the journey (step thirteen)

 ‘the journey’ is most definitely coming to an end with the pilgrims anticipating their arrival in the holy city. The final three psalms in the ‘songs of ascents’ are filled with thoughts about Jerusalem, its temple, worship, fellowship and all that this will mean to the ongoing life of faith for the people of God once they return to their own communities.

There’s a wonderful walk that starts behind the Stirlingshire town of Callendar. Beginning at the Bracklinn Falls it climbs up through a forest and eventually loops back round the car park where the walk began. What I most enjoyed about this walk was the moment that the path broke out of the forest and the magnificent vista of the surrounding hills came into view. 

Some parts of our pilgrimage are absorbed in the details of the journey, attending to the daily disciplines of Christian life. We press on but everything seems rather ordinary and routine. At other moments the sweep of God’s plan fills our horizon and we are captivated by his sovereignty, grace and goodness.

That big picture view of our walk with God comes into view in Psalm 132. It places the pilgrims in the far larger story of God’s covenant with his people.

As they travel the pilgrims recount…

   David’s commitment to God, and…

        The Lord’s covenant with David.

➡️ Verses 1-10 of the song outline David’s commitment to the Lord. 

He promised to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem and to build a dwelling for the Lord (2 Samuel 7:1-17). 

David was motivated by a concern for the glory and honour of God. His desire was that the Lord would have his rightful place among his people. He wanted the Lord to be near them. 

What about you today? 

How does David’s example challenge you? 

What comes close to the kernel of your heart’s desire? 

There is, to my mind, a wonderful complimentary passage in Isaiah 26 that mirrors David commitment to the Lord and should inspire us. Isaiah says,

“Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, 

we wait for you;

your name and renown

are the desire of our hearts” (verse 8).

The Message paraphrase of this verse captures it well -  

“We’re content to linger in the path sign-posted with your decisions.
Who you are and what you’ve done are all we’ll ever want.”

May those words be true of this generation of God’s people.

➡️ In verses 11-18 we are introduced the Lord’s covenant with David.

God promised that a descendent of David would bring God's presence into this world in a way David would not have been able to imagine (2 Samuel 7:11-16). Jesus, great David’s greater Son, has come and he has brought the presence of God into our lives - making us his dwelling (1 Peter 2:4-10). 

As we reflect on this ancient psalm (the longest in the "songs of ascents") from our vantage point in Jesus we know that we can draw near to God at any time and in any place. This is ultimately because of his work on the cross (Ephesians 2:13) and the gift of the Holy Spirit in our hearts (Romans 8:16).

(picture - near Sheildaig)

Song choice - King of Kings (Hillsong Worship)

'the journey' playlist - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1r5rMcrNlmUMQqHyIBfCmg?si=YtwsF-OuT9-160jOeH26gQ&pi=iHT32HMRSleMD

the journey (step twelve)

 The greater part of my working life has been spent in pastoral ministry. A chief part of that vocation included the regular task of preaching. I grew to love the discipline of preparation and delivery of sermons. I recall sitting at my desk on many occasions with God’s Word open before me and delighting in the truths that came into view. I felt in those moments that if I had wings I could have flown! 

I was always at my most content when the song we sang before the preaching of God’s Word was “Speak, O Lord” by Keith and Kristyn Getty. This is what they called their “pastor’s hymn.” Some of the lyrics are noted below.

Several years ago I read Psalm 131 in midst of local church ministry and found myself drawn to a song that is a beautiful and vivid expression of a life yielded to God. I imagined this “song of ascent” as “a preacher’s psalm” and the following thoughts filled my horizons. 

The psalmist, David, is clearly a man who found confidence in the grace and goodness of God.

He was a man with:

➡️ A Clear View of Self (1a)

“My heart is not proud, O Lord,

   my eyes are not haughty.”

There is a profound sense of humility in David’s words. 

His life is free from pride and arrogance.

It’s no wonder that C.H. Spurgeon, the Prince of Preachers, said of the psalm, “This one of shortest psalms to read but one of the longest to learn.” Take time to read over this psalm as a whole and you will see why this statement is so accurate.

“Teach us, Lord, full obedience,

Holy reverence, true humility."

➡️ A Clear View of Scripture (1b)

“I do not concern myself with great matters

   or things too wonderful for me.”

Here is a heart that recognises its capacity.

It would be true to say that this sentence likely goes much further than the Holy Scriptures. However, it is equally true that a heart close to God recognises there are heights of truth in Scripture that we will never be able to reach. “The secret things belong to the Lord…” (Deuteronomy 29:29). And so we recognise our heart’s capacity for God and his truth while at the same time pressing on to know him (Hosea 6:3).

