(This article was first posted on MarkInc Ministries. Please click here to see original post.) Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. Psalm 124:8 Have you ever come through a difficulty and thought, “Phew! I barely made it.” When chronic pain seems overwhelming and you make it through an intensely painful week. When money is extremely tight and you manage to pay that month’s bills. When a marriage seems strained beyond relief and you come through on the other side fully reconciled. When a prodigal son or daughter seem so far away they’ll never return and then they do. When the job seems intensely stressful and you’re close to throwing in the towel and then things get better. When the chemotherapy is over and you hear that the cancer is in remission. It’s easy to look back at times and think, “I barely made it.” Psalm 124, one of the Songs of Ascents (120-134), helps us add an important perspective, “If it had not been the Lord who was on our side,” we wouldn’t have made it. If it had not been the Lord who was on our side-- let Israel now say-- if it had not been the Lord who was on our side when people rose up against us, then they would have swallowed us up alive, when their anger was kindled against us; then the flood would have swept us away, the torrent would have gone over us; then over us would have gone the raging waters. Blessed be the Lord, who has not given us as prey to their teeth! We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped! Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. Psalm 124 Our Hurdles (124:1-5). David had felt the hot breath of his enemies and heard the frightening whoosh of arrows flying past him. He was too wise to think it was his swift maneuvering or his strategic location that had saved him. He knew with confidence that the Lord was on his side! You’ve known that too, haven’t you? When the raging roar of addiction, anger, relational difficulty, financial ruin, and the like surround you, you don’t really think you can outmaneuver it do you? We need the Lord on our side! And He is. Our Help (124:6-8). David had also seen the white teeth of those seeking to defeat him and experienced the snare in enemy territory. And he was too wise to think it was his stinky breath or steady steps that had saved him. He knew with confidence that the Lord was his help! The Creator of the world, and the Creator of David, delivered him time and again from those who wanted to steal, kill and destroy him. Think of the pilgrims making their way to Jerusalem to celebrate an annual feast, raising their eyes to the city of David, the one to whom God had promised a position, place, peace and progeny. Like David, they too had known the threat of defeat, but their hope was in the Lord. Or think of the pilgrims returning to Jerusalem after the exile. They had been tempted to believe they were defeated, but their hope was in the One who made heaven and earth. If it had not been Jesus who was on our side, the wrath of God would rage against us and we would be separated from Him forever. But Jesus has been our help by living a life of perfect obedience on our behalf, by atoning for our sin and turning God’s wrath away from us, bringing reconciliation between God and man. As Christ’s ambassadors, we have the amazing privilege to be messengers of reconciliation. When others rise up against us in anger, we can move toward them in love. When floodwaters of suffering threaten to sweep us away, we can stand steadfast in the faith. When sin threatens to undo us, we can put on the full armor of God. And when addiction threatens to ensnare us, we can cry out to our Helper in time of need. PRAYER Oh Lord, not only do You equip us as peacemakers, You call us to the privilege of being messengers of reconciliation. We cannot be peacemakers or messengers of reconciliation unless You transform our hearts to be fully Yours. Today, when faced with hostility, anger, suffering, temptation to give in to the call of sin, we remember that You are our help. You are our only hope. Download this image to share it on Facebook or Instagram. Or, find this image on MarkInc Ministries Facebook page and share it with your friends.
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(This article was originally posted on MarkInc Ministries. To see the original post, click here.) To You I lift up my eyes, to You who are enthroned in the heavens! Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, As the eyes of a maidservant to the hand of her mistress, So our eyes look to the Lord our God, till He has mercy on us. Psalm 123:1-2 Surely you know what it feels like to be downward-pressed. News of an incurable cancer. Infertility. A tragedy in your family. Financial ruin. Chronic pain. The battle against the same old sin. The mundane seemingly closing in around you. The hard work of marriage and parenting. Difficult relationships. Unruly circumstances. On this side of glory we will be downward-pressed. The question is: Where will we focus during those moments? Down at our circumstances and relationships that seem depressing, or up at our Savior who holds all things in His hands? Once again, the Songs of Ascents (120-134), pilgrim songs that they are, answer for us, especially Psalm 123: To You I lift up my eyes, to You who are enthroned in the heavens! Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, As the eyes of a maidservant to the hand of her mistress, So our eyes look to the Lord our God, till he has mercy on us Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us, for we have had more than enough of contempt. Our soul has had more than enough of the scorn of those who are at ease, of the contempt of the proud. Upward-focused (123:1-2). In his distress the psalmist lifts his eyes to the King enthroned in the heavens. Thankfully, he is not alone; he suffers in the midst of the covenant community and with the covenant community. There’s no greater gift during suffering than Christ and His people. Their servant eyes will remain fixed on their Master until mercy comes. Such trust and hope is rooted in God’s covenant love for them. The Lord commanded the priesthood to bless the people of Israel with these words, “the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you” (Num. 6:25). Their eyes are turned in hope to the One who has declared grace to them. Downward-pressed (123:3-4). Their trust and hope is ridiculed. Contempt closes in on them, scorn slithers toward them, and the proud prowl around them. You’ve been there too, haven’t you? Placing our faith in Christ and planting ourselves in the midst of His people seems foolish to some people. These scorners don’t have the final word though. The pilgrims pray their way through the suffering, crying out to the Lord for mercy and trusting He will make good on His promises. LIFE-GIVING ENCOURAGEMENT The author of Hebrews tells us our eyes should be fixed on Christ, the author and perfecter of our faith (Heb. 12:1-3). He has delivered mercy to us by atoning for our sins. God withholds the wrath we deserve because His Son has redeemed us. Our Master’s yoke is gentle and offered to those who are weary of trying to save themselves. It is Christ, the Merciful One, who turns our eyes to Him and bestows mercy on His beloved bride. Today, when you’re tempted to turn your eyes downward toward your circumstances and relationships, turn them upward instead. Turn them to Christ, our Head.
