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The Psalms of Ascent – Psalms 120-134

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The Psalms of Ascent – Psalms 120-134 The Psalms of Ascent – Psalms 120-134 Series: Getting Up Going Up! Garrison COG The theme of each psalm of ascent: Ps. 120 is a recognition of the impact that living in a sinful world has on our attitudes. Ps 121 is a recognition of the LORD’s trustworthy nature. Ps 122 reflects the joy of being in God’s presence. Ps 123 is a commitment to follow the LORD even when facing intimidation. Ps. 124 celebrates God’s deliverance in our circumstances. Ps. 125 expresses confidence in God’s protection and justice. Ps. 126 celebrates victory over suffering. Ps. 127 reminds us that God is the author of all blessings. Ps. 128 reflects on the blessings of productive work and relationships. Ps. 129 differentiates between those who serve God and those who serve their own interests. Ps. 130 is a plea for God’s attention and a statement of repentance and confidence. Ps. 131 is a prayer of humility. Ps. 132 is a prayer for the Messiah to come and the kingdom of God to triumph. Ps. 133 reflects on the joy of fellowship. Ps. 134 is an invitation to worship and a blessing. Series: Getting Up, Going Up! Garrison COG “Struggling With The Psalms of Ascent celebrate the restoration Contempt” Psalm 123 of Jerusalem and the Temple. They intersperse contemporary psalms with pre-exilic psalms. They are often juxtaposed to create contrast and continuity. Psalm 123 seems to have been written shortly after the rebuilding of the temple resumed under Zerubbabel [520 BC]. Though it may have been written during the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem under Nehemiah around 75 years later [444 BC]. Both scenarios would fit the information in Psalm 123. I would lean toward the 1st because of the connection with Psalm 122. Psalm 122 is written by David sometime shortly after 1003 BC The priests blow the trumpets as the after he had finished the fortification of Jerusalem rebuilding of the temple resumes and moved the Ark of the Covenant inside the city. under Zerubbabel. The Temple did not yet exist in Jerusalem. Series: Getting Up, Going Up! Aug. 8, 2021 -Garrison COG Psalm 123 1 « A Song of Ascents. » Unto You I lift up my eyes, O You who dwell in the heavens. 2 Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, So our eyes look to the LORD our God, Until He has mercy on us. 3 Have mercy on us, O LORD, have mercy on us! For we are exceedingly filled with contempt. 4 Our soul is exceedingly filled With the scorn of those who are at ease, With the contempt of the proud. Series: Getting Up, Going Up! The Psalms of Ascent Garrison COG “Struggling With The Exiles and their children returned to Judah Contempt” Psalm 123 from Babylon in 538 BC. Over 49,000 Exiles returned to Judah. In Daniel 9 Daniel reflects that he has been in captivity for 70 years [Daniel was taken in the first wave of captives by Nebuchadnezzar in 609 BC]. It is the 1st year of Persian rule of Babylon, likely 539 BC. Cyrus proclaimed his release of Exiles in 538 allowing peoples who had been exiled by the Babylonians to return to their original homes and restore their temples. King Jeconiah’s son Shealtiel as governor of Judah[King Jeconiah was Judah’s last legitimate king, he was held as a hostage by the Babylonian The priests blow the trumpets as the government]. Direct leadership of the Exiles was by rebuilding of the temple resumes Zerubbabel who was Shealtiel’s nephew. under Zerubbabel. Series: Getting Up, Going Up! Aug. 8, 2021 -Garrison COG “Struggling With When the exiles returned, the 1st thing they Contempt” Psalm 123 rebuilt was the altar of sacrifice. They then held the Feast of Tabernacles. Following this Zerubbabel laid the foundation of the Temple. It was considerably smaller than Solomon’s temple. Some of the priestly Exiles remembered Solomon’s temple and they disparaged the the efforts of the workmen. The nations around Judah also did not want the Temple rebuilt because they saw it as a rallying point for the restoration of a Jewish nation. The leaders of the states around Judah sent envoys to Persia to ask that the building be discontinued and and threatened the Exiles with military action. The priests blow the trumpets as the Building halted for 16 years on the Temple site. rebuilding of the temple resumes It would not be until the reign of Darius I [520 BC] under Zerubbabel. that it would resume. Series: Getting Up, Going Up! Aug. 8, 2021 -Garrison COG Psalm 141 *vs. 8-10 1 « A Psalm of David. » LORD, I cry out to You; Make haste to me! Give ear to my voice when I cry out to You. 2 Let my prayer be set before You as incense, The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. 