Category Archives: – Thru the Bible Series

We began this series on January 11, 2017 and continues to this day.

It chronicles our ongoing trek through the Bible beginning in Genesis, though our trek has not followed a 100% traditional order.

We have attempted to keep books whose contents are related in time, as much together as possible with some noteworth exceptions.

The specific chapters covered are NOT usually part of the title of each post making specific scriptures a little tricky to find by a simple “search”.

To compensate for that we have a page dedicated to this series which lists each of the scriptures we’ve covered so far as a link. It is our hope that this will help aid you in your studies….God Bless!

Psalm Book V Ascents

The Songs of Ascents Pt. 4

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Well tonight we finish up the lat of the Songs of Ascents with chapters 132-134.

These three chapters are exceedingly small, but powerful in their brevity.

Psalm 132 seems to have been written following the Babylonian exile, with the psalmist standing, as it were, in the rubble of the temple destroyed by King Nebuchadnezzar 70 years prior. This psalm is an appeal to God to return the Ark of the Covenant to the temple and sites God’s promise and intervention on behalf of David when he had done the same many years prior.

Psalm 133 is a priestly psalm which makes use of imagery form the anointing of the priests into their office where they stood before God on behalf of Israel and stood before Israel on behalf of God. It ends with a prophetic statement which would be easy to miss. That the blessing God commanded over Zion which has its ultimate fulfillment in the church, is where God has commanded His abundant blessing of eternal life!

Finally in Psalm 134 which had a predictive meaning for Israel at the time, is another priestly psalm making mention of the services performed by the priests in the Tabernacle of Meeting. Ultimately it does this as an elaborated way of expressing the union and intimacy with God we now enjoy as priests unto our God under the New Covenant.

These wrap up the pilgrim songs – those sung by Israel as they ascended the hill leading up to Jerusalem and the temple on their 4 annual and required feasts.

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Psalm Book V Ascents

The Songs of Ascent Pt. 3

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These Pilgrim Psalms cover the topics of God’s protection over Israel, the power and purpose of His merciful forgiveness & the need for humility and not getting involved with earthly things of high-mindedness or the pursuit of wealth.

In Chapter 129, the psalmist addresses the undercurrent of general faith most of Israel had regarding the protection of the Lord for their land and nation. That God would bless those who blessed them and curse. Of course at times their “faith” certainly took the form of presumption. In any case this psalmist is encouraging Israel to acknowledge that though they had been sorely treated by their enemies, the Lord has not allowed them to permanently prevail against them.

In Psalm 130 God’s forgiveness for His people is mentioned in connection with the effect it has of producing reverential fear for God leading to a change of actions. That forgiveness of sins precedes times of chastening where through faith and endurance God effects a more lasting change in us as the Potter has over the clay.

Finally in Psalm 131 David, himself a king, makes the decision to not be high minded nor concern himself with things too profound for him nor in the pursuit of earthly wealth. That instead he quieted his heart before God and placed his hope in Him.

These lessons are repeated throughout both testaments making them timeless and not isolated in time to one covenant or another since they are issues of heart and character. We spent some time exploring these topics as they appear in the New Testament in order to establish a clear connection with New Covenant life in Christ.

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Psalm Song Ascent 2

The Songs of Ascent Pt. 2

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These Pilgrim Psalms include chapters 125-128. They are almost certainly covering the time of the post-Babylonian exile. With themes touching on the transcendent value and promises associated with Mount Zion, the provisions of God in terms of children and harvests as well as the need for God’s direction and help in all of one’s pursuits – these Psalms are timeless and full of profound, yet simply wisdom for daily life!

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Song of Ascents

The Songs of Ascent Pt. 1

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Tonight we begin with Psalm 120 which is the first of a sub-category of psalms which are referred to as songs of ascent. There are 15 of these psalms in all.

While the individual composers of these Psalms may not have had this intent in mind, they have been used in Judaism for generations as ‘Pilgrim songs’ sung while ascending the hill outside of Jerusalem on major feast days.

In particular these Feasts are the three major annual feasts of Passover, Shavuot (now known as Pentecost), and Sukkot (also known as the Feast of Tabernacles).

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Wrapping up Psalm 119

Wrapping up Psalm 119

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This is the last 6 segments of this Alphabetic Acrostic Psalm. It covers Pey – Tav in the Hebrew alphabet.

Being container of God’s word, humility leading to the glory of Christ’ likeness, our need for our Creator and the rightness of our calling out to Him, turning towards God and away from wickedness, loving God’s law and the great hope His commandments offer and being marked by God’s sign which delivers from death. All of this and more are in these last segments.

As an additional treat, the final verses under Tav seem to summarize the entire 119th chapter in its emphasis on God’s words and our relationship to it!

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