Down an Unfamiliar Road

KINGSHIP AND KINSHIP –

As the compilers of the Psalter put this Song of Ascents section together, they also wanted the pilgrims to remember those who went before them that made this all possible; especially King David’s passion for reverencing and esteeming the One True God of Israel. In so doing, it was also their desire that the pilgrims realize that the Ark of the Covenant should not be mistaken as an idol or man-made image of God in any form. Rather, it was to be honored and treasured, not as an object of worship, but as a beloved and highly respected symbol of God’s holy presence among His people; a place to meet with a God in the presence of His Holy Spirit.

“O LORD Eternal, don’t forget David and all the things he accomplished; how he vowed to the LORD Eternal and made this oath to the Mighty One of Jacob: ‘I will not walk into my ornate palace, nor climb into my comfortable bed, nor close my eyes in peaceful sleep until I build a house for the LORD Eternal; a sanctuary for the Mighty One of Jacob!’ That’s when we heard about the Ark of the Covenant sitting in the Jearim forest near Ephrath. So we said, ‘Let’s take it to a secure covering so we can bow down before the Holy of Holies. We want to lift You up onto Your pedestal, O LORD Eternal; You and Your mighty Ark of the Covenant!’ So let the ministers be adorned in their finest; let all Your saints stand and shout for joy! On behalf of David Your servant, do not disappoint the one You’ve anointed. The LORD Eternal made a vow to David that I know He will never go back on. He said, ‘I will set your descendants on your throne if they keep My covenant and My proclamations that they will learn from Me so that your sons will reign in your stead indefinitely.’ That’s why the LORD Eternal chose His sanctuary as His dwelling place when He said, ‘This is where you’ll always find Me, this is where I’ll live because I want to. I will provide for those who gather there and see to it that the destitute have bread to eat. I will clothe its ministers with power so that the saints will shout for joy. I will make sure that the one I have chosen will blossom there because I have prepared a torch for My Anointed. His enemies will be covered with shame while the crown on his head will sparkle.” Psalm 132:1-18

Reflection: Almost every adult American from the greatest generation recognizes the famous sculpture of the five U.S. Marines: Private First Class Ira Hayes, Private First Class Franklin Sousley, Corporal Harlon Block, Sergeant Michel Strank, Private First Class Rene Gagnon, and Navy Hospital Corpsman Pharmacist Mate Second Class John Bradley; who raised the American flag during WWII on top of Mount Suribachi, Iwo Jima, Japan, at 10:30 A.M., on Friday, February 23, 1945. Today it still flies in honor of the thousands of military men and women who gave their lives in order for it to be planted there. Three of the Marines pictured in the statue never left the island alive; the other three came back as heroes. But even that magnificent moment for U.S. Marines and the one spoken of here in this psalm will pale in comparison to the day Messiah returns to plant His emblem of victory and triumph on the same spot where David erected his tent, and Solomon built the temple to house the Ark of the Covenant. No wonder the song that Bill and Gloria Gaither wrote in anticipation of that hour thrills hearts and brings tears to the eyes of those who sing it with great joy: “O the King is coming, the King is coming! I just heard the trumpets sounding, and now His face I see; O the King is coming, the King is coming! Praise God, He’s coming for me!” So the next time the battle gets rough and the conflict escalates, plant your cross on the hill you just conquered and begin to sing this song of faith and hope. You’ll be amazed how it deflates the enemy’s spirit and moral. Do it not only for yourself, but in honor and memory of all those pilgrims who’ve gone before and defeated the enemy in the past. But most of all do it to magnify the one who died on the cross to give us our freedom from sin and Satan. Wear His emblem of the cross with pride; let it be your Ark of the Covenant for the entire world to see.

ARE YOU BEING SUCCESSFUL OR SIGNIFICANT –

Adding to their various themes in the Song of Ascents, the compilers of the Psalter now choose a psalm that addresses the motivations for pursuing objects of need or desire. Although it is a short psalm, the principle is one that takes the longest to learn. A pilgrim must see the contrast between being driven by pride in a quest for power and prominence, and that of serving in humility which brings greater rewards of contentment with more lasting achievements than those gained when motivated by conceit. The reality of one’s true expectations and methods used must be acknowledged. Everyone must accept their limitations and live within their means and abilities. Such humility eliminates the fear of failure and disappointment.