3 Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips. 4 Do not incline my heart to any evil thing, To practice wicked works With men who work iniquity; And do not let me eat of their delicacies. 5 Let the righteous strike me; It shall be a kindness. And let him rebuke me; It shall be as excellent oil; Let my head not refuse it. For still my prayer is against the deeds of the wicked. 6 Their judges are overthrown by the sides of the cliff, And they hear my words, for they are sweet. 7 Our bones are scattered at the mouth of the grave, As when one plows and breaks up the earth. 8 But my eyes are upon You, O GOD the Lord; In You I take refuge; Do not leave my soul destitute. 9 Keep me from the snares they have laid for me, And from the traps of the workers of iniquity. 10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets, While I escape safely. Series: Getting Up, Going Up! The Psalms of Ascent Garrison COG “Struggling With It was when, as Ezra indicates, the prophet Haggai began Contempt” Psalm 123 to agitate for rebuilding to resume that Zerubbabel and Joshua [the High Priest] began to rebuild. It was the 2nd year of King Darius in 520 BC. When the rebuilding began it was challenged by the nations around Judah and envoys sent to Darius. He had a search made of the royal records and rediscovered Cyrus’s edict. Darius appointed Zerubbabel governor and gave him autonomy along with resources to rebuild the Temple. The Temple was completed 5 years later in 515 BC. Psalm 141 is a Psalm of David reflecting on the struggles that accompanied the revolt under his son Absalom. We often face intimidation in our lives for trying to serve God. Some of this is brought on by opposition of others, other problems develop as the effects of our own past failures. The most devastating may be the unrealized expectations of our friends. Darius the Great [521-486 BC] Haggai 2:1-4 & Zechariah 4:8-10 Series: Getting Up, Going Up! Aug. 8, 2021 -Garrison COG Haggai 2:1-4 *3-4 1 In the seventh month, on the twenty-first of the month, the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, saying: 2 “Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people, saying: 3 ‘Who is left among you who saw this temple in its former glory? And how do you see it now? In comparison with it, is this not in your eyes as nothing? 4 ‘Yet now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ says the LORD; ‘and be strong, Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, all you people of the land,’ says the LORD, ‘and work; for I am with you,’ says the LORD of hosts. Zechariah 4:8-10 *10 8 Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying: 9 “The hands of Zerubbabel Have laid the foundation of this temple; His hands shall also finish it. Then you will know That the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you. 10 For who has despised the day of small things? For these seven rejoice to see The plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. They are the eyes of the LORD, Which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth.” Series: Getting Up, Going Up! The Psalms of Ascent Garrison COG <Haggai “Struggling With by James Contempt” Psalm 123 Tissot, notice the It is believed that Haggai, the obscured initiator, had been an official or but scribe in the Persian royal court determined under Cyrus. He may have requested face and to be assigned to governor Persian garments Shealtiel’s staff. Zechariah was likely of a royal a child who returned with the Exiles. scribe. He is believed to have been a >Zechariah student under Haggai. He was a by James trained scribe and would go on to be Tissot, he is pictured the primary spiritual impetus behind as an the rebuilding of the Temple as well eccentric as dealing with internal conflict that reflecting arose. on his apocalyptic Aug. 8, 2021 - Series: Getting Up, Going Up! prophesies. Garrison COG <Haggai “Struggling With by James Contempt” Psalm 123 Tissot, notice the It is my belief that it was during obscured this critical 5 years between 520 and but 515 BC that Psalm 123 was written.
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