Psalm of Ascents – Psalm 134
Jan 18 in Steps of Ascent
We have finally reached the entrance to the Temple! Our last step brings us to His dwelling place. A blessing goes forth to those who faithfully stand as watchmen through the night, standing in the house of the Lord. The people now join the priests.
‘Lift up your hands to the sanctuary and bless the Lord’ Filled with abundant joy as we return to the place we belong, like wandering sheep He has brought us again to the fold. God’s dwelling place. As we consider His faithfulness, His promises, His character and unfailing love we are filled with confidence, praise and thanksgiving. ‘Know that the Lord Himself is God … we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name. For the Lord is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting and His faithfulness to all generations.‘
Looking back over the journey starting at Psalm 120 we find that the first step came from a place of anguish and a longing for home; making the decision to leave the familiar to embark on a journey into the unknown which involved trecking through unfamiliar territory making us feel vulnerable to attack, learning to lean upon God as our keeper, keeping our focus upwards our eyes on Him we learnt to trust God as our source a very present help in times of trouble, our vindicator and deliverer. Standing and not turning back, remembering His acts, His Word, His promises, believing that He will turn our sorrow into a harvest of joy. Where we learn that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, that we need to surrender to Him and His ways and that unless we build our homes and lives upon Him as our foundation all our efforts are futile. God becoming our strength, protection and salvation. The great overseer of our lives. Every step a step of faith, a step closer to His dwelling place, the place of fruitfulness and blessing; hope for the future.
Finally home their soul overflows with worship, becoming a source of blessing and a people blessed of the Lord. ‘May the Lord bless you from Zion, he who made heaven and earth’. Birthing a new beginning.