by Wil Robinson. 1987
For the last fifteen days, JonahzSong has looked at Psalms 120-134 collectively as the Songs of Ascent. In doing so, each has been seen from the perspective of The Temple service and Levites ascending the steps that led from the Court of the Gentiles upward toward The Temple, where Gentiles are not allowed.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary on Psalm 134 references this collection as the Pilgrim Psalms. Prior to the destruction of The Temple, Jews were to come up the Jerusalem for three Appointed Times. These are Pesach (Passover), Shavuot (Weeks or Pentecost), and Sukkot (Tabernacles, Tents or Booths)
I infer from the JFB commentary that the Pilgrims would be singing these Psalms as they made there way to Jerusalem.
How wonderful such a pilgrimage would have been, too. The words of Psalm 133, “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brethren dwell in unity!” would echo through the hills. So marvelous!
I expect one day to make a final pilgrimage Jerusalem—to a New Jerusalem where King Yeshua reigns. Oh, to sing those song with Brethren, to come The Feast, to dine with our L-RD, our King. Oh, how good it will be, how pleasant it will be, to truly dwell together in UNITY with King Yeshua.
Jonah’s Song 
That’s a great summary of the way, thanks for this!
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Thank you for your response, Wil! This is really informative, thank you for sharing the Rabbi’s quote! I am thinking about doing Songs of Ascent Fridays.
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Take a look at this, Mandy https://youtu.be/dYPlBq8ELvA?si=NKiSN3MxRX1drY0T
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Hi Mandy. I like the way you are looking at the inter-connection between events taught in the Bible. When I looked at the Songs of Ascent I did so from a Rabbinic view of each of the fifteen Psalms recited one at each step on the way into the Temple.
There are differing opinions by Christian scholars on when the 10 Psalms that have no known authors were composed. I suppose some could have been written on the way out of exile in Babylon, on the way to Jerusalem.
Indeed, from our view, they are Songs of our pilgramage as we look toward our Forever Home with Jesus.
Here’s a link that may be of interest: https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/finding-encouragement-for-our-journey-in-the-psalms-of-ascent.html
One Rabbi’s commentary includes this comment: “ In this Psalm’s final two verses, the Jews’ condition in exile is compared to the labor and toil involved in agricultural work. By struggling to maintain our loyalty to Torah under the unfavorable circumstances of the Diaspora, we essentially sow the seeds of the redemption, and we will reap the produce of those seeds at the time of Mashiah. Though currently we must laboriously toil and exert ourselves to continue Torah tradition, in the future we will celebrate and rejoice as we festively “harvest” the “produce” and enjoy the fruits of our efforts.
We do know that much of Torah study was lacking while in Babylon, and many practices had to be brought back once the second Temple was rebuilt.
I look forward to seeing your posts on Pilgramage, should you be led to publish the.
LORD bless, keep, shine upon you and through you and yours, always.
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Hi, Wil! I have been going through Ezra 1 for many days and I have been challenged with the thought that Ezra has implications of exodus, but the main theme/motif is pilgrimage. I found this post as I was searching to see if there was any info on whether the exiles who were returning to rebuild the Temple, would have sung any of the psalms of ascent on that journey. Especially because so many who decided to leave were priests and levites (as well as those from Judah and Benjamin). This is the context of Psalm 126. Thankfully there will be a day when believers in Messiah Jesus, will experience total release from captivity and restoration in the new heavens and new earth. I look forward to any thoughts, suggestions, resources you have to help me better understand the pilgrimage from Babylon to Jerusalem.
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