(This article was originally posted on MarkInc Ministries. To see the original article, click here.) I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord!” Psalm 122:1 Weariness can suck the life out of us like nothing else. In the midst of long seasons of suffering, or battling particular sins, weariness often sets in and threatens our joy, peace, patience, and faithfulness. We wonder whether it will ever end. We try to just endure. We accept another day of pain or failure. We barely recognize ourselves sometimes. We might become introverted, numb to relationships and circumstances, eager for night to fall again so we can climb back into bed, and be silent in our suffering, sin or shame. What does Scripture teach us to do when we find ourselves weary? Psalm 122 gives us a good answer. It is one of the Songs of Ascents (120-134), which the people of God used to sing on their way to Jerusalem for the annual feasts, and as such are appropriate for Christians of all ages to sing as God’s pilgrim people (1 Pet. 1:1). I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord!” Our feet have been standing within your gates, O Jerusalem! Jerusalem—built as a city that is bound firmly together, to which the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, as was decreed for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the Lord. There thrones for judgment were set, the thrones of the house of David. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! “May they be secure who love you! Peace be within your walls and security within your towers!” For my brothers and companions' sake I will say, “Peace be within you!” For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your good. Psalm 122 Procession (122:1-5). The weary pilgrim has finally made his way to the city of God—what joy fills his heart! The pilgrim finds a community there characterized by unity, praise and justice. These three things bring gladness to his heart. The weary Christian today finds unity, praise and justice in the church. We gather together each Sunday with gladness in our hearts, praising the God who has saved us and seeking to bring forth righteousness and justice in our interactions with one another. It is Christ who builds the church and we are members of one another, each one given spiritual gifts to use to build up the body of Christ and serve one another (1 Cor. 12:27; Eph. 4:11-16). As we live together as the covenant community, we live in hope of the New Jerusalem where there will be no more pain or sorrow, and no more temple because Christ Himself will be the temple in the new heaven and earth. The latter should be our greatest hope and joy, especially when we’re weary—we will be with Christ! Peace (122:6-9). Not only is there gladness in the pilgrim’s heart, there is a prayer for peace and security on his lips. This desire for peace is reflected in the priestly blessing, “the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace” (Num. 6:26). Because the pilgrim is aware of his communion with God and his communion with his brothers, he desires peace within Jerusalem (“city of peace”). It is Christ who has brought peace between Jews and Gentiles and made us one new man in place of the two, reconciling us to God through the cross (Eph. 2:14-16). As those who are in union with Christ and are members of one another, we are to pursue peace in our relationships with our brothers and sisters in Christ, as well as with unbelievers we know. This is hard to do, especially when you’re weary with suffering, but Christ promises, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matt. 5:9). PRAYER Lord, because of Your presence in us, we have the privilege to be peacemakers. We live in such a conflicted and hostile world. You equip us to build a place of peace for those in our own circles of influence. We know that peace can spread, one person at a time if it is rooted in You. Today, Lord, make me Your peacemaker. Download this image to share it on Facebook or Instagram. Or, find this image on MarkInc Ministries Facebook page and share it with your friends.
(This article was originally published on MarkInc Ministries. To view the original article, please click here.) I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1 I remember the fear I felt as the force of the wave overwhelmed me and I went under the salty water of the Pacific Ocean. I couldn’t get my bearings or my footing, but suddenly a strong arm pulled me back into light and fresh air. That strong arm was my mother’s arm, and for me, in elementary school at the time, it was the strongest arm I knew (besides my father’s). Relief flooded over me as I realized I was safe; I had received help at just the right moment. Isn’t that how it is with our heavenly Father? We lose our bearings and our footing, feel swept away by the strong current of our emotions, relationships, circumstances, etc., and then all of a sudden, we realize His strong arm is there to help us? Yesterday we looked at the first of the fifteen Songs of Ascents (120-134). They are songs that teach us where to turn for peace, help, unity, forgiveness, restoration, strength, blessing, hope, humility, contentment, and a life of prayer and praise. These songs are pictures of our journey to the heavenly city we look toward with hope. More importantly, they anticipate the One who left His home in glory to fulfill His Father’s plan. I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore. Psalm 121 Help! (121:1-2). Lifting our eyes in the midst of suffering or sin and shame is very hard to do. Most of the time we want to hide, not only from others, but from the Lord God, and even from ourselves. But this song teaches us a better way. The pilgrim travels onward toward Jerusalem, the city of God that is surrounded by hills, quieting his question (“From where does my help come?”) with the answer he already knows so well. His help is the Creator of those very hills he sees ahead of him on the journey to Jerusalem to celebrate one of the feasts. You know this too, don’t you? You know that your help isn’t found looking down at your toes in shame, or staring at the sheets in the dark as you hide in bed. Your help is found in Christ, the One through whom all things are created (Col. 1:16). LIFE-GIVING ENCOURAGEMENT Helper (121:3-8). “But I can’t sleep,” you say. You think the waves too large, the current too strong, but this song reminds us we can sleep because our Keeper doesn’t. And because He doesn’t sleep, He is able to stabilize His saints’ steps, keeping them and protecting them from dangers by day or by night.
