“the journey” has come to an end!
Those who first sang the “Songs of Ascents” had been travelling, literally, the roads that led to Jerusalem. Now they had arrived and were at the temple to worship God in festival celebration. Some would have been on the road for days, some for weeks, in some instances perhaps for months. Now they were at the end of the road.
As we look back on our reflections over the previous months it's helpful to recognise that we have come a very long way from the first step we took on “the journey” of pilgrimage back in Psalm 120. Our first song was one in which we found ourselves at a crossroads. What was required of us was a radical “about turn.”
The Songs of Ascents, which started in the alien surroundings of Meshech and Kedar (Psalm 120), end fittingly on the note of serving God within his temple in Psalm 134.
The way of discipleship that began in an act of repentance concludes in a life of praise.
Each of the psalms that we have reflected on has described a part of what takes place along this pilgrim way among people who have turned to God and follow him in Christ.
For centuries Psalm 134 was sung on the road as throngs of people made the ascent to Jerusalem for festival worship. We have a sense of everyone sharing…
a common purpose,
traveling a common path,
striving toward a common goal,
that path and purpose and goal being God.
And so the pilgrims sang:
“Come, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, who stand by night in the house of the Lord!
Lift up your hands to the holy place and bless the Lord!
May the Lord bless you from Zion, he who made heaven and earth!”
(Psalm 134:1-3)
When I pondered this psalm I sensed a greeting and response in its lines: the pilgrims addressing the priests and Levites in verses one and two, and receiving in reply the blessing of verse three.
Two thoughts came to my mind. Firstly,
➡️ The aspirations in the heart of God’s people for their leaders (verses 1-2)
In verses one and two the pilgrims speak to the servants of the Lord.
The pilgrims recognise the responsibilities that the priests and Levites carry in leading the worship of the temple. They are clearly one in spirit with them, encouraging them to keep going in their task and urging them in a Godward direction.
In our day we do well to pray for those who are over us in the Lord (our ministers and elders) that they would remain faithful to him and that through their words and actions they would bless and honour the Lord.
And secondly,
➡️ The aspirations in the heart of leaders for the people of God (verse 3)
In verse three the servants of the Lord address the pilgrims. What they say reveals something of their desires for the God’s people as they will soon head back to their communities following the festivals in Jerusalem. “May the Lord bless you from Zion, he who made heaven and earth!”
The Priests and Levites are acknowledging that the Lord alone is the generous giver. Though they pronounced the blessing, they could not grant it. This blessing echoes the priestly blessing of Numbers 6…
“The Lord bless you
and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.”
Paul informs us in Ephesians 1 that we have been wonderfully blessed in Christ. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” It would be impossible to count all the spiritual blessings which he has given us. However, they most definitely include:
Pardon (Luke 7:48)
Peace (John 14:27)
Love (John 15:9)
Eternal life (1 John 5:12)
John Calvin once said that “the blessing of God is the goodness of God in action, by which a supply of all good pours down to us from his favour…” The longings of the servants of God in Psalm 134 are centred on their desire that God’s people live in the orbit of God’s blessing.
I said at the start that the journey has come to an end for the pilgrims. However, in many ways it had only just started. As the pilgrims return to their homes and communities a new sense of expectation would accompany them about what the Lord could do through them to bless his people. And a fresh sense of motivation would fill them about all that it means to live a life that pleases the Lord. They, and we, have all we need in Christ to “stay the course.”
(picture - All Saints Church, St Andrews)
Song Choice - 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)
"the journey" playlist - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1r5rMcrNlmUMQqHyIBfCmg?si=YtwsF-OuT9-160jOeH26gQ&pi=iHT32HMRSleMD
