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Wednesday 05/07/25
Thru the Bible: Psalm Book V: Chapters 129-131
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The Songs of Ascent Pt. 3
Psalm Book V – Psalms 129-131
Psalm 129:1-8,
“(1) A Song of Ascents.
“Many a time they have afflicted me from my youth,”
Let Israel now say—
(2) “Many a time they have afflicted me from my youth; Yet they have not prevailed against me.”
Now you could be excused if you think this is talking about the psalmist alone since he speaks of the experience as personal, saying, “Many a time they have afflicted me from my youth; Yet they have not prevailed against me.” However, we know that this is a Song of Ascents and is to be understood as including all of Israel, which is why the end of verse 1 says, “Let Israel now say”.
So this is in reference to enemies of the nation of Israel which would have included Babylon and being in Book V that is most likely the reference.
“(3) The plowers plowed on my back; They made their furrows long.”
(4) The LORD is righteous; He has cut in pieces the cords of the wicked.
(5) Let all those who hate Zion Be put to shame and turned back. (6) Let them be as the grass on the housetops, Which withers before it grows up, (7) With which the reaper does not fill his hand, Nor he who binds sheaves, his arms. (8) Neither let those who pass by them say,
“The blessing of the LORD be upon you; We bless you in the name of the LORD!”
It was and still is for some Israelites a matter of some national security to know that God’s blessing rests on them. That those are blessed who bless them and those are cursed who curse them. Of course WE know that this blessing and cursing was associated with their keeping the law as is recorded in Deuteronomy 28. Nevertheless, God is, has been and will be good to Israel, even in their disobedience. God is faithful!
Psalm 130:1-8,
“(1) A Song of Ascents.
Out of the depths I have cried to You, O LORD; (2) Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive To the voice of my supplications.
(3) If You, LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?
(4) But there is forgiveness with You, That You may be feared.”
Of course the fear here is reverential in nature. God’s forgiving nature is certainly one aspect of His person which is NOT fearsome in the base sense of the word. God’s forgiveness is an expression of His tender loving kindness and thus His goodness, which Paul tells us in Romans 1, is what leads men to a state of repentance.
“(5) I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, And in His word I do hope.
(6) My soul waits for the Lord More than those who watch for the morning— Yes, more than those who watch for the morning.”
Sometimes I think the modern church has become so over-educated in New Covenant theology to the point that they do not see the whole picture.
Much is made of God’s forgiveness in the New Testament, because forgiveness which offered freedom from both sin and guilt as well as the power to cleanse man’s conscience was novel. It had never been experienced beforehand, in fact, every Israelite knew all too well that their sins were remembered even after sacrifice. The annual day of atonement was a reminder of all the sins they had committed throughout the year even as the writer of Hebrews says,
“(1) For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. (2) For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. (3) But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. (4) For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. (5) Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: “SACRIFICE AND OFFERING YOU DID NOT DESIRE, BUT A BODY YOU HAVE PREPARED FOR ME. (6) IN BURNT OFFERINGS AND SACRIFICES FOR SIN YOU HAD NO PLEASURE. (7) THEN I SAID, ‘BEHOLD, I HAVE COME— IN THE VOLUME OF THE BOOK IT IS WRITTEN OF ME— TO DO YOUR WILL, O GOD.’ ” (8) Previously saying, “SACRIFICE AND OFFERING, BURNT OFFERINGS, AND OFFERINGS FOR SIN YOU DID NOT DESIRE, NOR HAD PLEASURE IN THEM” (which are offered according to the law), (9) then He said, “BEHOLD, I HAVE COME TO DO YOUR WILL, O GOD.” He takes away the first that He may establish the second. (10) By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (11) And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. (12) But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, (13) from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. (14) For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. (15) But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before, (16) “THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THEM AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD: I WILL PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR HEARTS, AND IN THEIR MINDS I WILL WRITE THEM,” (17) then He adds, “THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE.” (18) Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.” – Hebrews 10:1-18,
However, what Christians often do NOT consider is that together with forgiveness is a need to stay under the corrective hand of God for so long as He determines our chastening need to endure.
I taught on this a few years back and it was one of those messages which received feedback from several who don’t even attend our church and who were grateful for the understanding it afforded them.
Forgiveness is in fact immediate upon confession, but there are times when God’s hand will remain heavy upon us for a while… sometimes even days. The writer of Hebrews also addresses this in Hebrews 12…
“(5) And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “MY SON, DO NOT DESPISE THE CHASTENING OF THE LORD, NOR BE DISCOURAGED WHEN YOU ARE REBUKED BY HIM; (6) FOR WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE CHASTENS, AND SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES.” (7) If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? (8) But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. (9) Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? (10) For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. (11) Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. (12) Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, (13) and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. (14) Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:” – Hebrews 12:5-14
Also James speaks of this in James chapter 4…
“(8) Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (9) Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. (10) Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”– James 4:8-10
What I mean to convey by all of this is that there is MORE to the promise of forgiveness in 1 John 1:9 than simple forgiveness.
The Greek word used in this passage for forgiveness is a very powerful word. It means to liberate a person from their sins (plural).