“Speak, O Lord, and renew our minds,

Help us grasp the heights of Your plans for us.

Truths unchanged from the dawn of time,

That will echo down through eternity.”

➡️ A Clear View of the Spiritual Life (2)

“But I have stilled and quieted my soul;

   like a weaned child with its mother,

like a weaned child is my soul within me.”

Here is a soul that is at peace and is fully content.

“Take Your truth, plant it deep in us;

Shape and fashion us in Your likeness,”

➡️ A Clear View of Service (3)

“O Israel, put your hope in the Lord

   both now and for evermore.”

Here is a desire that others will be drawn into a relationship with God that will lead to the same realities that David discovered.

"Speak, O Lord, 'til Your church is built

And the earth is filled with Your glory."

The qualities noted above are a crucial prerequisite to a godly life and godly preaching. However, whatever our calling and gifting is before God the truths in this psalm will further direct the course of ‘the journey.”

"And by grace we'll stand on your promises;

and by faith we'll walk as you walk with us."

My final encouragement this week is to pray for those who carry the burden of a preaching ministry. Preaching has the potential to shape the collective life of a congregation in a godly manner and build up believers in their most holy faith. Pray that the truths that David expressed in Psalm 130 would characterise those who preach and so bring glory to God. 

(Picture - Rouken Glen, Glasgow)

Song choice - Speak, O Lord (Keith & Kirstyn Getty)

‘the journey’ playlist - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1r5rMcrNlmUMQqHyIBfCmg?si=YtwsF-OuT9-160jOeH26gQ&p

the journey (step eleven)

 

“There is no pit so deep, that God’s love is not deeper still.” These words were written by Corrie Ten Boom, a dutch woman who survived the horrors of the Nazi concentration camps during World War Two. Most of us will never be able to appreciate how deep a pit she found herself in during those awful years. However, all of us at one time or another have found ourselves in the depths. 

What might they be for you today?

…disappointment

…despair

…discouragement

…distress

…depravity 

Psalm 130 reminds us that God’s love for us surpasses even the deepest struggles, failures, or circumstances we might find ourselves in.

As I read this wonderful psalm, I found myself asking two questions?

First, what do I learn about the psalmist in this, our eleventh “song of ascent”?

He is…

➤ Sinful yet holding out for forgiveness (verses 3-4)

The cross of Jesus is our greatest reminder that the Lord is a forgiving God. The psalmist knew much of the God’s forgiveness for his sin and carried a profound sense of reverence in his heart for this merciful and gracious God.

➤ Despairing yet holding onto hope (verses 5-6)

The psalmist puts his hope in God’s Word. 

In order to truly know God, it will be as he speaks to me and makes himself known. For us that means wholehearted attention to the living voice of Scripture. That’s why the psalmist likens himself, and us, to watchmen waiting for the morning. For us in the Bible, as for him in the earlier revelations of God that are summed up in it, there is the assurance that sooner or later light will dawn…the morning will come.

Secondly, what do I learn about the Lord?

➡️ His reach is infinite (verses 1-2)

"Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord..." 

Paul prays for the Ephesians that they would be able to “grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ…” (Ephesians 3:18). The dimensions of Christ’s love are beyond our understanding and imagination. However, no matter how deep we sink, the Lord’s is able reach down and rescue us (see Psalm 40:1-2).

➡️ His grace is sufficient (verses 3-4)

"With you there is forgiveness..."

John Newton (author of the hymn, “Amazing Grace”) once wrote, “Although my memory's fading, I remember two things very clearly: I am a great sinner and Christ is a great Saviour.”

➡️ His love is unfailing (verse 7)

"...with the Lord there is unfailing love..."

The adjectives in Scripture concerning the love of God are worthy of our reflection - everlasting…great...rich…unfailing…abounding (see verses below). He absolutely loves us.

➡️ His salvation is compete (verse 8)

“...Full redemption...” FULL redemption! He has saved us, is saving us and will save us.

“There is no pit so deep, that God’s love is not deeper still.”

Well might Paul exclaim...

“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!

…For from him and through him and for him are all things.
    To him be the glory forever! Amen.”

(Romans 11:33-35)

_______________________

(Jeremiah 31:3; Ephesians 2:4; Psalm 33:5; Psalm 145:9; Psalm 86:15

(Picture - Greenbank Gardens, Clarkston, Glasgow)

Song choice - I will wait for you (Keith & Kirstyn Getty)

'the journey' playlist - 

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1r5rMcrNlmUMQqHyIBfCmg?si=YtwsF-OuT9-160jOeH26gQ&pi=iHT32HMRSleMD

P.S. I reflected on this Psalm in a blog back in July (6th). I have come to it afresh this week with only the slightest of crossovers.