Tag: Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem

Song of Ascent: Fifth Step

Israeli Defense Force soldiers take a break just west of the Temple Mount, Jerusalem. 1988. (C) Wil Robinson

A Song of Ascents. Of David.
Psalm 124

1 If it had not been the LORD who was on our side—
let Israel now say—
2 if it had not been the LORD who was on our side
when people rose up against us,
3 then they would have swallowed us up alive,
when their anger was kindled against us;
4 then the flood would have swept us away,
the torrent would have gone over us;
5 then over us would have gone
the raging waters.

6 Blessed be the LORD,
who has not given us
as prey to their teeth!
7 We have escaped like a bird
from the snare of the fowlers;
the snare is broken,
and we have escaped!

8 Our help is in the name of the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.

Psalm 124. In previous steps the ascending Levites have cried out for help, for mercy, for deliverance, as well as in praise. Here the Levites on the fifth step of ascent encourage all to exclaim confidently that our L-RD is for us; He is not against us despite the trials we may seen as we trod our paths.

“Besides applying this to any particular deliverance wrought in our days and the ancient times, we should have in our thoughts the great work of redemption by Jesus Christ, by which believers were rescued from Satan.” Matthew Henry.

L-RD Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

Song of Ascent: Third Step

A Tribute to King David’s Harp. Outside the gate, near the Temple Mount. Jerusalem.

A Song of Ascents. Of David.
Psalm 122

1I was glad when they said to me,
“Let us go to the house of the LORD!”
2 Our feet have been standing
within your gates, O Jerusalem!

3 Jerusalem—built as a city
that is bound firmly together,
4 to which the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD,
as was decreed fora Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
5 There thrones for judgment were set,
the thrones of the house of David.

6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!
“May they be secure who love you!
7 Peace be within your walls
and security within your towers!”
8 For my brothers and companions’ sake
I will say, “Peace be within you!”
9 For the sake of the house of the LORD our God,
I will seek your good.

Psalm 122, sung on the third step, and is described in Benson’s Commentary as “words of the people, exhorting one another to go and attend upon the worship of God at his tabernacle or temple at Jerusalem, and especially at the three great festivals;”

Forgotten are the complaints of the slanderous words by false witnesses cried out about on the first step. Forgotten are the fears of some undisclosed danger of which caused frantic eyes to look beyond the hills.

Now the Levites sing of the throngs who will come up to worship the G-D of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The G-D of Moses and of King David. The G-D and Father of our L-RD Jesus. Our Father, our King.

L-RD Bless, Keep, Shine. . .