“O LORD Eternal, I’ve never thought of myself as being egotistical, nor am I stuck up; I don’t seek the spotlight or wish for things I don’t really deserve. As a matter of fact, I’ve grown out of those things; I don’t consider myself a child anymore, I’m all grown up now. To all believers I say, put your hope in the LORD Eternal, and let it remain that way.” Psalm 131:1-3

Reflection: After the great African-American Booker T. Washington served as president of Tuskegee Institute in Tuskegee, Alabama in 1881, a wealthy white lady stopped him as he walked in an exclusive section of town. Thinking him to be a Negro out of work, she asked him if he’d like to earn a few dollars by chopping wood. Because he had no pressing items on his agenda at that moment, Professor Washington smiled, rolled up his sleeves, and proceeded to do what she requested. When finished, he carried the logs into the house and stacked them by the fireplace. It was then that one of the maids recognized him and subsequently revealed his true identity to the lady. The next morning, the highly embarrassed woman went to see Dr. Washington in his office at the school and apologized profusely. “It’s perfectly all right, Ma’am,” Washington replied. “Occasionally I enjoy manual labor. Besides, it’s always a delight to do something for a friend.” She shook his hand warmly and assured him that his meek and gracious attitude endeared him to her heart. Shortly afterward, she expressed her admiration by persuading wealthy acquaintances to join her in donating thousands of dollars to the Tuskegee Institute for black teachers. Both the Psalmist and Professor Washington give us examples of how powerful humility and meekness of spirit prove to be, even in the eyes of those who possess wealth and prestige. But without doubt, the greatest model of lowering oneself for a great cause comes in the example of Jesus Christ. If these great men show us the value and worth of putting oneself out or at risk for the good of others, how much more then ought we follow their pattern of humility. Jesus’ personal views on this subject were expressed so eloquently when He told His disciples, “Whoever wants to be first must willing to take last place and be the servant of everyone else.” And look at what the Son of God was able to accomplish out of humility instead of pride. You cannot do any better than to be like Jesus.

We should never make God a prisoner of our experiences, ideas, emotions or interpretations of life. We should not idolize events happening around us or in our lives as acts of God just because we cannot understand or make sense of them. Accept what happens in life as part of existing in this world and its environment. Then turn to God as ask Him what you can learn through what just happened. That will open your heart and mind to His involvement and direction. God may not always explain it to you, but He will monitor how you respond to it. While He doesn’t need your help in fighting His battles, He is surely available to assist you in fighting yours. Yes, God does do great and marvelous things, be we recognize them immediately because we know only God could do it. As the Scripture says, “Trust the Lord completely, and don’t depend on your own perception of things. With every step you take, think about what He wants, and He will help you understand how to cope.” – Dr. Robert R Seyda

When you get to this link, scroll down to the video and press the play arrow on the scree and get ready to laugh a joyous laugh.

HIS HAND IS ALWAYS THERE TO HOLD –

In continuing the Song of Ascents, the compilers add another psalm that deals with the pilgrim’s testimony about what it is like to serve the Lord while living in a contrary society, so that their children will understand and be aware of the journey ahead. Since no one is perfect, then everyone must be ready to deal with their errors; to be honest with themselves; and to have complete faith in God’s willingness to accept the prayer of a child under conviction who is seeking forgiveness.

“O LORD Eternal, I’ve never felt such deep pain and agony as I cry out to You. O Heavenly Master, please let my cries get Your attention; yes, please let my pleading cries be detected by Your ears. O LORD, I know that if You kept track of all man’s faults and failures, O Heavenly Master, no one could survive. You’re the only One who forgives sin, that makes You all the more awe inspiring. My soul tarries as I eagerly await Your answer, O LORD Eternal, because You’re the only one whose word I trust. Yes, my soul anticipates what my Heavenly Master has to say more intensely than those who can hardly wait for the sun to rise. To all believers I say, put your trust in the LORD Eternal; because with Him there is complete forgiveness; for He will paid the ransom for all believers.” Psalm 130:1-8

