July 13
Psalms 120-123, 125, 126
Psalms 120-134 are called "Songs of Ascents", or specifically "Songs for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem". There were three annual feasts of pilgrimage for the Jewish people: Passover, the Feast of Weeks or Pentecost, and the Feast of Tabernacles. These songs would be sung as these pilgrims, those living outside Jerusalem, would make their way back to where God resided. You might think, "How does this relate to me, now?" These songs should be speaking directly to our hearts, for we who are in Christ are not home. Like the pilgrims back then, we are pilgrims on this earth. We are citizens of heaven (Philippians 3:20) who are sojourning on this earth. If things seem out of control on this earth, it is because they truly are, from a human perspective. Man is incapable of ruling themselves. Man is corrupt and full of sin, and this shows itself in pride, greed, lust, etc. No, this is not our home. We died to our old ways when we humbled ourselves and submitted our lives to Jesus Christ. Now, as these pilgrims looked with anticipation to their ascent to Jerusalem, we look excitedly to the time when Jesus Christ returns for us and we get to live where we belong, in heaven, with God, who alone is perfect and able to give us more than we can even fathom.
We see the situation which is much like our own, in Psalm 120:1-2, 6-7, "I took my troubles to the Lord; I cried out to him, and he answered my prayer. Rescue me, O Lord, from liars and from all deceitful people...I am tired of living among people who hate peace. I search for peace; but when I speak of peace, they want war!" We have all felt this in one way or another. We are surrounded by deceit, carnality, hatred, evil, etc. Where do we turn when our world does not make sense? Do we seek answers from the media, from those on social media, even if they are like minded? We read in 121:1-2, "I look up to the mountains—does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!" Yes, our help comes from the Lord, as we come to Him as they do in 123:3-4, "Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy, for we have had our fill of contempt. We have had more than our fill of the scoffing of the proud and the contempt of the arrogant."
We think our situation is unique, but it is not. Throughout the centuries it is how the godly have felt when living among and under the oppression of the ungodly. We read in 125:4, "O Lord, do good to those who are good, whose hearts are in tune with you." We need to turn our hearts over to Him. The world will heal completely once King Jesus is on the throne during the Millennial Kingdom. Until then we continue on this earth as His ambassadors, as His light in an otherwise dark world. Our purpose is to represent our King, because this is something that we can all do. There is nothing wrong with standing for what is right and good in this world, but this world is not repairable outside of revival. It will not be fixed with a new political leader, a new law enacted by an untrustworthy government, or by any other earthly measure. Jesus Christ is in control, and we will feel more secure as we fix our eyes onto Him.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: