O deceitful tongue? {4} He will punish you with a warrior's sharp arrows, with burning coals of the broom tree. {5} Woe to me that I dwell in Meshech, that I live among the tents of Kedar! {6} Too long have I lived among those who hate peace. {7} I am a man of peace; but when I speak, they are for war.”

(Psalms 24:3-6 NIV)  "Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? {4} He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. {5} He will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God his Savior. {6} Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob. Selah"

(Genesis 28:12-15 NIV) “He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. {13} There above it stood the LORD, and he said: "I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. {14} Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. {15} I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.””

Psalm 120 through Psalm 134 are known as Psalms of Ascent or Songs of Ascent. Some scholars believe that these fifteen Psalms were sung by pilgrims as they ascended the road to Jerusalem to attend Jewish festivals. Others think they were used as priests climbed the fifteen steps up to the Temple in Jerusalem to worship the Lord. Perhaps they were used for both. Four are ascribed to David; one is ascribed to Solomon. As we read through them, you’ll find they are full of hope and blessing -- something that seems to be in short supply today. If blessing has been scarce in recent days, let these words of God bless you. If you’ve been running short on hope, allow the Spirit of God in these songs to fill you with hope again. May blessing and hope come to you as you ascend to the place where you worship the Lord. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day