Kansas City, Missouri,
United States - Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - “A Song of Ascents” – Saturday,
26 April 2014 - Scripture: Psalm 121: A Song of
Ascents.
1 I will lift up my eyes
to the hills.
Where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from
Yahweh,
who made heaven and earth.
3 He will not allow your
foot to be moved.
He who keeps you will not slumber.
4 Behold, he who keeps
Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 Yahweh is your keeper.
Yahweh is your shade on your right hand.
6 The sun will not harm
you by day,
nor the moon by night.
7 Yahweh will keep you
from all evil.
He will keep your soul.
8 Yahweh will keep your
going out and your coming in,
from this time forward, and forever more.
“A Song of Ascents” by Duane
C. Brush
Psalm 121 is the second
of 15 pilgrim psalms. These were sung by worshippers on their way to Jerusalem
for the great annual festivals. These pilgrimages were arduous, dangerous, and
expensive. For worshippers coming from a distance it could literally be the
journey of a lifetime. To see the great Temple, to present an offering, to
worship in the Temple courts, and hear the God’s precious Word proclaimed,
sung, and taught was the pinnacle of Jewish life and worship.
During the journey
pilgrims prepared their hearts for worship by singing these psalms. When the
way was tiring, when danger seemed near, when the sun beat down, still they
sang. God was like cool shade nearby in the noontime heat.
They were going to
worship God at the Temple, but God was not contained within its walls. God was
everywhere, and He was with them on the journey. The heavenly Father watched
over them along the way. Not one step was taken apart from His knowledge or
care.
God is with us when we
gather for worship, but He is no less with us in the journey of life. He is the
shade at your right hand. Stop and rest awhile.
Hymn for Today:
“Close to Thee” by Fanny
J. Crosby
1. Thou my everlasting portion,
more than friend or life
to me,
all along my pilgrim
journey,
Savior, let me walk with
thee.
Refrain:
Close to thee, close to
thee,
close to thee, close to
thee,
all along my pilgrim
journey,
Savior, let me walk with
thee.
2. Not for ease or worldly pleasure,
nor for fame my prayer
shall be;
gladly will I toil and
suffer,
only let me walk with
thee.
Refrain:
Close to thee, close to
thee,
close to thee, close to
thee,
all along my pilgrim
journey,
Savior, let me walk with
thee.
3. Lead me through the vale of shadows,
bear me o'er life's
fitful sea;
then the gate of life
eternal
may I enter, Lord, with
thee.
Refrain:
Close to thee, close to
thee,
close to thee, close to
thee,
all along my pilgrim
journey,
Savior, let me walk with
thee.
Thought for Today:
“He restores my soul.
He guides me in the paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me.
Your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:3-4).
Prayer Needs:
For faculty and students
as they prepare for full-time Christian ministry in Bolivia!
-------
WordAcion Publishing
Company
Beacon Hill Press
Nazarene Publishing
Company
2500 Troost Avenue
Kansas City, MO 64108
United States
Embrace holy
living…visit reflectinggod.com.
-------
No comments:
Post a Comment