Reflection: On Friday, December 29, 1876, Philip Bliss, one of America’s most prolific hymn writers, sat on a train with his wife headed for Ashtabula, Ohio for a New Year’s holiday. Suddenly the train lurched as the bridge it was crossing collapsed, throwing Philip Bliss out of the railroad car. Though he was injured, Bliss charged back into the burning wreckage to try and find his wife trapped inside. Unfortunately, neither Philip nor his wife Lucy emerged alive. This occurred, only a short time after Bliss had written his last song. Perhaps the words of that hymn echoed through his mind as he and his wife lay dying inside the burning train: “Sing, oh sing, of my Redeemer, with His blood, He purchased me. On the cross, he sealed my pardon, paid the debt, and made me free.” We don’t know about the perilous conditions that surrounded the psalmist who wrote this psalm, but we do see that both he and Philip Bliss expressed the same faith in God’s paid redemption. So, in their time of greatest need, they relied on any remaining debt for sin to be fully covered, so they could have blessed assurance. What a great sense of peace and security that brings to any soul, especially when the circumstances might include the end of life. Since it proved true and consoling for these song writers back then, it will prove just as reliable and comforting for us right now. So, just as you reach for a light when you are suddenly enveloped by darkness, reach for God’s hand when you can’t see you way because of uncertainly or despair. You will see that your Redeemer is always there for you.

WHOSE SORRY NOW! –

The compilers of the Psalter and the Songs of Ascent have been emphasizing the family involvement in serving and worshiping God as their chosen way of life, in order to accomplish all that God has planned for them. What better way to train children than through family devotions; to share with them what they may one day face and how to cope with it. So as the pilgrims make their way to the Holy of Holies they are given a psalm that emphasizes the need for commitment and dedication to God’s way of doing things; for in following God’s plan for your life you may stumble, fall, and be tempted to quit. But as long as you are doing His will, He never sees you as a failure as long as you are faithful.

“Many times I’ve been made fun of while growing up; let everyone say this with me, ‘Many times I’ve been made fun of while growing up, but I never let it get the best of me.’ The emotional wounds I’ve suffered remind me of a plowed field; they are as deep as furrows. But the LORD Eternal was always there to help; He took away the power my distractors had over me. In fact, all those who hate believers will one day be humiliated and rendered powerless. So let them be like wind-blown seeds that take root and grow on top of our flat rooftops; that wither before they can ever be harvested. That way, no reaper will ever carry away handfuls of grain, nor will a harvester be able to fill his arms with bundles of sheaves. Also, no passer-by will be inspired to say, ‘Looks like the LORD Eternal has blessed you;’ or, ‘In the name of LORD Eternal we congratulate you!’” Psalm 129:1-8

Reflection: At a well-known Ohio university years ago some 1000 students gathered for their Calculus final exam. Students in this class didn’t like their professor. He’d walk around the classroom yelling out the time remaining before the end of the test. He told the students that when they finished to stack their completed exams on his desk. One young man, who needed a good grade to pass the class, always did poorly when under pressure; however, he barely flinched when the professor screamed, “Pencils down! Submit your exams!” He remained in the classroom for about an hour before he finally walked to the front to submit his test. “What are you doing?” the professor hollered! “I’m turning in my exam,” the student said quietly. “I’ve got bad news for you!” the professor gloated, You’re too late! I’ll see you back here next semester!” “Do you know who I am?” the student quizzed. “What?” growled the professor; the student rephrased his query, “Do you know my name?” “No!” snarled the professor. The student looked the professor straight in the eye as he slowly lifted up the top half of one of the stacks and slid his test neatly into the pile before letting it fall back down, burying his exam precisely in the stack. He then turned around and walked casually out of the lecture hall leaving an angry professor behind trying to find his exam without knowing his name. The psalmist endured similar pressure to do things the way others thought it should be done, with no encouragement, but only criticism without any leniency. But he kept his cool and followed the still small voice guiding him from his conscience. In the end, God saw to it that he did complete the task given to him without affording his adversaries any chance to gloat over his shortcomings. What wonderful examples both the psalmist and this crafty student give us concerning grace under fire. Since the Bible does not accredit Satan with omnipresence or omniscience, there’s a good chance he has never met you and doesn’t even know your name. Besides, with God walking beside you, the devil may have little interest in even bothering with you.