“To forgive” ishina aphēi, “in order that He may forgive.” Aphēi is second aorist subjunctive, speaking, not of a process, but of a single act. This makes 1 Jn. 1:9 stand in contrast to 1 Jn. 1:7 where we have a durative action, “keeps on continually cleansing,”. The forgiveness addressed in 1 Jn. 1:7 is, in reference to the constant cleansing of the saint from the defilement of sins of ignorance by the blood of Jesus. These are habitual in the life of the believer. The sins we confess which are being forgiven here in 1 Jn. 1:9, are not habitual – meaning constant and unrepented of.
The words cleansed and unrighteousness are taken together.
Cleanse… means to cleanse thoroughly and set free from the filth (or stain) of sin. To purify from the pollution and guilt of sin.
This word is perhaps the clearest reference to an external cleansing. It is used for garments and children alike. One does not need to change their child or replace their dirty clothes – only cleanse them topically. The child and the garment themselves remain unchanged. Underneath all that dirt, is a clean child.
Unrighteousness… means all that is not in 100% conformity to God’s perfect Justice!
So 1 John 1:9 is a powerful promise not only to set aside any and all record of an offense, expunging it from our record, but it also expunges the sin from our souls.
The former forgiveness is instant. The purification of the soul is a process in which we are to stay under the mighty hand of God’s chastening until it produces a righteousness of character that is loath to repeat that offense again.
People today believe forgiveness is all that is being offered which is why they find themselves returning for forgiveness again so often and that for the same offenses.
We in the modern age are all about instant everything and the notion of staying under God’s corrective hand seems inconsistent with forgiveness in our minds with such childlike understandings of scripture and the nature and purpose of redemption.
While those under the Old Covenant did not have the blessed experience of having their souls or their conscience cleansed, they understood the need to stay under God’s corrective hand, which is at least in part what this psalmist meant when he said…
“(3) If You, LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? (4) But there is forgiveness with You, That You may be feared
(5) I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, And in His word I do hope.
(6) My soul waits for the Lord More than those who watch for the morning— Yes, more than those who watch for the morning.”
We end with verse 7 which says…
“(7) O Israel, hope in the LORD; For with the LORD there is mercy, And with Him is abundant redemption. (8) And He shall redeem Israel From all his iniquities.”
This last statement is Messianic and was lost on nearly all of Israel – at least in Jesus’ day. The reading of this psalm to them was nothing more than a proclamation of what they already knew and experienced every year on the Day of Atonement. What is being referenced here is really a prediction that when Messiah – the redeemer came He would be the embodiment of God’s mercy for in Him would be abundant redemption and He would redeem Israel from ALL their sins!
It was quite possibly to this psalm that the angel was quoting when Joseph was told,
“(20) Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. (21) And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.“– Matthew 1:20-21
Up until this point, I have maintained that these Songs of Ascent were used during 3 of the annual required Feasts, namely –
- Passover, which represents God’s deliverance of His people from the world and sin
- Shavuot (Pentecost) which represents the first fruits or converts into the Kingdom of God following Jesus’ resurrection.
- Feast of Tabernacles which represents God’s coming to dwell in and among His people
It is now (upon reflection) my view that the annual required gathering in Jerusalem for the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur)was also included and that these Songs of Ascent (this one in particular) would have been sung as they ascended the hill leading to the city.
Psalm 131:1-3,
“(1) A Song of Ascents. Of David.
LORD, my heart is not haughty, Nor my eyes lofty. Neither do I concern myself with great matters, Nor with things too profound for me.
(2) Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul, Like a weaned child with his mother; Like a weaned child is my soul within me.
(3) O Israel, hope in the LORD From this time forth and forever.”
This is a very short psalm but it packs a punch in its brevity.
This is one of the recurring encouragements of the New Testament writers to the early church. Perhaps the most well known being from Paul in Romans,
“(10) Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; (11) not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; (12) rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; (13) distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. (14) Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. (15) Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. (16) Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.”– Romans 12:10-16
After all Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians that not many wealthy or noble respond to the gospel, but rather the lowly.
James warns the Jewish believers to not give preference to the wealthy or nobility, reminding them that God has chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom. He said that the wealthy were typically those who oppress the righteous, dragging them into court and blaspheming the noble name of Jesus Who called them.
Jesus pronounced blessings on the poor and woes to the rich and James warns those who are wealthy…
“(1) Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! (2) Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. (3) Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days. (4) Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. (5) You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter. (6) You have condemned, you have murdered the just; he does not resist you. (7) Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. (8) You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. (9) Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! (10) My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. (11) Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful. (12) But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No,” lest you fall into judgment.” – James 5:1-12
Is it therefore any wonder that the modern church gravitates towards possessions and outward expressions of wealth. Much debt has been accumulated and kingdom resources blown on superficial expression of wealth in order to attract the world into our churches. Hundreds of thousands and even millions of dollars spent on buildings and high-tech, concert like lighting, and sound and paid musical talent (some of which are not even born again) and sound systems all for 45 minutes of singing songs which are more focused upon my experience and feelings about Jesus than about Jesus Himself. All the while there are those in attendance who cannot even make their rent. I think God has something to say about that.
We were warned in 1 Timothy that those who suppose godliness is a means of financial gain know nothing and we are commanded to withdraw ourselves from them.
So this Psalmist is setting forth his humility and his willing withdrawal from participation in things which are lofty and high-minded as a basis for hope in God.
Blessings!
Tri