It is easy to visualize the weary pilgrim lifting his eyes to the hills surrounding Jerusalem and getting a second wind for the next stretch of the journey. Whether it was the pre-exilic pilgrim making his way to Solomon’s temple or the post-exilic Jew making his way back to the restored temple, both were difficult journeys. This psalm, a fine exposition of the priestly prayer in Numbers 6:24, “The LORD bless you and keep you,” anticipate the One who not only keeps our life but gave up His life to do so. Now that Jesus is seated at the Father’s right hand, He has also sent another Helper to us. The Spirit of truth will guide us into truth as we seek to serve our triune God as worshipers, workers and witnesses in this world (John 16:13). So remember Psalm 121 the next time the wave of suffering, sin, or difficult service threatens to undo you. “He will not let your foot be moved” (v3). (This article was originally published on MarkInc Ministries. To view the original article, click here.) In my distress I called to the Lord, and He answered me. Psalm 120:1 In many ways I felt like I was in a ditch with my car broken down and nobody around to help. I was facing different kinds of suffering as well as my own sin and others’ sin. But when I came to these Songs of Ascents (Ps. 120-134) I felt like someone had pulled over on the side of the road, towed me out of the ditch, repaired my car, and put me on my way again. These psalms taught me where to turn for peace, help, unity, forgiveness, restoration, strength, blessing, hope, humility, contentment, and a life of prayer and praise. I hope the same will be true for you this week, as we study the first six of the fifteen Songs of Ascents (Ps. 120-125). These songs are pictures of our journey to the heavenly city we look toward to with hope. More importantly, these songs are about the One who left His home in glory to fulfill His Father’s plan. In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me. Deliver me, O Lord, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue. What shall be given to you, and what more shall be done to you, you deceitful tongue? A warrior's sharp arrows, with glowing coals of the broom tree! Woe to me, that I sojourn in Meshech, that I dwell among the tents of Kedar! Too long have I had my dwelling among those who hate peace. I am for peace, but when I speak, they are for war! Psalm 120 Distress from Deceit (120:1-4). Oftentimes we don’t know where to take our distress, but the psalmist knew where to take his. He turned to the Lord, and he was not disappointed. The Lord answered his cry for deliverance from deceitful lips that surrounded him. Perhaps you have felt the pain of deceitful lips around you. What do we do? The psalmist knew God’s judgment would ultimately come to his enemies. Vengeance is the Lord’s; He will repay (Deut. 32:35; Rom. 12:19). Recognizing this is the road to freedom from anger, bitterness, depression, and a host of other emotions that come with holding onto wrongs others have done to us. Christ was surrounded by deceitful lips, and yet He willingly took our place in the judgment seat. We can forgive others because God has forgiven us in Christ, and we can leave judgment to the Judge, Jesus Christ. Desire for Peace (120:5-7). Have you ever dwelt among people who seem to constantly stir the pot, try to get the final word, and often look for the next fight? The psalmist dwells among those who hate peace. This is hard for someone who desires peace. The Israelites returning from exile would have identified well with the words of the psalmist. They too faced deceit from without and the desire for peace from within, but peace would not come for four hundred more years. When Jesus was born, there was a righteous man living in Jerusalem awaiting the peace of Israel. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit he went to the temple at the same time Mary and Joseph arrived to present Jesus. So he took the Christ child in his arms and blessed God, recognizing He was letting him depart this earth in peace because he had seen the salvation of the Lord (Luke 2:25-32). Before Jesus was crucified He extended His peace to His disciples making it very clear to them that His peace was completely different than what the world offered (John 14:27). Paul tells us that Christ Himself is our peace because He has reconciled both Jews and Gentiles to God in one body through the cross (Eph. 2:14-17). Since Christ is our peace and proclaimed peace, we are to extend peace to others and proclaim the gospel of peace. To whom in your life do you need to extend peace today, and who needs to hear you proclaim the gospel of peace? PRAYER Father, thank you for Your peace, for the invitation to experience Your peace and the calling to extend that peace to others. I gratefully accept your invitation to exchange my anxiety for Your lasting peace and your exhortation to share the peace that comes from knowing Jesus.
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