THROUGH IT ALL –

The compilers of the Psalter wanted to continue the theme of family involvement as part of their Songs of Ascent. There is something unsettling when only one parent in a family is dedicated to God and His purpose and destiny for their lives. Children tend to become confused and develop divided feelings of loyalty. The psalmist wanted to emphasize the importance of a family praying together and staying together. It is difficult for children to develop respect for God, His Word, and His sanctuary, if they do not see it in their parents. In that vein, parents can decide whether to become “zeros” or “heroes” to their children and extended family.

“Count your blessings if you reverence the LORD Eternal, and pattern your life after His plan for living right. When you are satisfied with what you’ve worked to accomplish, you will be successful and have a good life. Your spouse will support you as head of the house, and when you sit around the table with your children, they will be like branches off the same tree. I’m telling you, that’s how a person who respects the LORD Eternal will be honored. May the LORD Eternal bless you from His sanctuary; and may you share in all the good things available in the City of God for the rest of your life; and may you live to see your grandchildren grow up to adulthood. Peace be upon all believers.” Psalm 128:1-5

Reflection: At the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, Canada, as Japanese gymnast Shun Fujimoto completed his floor exercise in the team competition with one final tumble run. Upon landing he experienced an awful searing sensation in his right leg. Fact was, he had shattered his kneecap. But the 26 year old Fujimoto reasoned that his team needed whatever points he might accumulate to upset the favored Soviets. Fujimoto decided to tell no one, not even coach Yakuji Hayata. In the next event, the pommel horse, Fujimoto agonized in pain during the routine. Yet, his intense concentration helped him score a 9.5. Then the last event, the rings, presented him with a daring challenge because it required a high-flying dismount from some 15 feet in the air. But Fujimoto gave the performance of his life on the rings, hurling his 123 pounds into a twisting triple-somersault dismount, bringing him down to a hard landing on the mat. He said later, that the pain sliced through him like a knife but he managed to keep his balance, with his right leg buckling only slightly. In spite of the agony he gritted his teeth, and with tears in his eyes he raised his arms in the traditional finish. The judged awarded him a 9.7, the highest score he’d ever earned on the rings. Even though his days as an active competitor ended on that fateful afternoon, Fujimoto, whose knee still troubles him periodically, will never be forgotten in Japan. To them, he is a hero. The psalmist calls on a similar form of courage for all those who perform as part of life’s team – the family. He wants to challenge every pilgrim to concentrate on the task at hand, and depend on God to help with the pain that comes with discipline and making rough decisions. Ask yourself, can your family depend on you to be courageous enough to keep going in spite of what must be endured? Just remember, your performance benefits them as much as it does you. In the end, faithfulness and commitment will make winners out of you all.

YOU ARE MY EVERYTHING –

The compilers of the Psalter, who collected the psalms to be used in the Songs of the Ascent, knew that the pilgrim was not in this for himself; he also needed to account for his family and their welfare. It was incumbent upon each head of the house to make sure that each generation that followed was instructed in the ways of the LORD. Therefore he learned, one should not concentrate merely on toiling day and night in pursuit of a livelihood and forsake the care and cultivating of one’s family’s need to enjoy life and remain faithful to the code of beliefs passed on to them. Keeping up with one’s ambitions, finances, and social status cannot outweigh one’s commitment to family responsibilities and spiritual nurturing. These pilgrims knew they couldn’t make it on their own, they needed God’s help to survive.

“If the LORD Eternal is not the head of your household, the home life you built was a waste of time; if the LORD is not protecting your family, your efforts to protect it are in vain. So why get up early and stay up late trying to make a good life, when in fact God gives this to His beloved when they are not even looking. Keep this in mind, children are part of your inheritance from the LORD Eternal; each child should be considered a reward. And just like arrows in the hand of a warrior help him provide for his family, likewise children born while you are young will provide for you later. So count your blessings if you are blessed with a large family; and raise all of them right so they won’t become an embarrassment to you later.” Psalm 127:1-5

Reflection: In his second inaugural address, President Abraham Lincoln, one of America’s greatest leaders, concluded his speech with these words: “With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation’s wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.” Earlier in the same speech, Lincoln warned against departure from those divine attributes given by God to His followers. Little did President Lincoln, the nation, or the world know that in 41 days he would die of an assassin’s bullet. Like the psalmist, President Lincoln believed that the United States stood firmly founded on principles derived from God’s Word, and that any future success it achieved must remain firmly secured to those principles. They served as an anchor that kept society from drifting away from shore, only to become lost at sea; they are like the oxygen we breathe that keeps us alive; and the water we drink that prevents us from becoming dehydrated and dying of thirst. So with the assault we see today on these precepts, let God again intervene to bring this nation back to its senses. As President George W. Bush so often ended his speeches with the words, “God bless you, and God bless America,” may it ever be so. But this does not start in the White House; it must begin in every house, on every block, in every neighborhood, in every borough, in every city, and in every State. We’ve come this far by faith; let us not turn our future over to fate.

