James Mays offers this in regard to Psalm 126: Words for laughter/joy occur five times in the whole, giving the song its dominant emotional tone. The song is about joy remembered and joy anticipated. In both cases the joy is the work of the Lord, in the first through the restoration of Zion and inContinue reading “Vindication of Joy”
Category Archives: Opening the Bible
Joy for the Journey
Psalm 126 has Israel’s return from Babylon (“When the Lord brought back the captive ones” (v. 1 – NASB) as its starting point. The nation’s response to God’s great deliverance is both poetic and powerful, “Our mouths were filled with laughter and our tongues with shouts of joy . . . we are filled with joy” (v. 2-3). TheContinue reading “Joy for the Journey”
Surrounded, Stable and Secure
A mountain is no small thing. While that sounds like it’s straight out of the mouth of Captain Obvious, there might be more truth to it than meets the eye (or ear). Although we do hear about small mountains, even those are substantial in terms of size—just try climbing one! But mountains are big inContinue reading “Surrounded, Stable and Secure”
Our Help is in the Name of the Lord
Redeemed how I love to proclaim it . . . Many of us recognize this as the opening line in a familiar song. It’s one that tells our story. We are the redeemed. We’ve been rescued from sin, death and eternal loss. We have been saved from the futility of our thinking and its attendant destructiveContinue reading “Our Help is in the Name of the Lord”
Mercy
Psalm 123 hits us right where we live. It is a weary pilgrim seeking mercy. He is sure of two things: he has been ground down by those who oppose him and only God can meet his needs. Let’s start with the second truth. Some people might view this to be a bad thing ifContinue reading “Mercy”
This is where the tribes go up
We all recognize it’s a serious mistake to think that going to church is the biggest or most important part of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. Such a view overemphasizes our meetings and tends to trivialize all that takes place outside them. At its absolute worst, it can produce the bankruptContinue reading “This is where the tribes go up”
The Joy of Community
Community is a prominent theme in the Psalms of Ascent. As we’ve noted, the background for these psalms are the pilgrimages to Jerusalem for the three annual feasts. These trips were made in the company of others. It was not only a safe way to travel, it was also spiritually enriching. God’s goodness was experiencedContinue reading “The Joy of Community”
Traveling Mercies
I suppose prayer language is a bit like barbecue—each region has its own distinctive flavor. Some phrases seem to have made the circuit and are employed everywhere (guide, guard and direct, until the next appointed time, well-pleasing in Thy sight). Then there’s one I’ve only heard a handful of times, but I really gravitate toward: traveling mercies. It’sContinue reading “Traveling Mercies”
The Work of Peace
As the pilgrims journeyed toward the holy city, they were thirsty for peace. It was more than just a passing concern for them; peace is a steady theme throughout the ascent psalms (122:6-8, 125:5, 128:6). It’s fitting that as they approached Jerusalem (“the city of peace”), they sought the greater, higher peace of God. InContinue reading “The Work of Peace”
I Am For Peace
Our journey toward God is a journey of and toward peace. Christ told His disciples, “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace.” He went on to say, “In this world you will have trouble.” (John 16:33). That’s exactly the problem the writer is experiencing in Psalm 120—he’s havingContinue reading “I Am For Peace”
A Taste of Grace with Bruce Green 