DREAMS CAN COME TRUE –

As in the previous psalm, the possibility of some pilgrims being sidetracked and becoming distracted on their journey is addressed again. Only this time, the compilers of the Songs of Ascent wanted to choose a psalm that illustrated the ongoing love and care God has in restoring those who lose their way or became captives to what the world has to offer. They wanted pilgrims to know that just because they faltered in their relationship with God, God does not sever His relationship with them. Every believer must realize that life does not function like a lottery; things just don’t happen at random. God is in control of their lives and will fight to keep what He has paid such a high price to ransom.

“When the LORD Eternal restores believers from captivity, it’s like a dream come true; it fills their mouths with laughter, as their voices are filled with songs of joy. Even unbelievers will be prompted to admit, ‘The LORD Eternal performed a miracle on them.’ Yes, the LORD Eternal has performed such miracles for all of us, and we are overjoyed. O LORD Eternal, free even more captives, let them stream back like a river through the desert. Those who wept as they sowed seeds of encouragement will break out in songs of joy as they reap their harvest. Yes, those who went out carrying the Word, will surely return with shouts of joy as they carry in their harvest.” Psalm 126:1-6

Reflection: The Reverend J. Stuart Holden was the vicar of St. Paul’s Church, Portman Square, London, England. He had made plans to depart for America aboard the new luxury ship Titanic to speak at the Christian Conservation Congress (a six-day convention opening at Carnegie Hall on April 20, 1912). On April 9, 1912, one day before sailing, the Rev. Holden postponed his trip to stay at his wife’s side because she suddenly fell ill. They were booked into Cabin D-1 on the Titanic. After hearing a bout the sinking of this giant ship, Rev. Holden was telling friends about an old Scottish mansion near his little summer home back in Scotland that had been made famous by well-known artists who covered the walls in one of the rooms with sketches. One evening someone accidentally spilled a pitcher of soda water on one of the fresh paintings, leaving an ugly, runny stain. Sir Edwin Henry Landseer, an outstanding English painter happened to be a guest in the house at that time. A few days later the family went out and he stayed behind. With a few masterful strokes of a piece of charcoal, that unsightly spot became the outline of a beautiful waterfall, bordered by trees and wildlife. He had turned that disfigured wall into one of his most beautiful depictions of Scottish countryside.

Rev. Holden wanted listeners to see the connection between the unfortunate cancellation of his trip to America with the accidental spill of soda water, but how God turned it into a wonderful miracle of allowing him to continue living and ministering the Word to those who might otherwise have been lost. Likewise, the Psalmist saw those who were sitting in captivity because of the tragic disaster of a heathen king’s invasion of God’s people, as victims of a catastrophe brought on by straying from God and His Word. He too wanted a miracle of redemption and restoration; he also wanted God to do what Gloria Gaither later expressed in her song, “Something Beautiful.” So to all believers who find themselves sidelined and captive to things offered them by the world, let this psalm and Rev. Holden’s wonderful story be an encouragement to you. And, like Gloria Gaither writes in her song, “If all you have to offer Him is brokenness and strife, let Him make something beautiful out of your life.”

If you’ve ever said you want to know God better or that you want to know more about Him, just remember this: all we know about God is what He has revealed. There is no way to discover something about God that He has not openly conveyed. Rabbi Moses Maimonides once said, the only thing we know about God, is that He exists. And the reason we know He exists, is by what He has shown us. But one thing Rabbi Maimonides didn’t realize, that when God sent His Son into the world, His Son said that only by getting to know me will you get to know my Father better. So if you want to know more about God, learn more about His Son. These truths are so beautifully encased in that grand old hymn, “How Great Thou Art.” – Dr. Robert R Seyda