April 20

Psalm 121, 123-125, 128-130 (biblegateway.com)

Songs of Ascent: Walking in Faith, Hope, and Mercy

These psalms, part of the “Songs of Ascents” (Psalms 120–134), were sung by pilgrims as they ascended the road to Jerusalem, which was located on a hill. They express both the joys and struggles of the journey, anchoring the traveler’s heart in God’s character and promises. Whether facing danger, injustice, weariness, or waiting, these songs call God’s people to lift their eyes upward, to trust His protection, and to walk in reverence. As we read them today, they continue to offer comfort, clarity, and courage for our own spiritual journey.

Psalm 121 – The Lord, Our Keeper

The psalmist begins with a question many weary travelers ask, “Where does my help come from?” (v. 1). As the pilgrims look up to the rigourous hills and mountains, possibly seeing both danger and Jerusalem ahead, they remind themselves that their help comes from the Lord, the Creator of heaven and earth (v. 2). This is not a vague hope but a firm confidence.

In Mesopotamian literature, a sleeping god is one who is unresponsive to the prayers of those calling out for help. Enlil, for example, is said to be awake even when he appears to be asleep, a phrase that reflects ancient Near Eastern beliefs about the gods’ mysterious or hidden activity. This cultural backdrop helps us understand the striking assurance in Psalm 121. The psalmist declares that the Lord, the God of Israel, watches over His people continually. He neither slumbers nor sleeps (v. 3-4). Unlike the distant or inattentive deities of surrounding nations, Yahweh is always alert. He is a shield from harm, both physical and spiritual, by day and by night (v. 5-6), and He promises to guard His people in all their coming and going, now and forevermore (v. 7-8).

God is still our ever-present, ever-watchful protector. We should never place our trust in anything less than God Himself. When life feels uncertain or unsafe, rest in the truth that God never takes His eyes off you. Nothing can distract or deter Him. We are secure in His care. Where are you looking for help today? Lift your eyes to the Lord and trust His faithful care.

Psalm 123 – Looking to God for Mercy

In Psalm 123, the psalmist lifts their eyes, not to the hills, but higher, to the enthroned Lord in heaven (v. 1). This psalm gives voice to a faithful but oppressed community of Israel. They had no strength in themselves. Their help wasn’t in politics or weapons. Therefore, their eyes were fixed “to the heavens,” where God reigns, as they pleaded for mercy. Many scholars believe Psalm 123 was written or at least widely used after the Babylonian exile, during the return to Jerusalem.

Like a servant watching a master’s hand, they waited on God’s direction and mercy (v. 2). Surrounded by scorn and contempt from the proud and arrogant, likely stemming from nearby hostile nations (v. 3-4), the people cried out for God’s intervention. They recognized that only He could relieve their burden.

God is a merciful Master, attentive to the cries of His people. When criticism or pressure weighs heavily, lift your eyes in humble dependence on God’s mercy. Are you enduring ridicule or rejection? Don’t retaliate. Instead, watch and wait for God’s merciful response.

Psalm 124 – The Lord Is on Our Side

This psalm celebrates God’s saving intervention and is believed to have been written by David after he defeated the Philistines (2 Samuel 5:17-25). “If the Lord had not been on our side…” (v. 1-2) is the repeated reflection. The psalmist imagines what could have happened: the flood of destruction, the raging enemy, and the trap that could have held them, but none of it prevailed because the Lord was with them (v. 3-7).

The image of birds escaping a snare in verse 7 reflects a well-known ancient practice. Fowlers often used nets, bait, or decoys to trap birds, as seen in Egyptian tomb paintings and other ancient texts. The psalm uses this vivid metaphor to declare God’s deliverance: just as a bird breaks free from a trap, so Israel has been set free because the Lord was on their side. Their help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth (v. 8).

This vivid metaphor illustrates how God’s people, like helpless birds, are rescued from danger by divine intervention. Theologically, it reminds us that our deliverance is not by our own strength, but by God’s mercy and power. If the Lord had not been on our side, we would be trapped by sin, fear, or the schemes of the enemy. But because of His faithful presence, the snare is broken, and we are free. The challenge for us is to live like people who have been rescued, walking in gratitude, dependence, and bold trust in God’s ongoing protection.

Reflect on your past. How has God protected you from things you didn’t even realize at the time? Pause and thank God for being “on your side,” even in seasons when you didn’t feel it.

Psalm 125 – The Lord is our Protector

The mountains around Jerusalem symbolize God’s protection for his people. Verse 1 summarizes the psalmist’s theme that believers are secure and unshakable. He compares them to Mount Zion, which endures (v. 1). Just as the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people, protecting them on all sides (v. 2).

Verse 3 explains the reason behind the psalmist’s confident affirmations. It seems that foreign oppression had become a heavy burden on the nation. Yet the psalmist assures that God would not allow the “scepter of the wicked” to remain over the land allotted to the righteous indefinitely. The pressure would not be so great as to lead them into sin. In other words, God would limit the trial to what His people could bear, so they were not to lose heart or abandon their trust in Him.

The final section looks ahead to the Lord’s vindication of His character. He truly does reward the faithful, those who are good and upright in heart, and He deals justly with the unfaithful, those who stray into crooked paths. They will be removed from among His people and led away with evildoers. True peace will rest on Israel when God’s justice is fully revealed (v. 4-5).

God gives unshakable security to those who trust in Him. In a world full of change and instability, find your confidence in God’s permanent presence. Are you placing your security in something shakable? Let the Lord be your solid mountain.

Psalm 128 – Blessing for Those Who Fear the Lord

Psalm 128, again, is one of the Songs of Ascents, likely sung by Israelite pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem for annual feasts. It’s a wisdom psalm that celebrates the blessings of those who fear the Lord, especially in the context of family, work, and community peace. This psalm likely reflects post-exilic hopes or pilgrimage encouragement, as the returnees were rebuilding family life, agriculture, and national worship.

These verses describe the fruit of fearing the Lord and walking in His ways (v. 1). The blessing is holistic: provision in work (v. 2), joy in family (v. 3), and peace in the community (v. 5–6). It pictures a life rooted in reverence for God and overflowing with contentment and legacy. This isn’t a prosperity formula, but a reminder that God honors those who walk in His ways, even if blessing comes over time or in unexpected ways.

The fear of the Lord brings blessings and begins with honoring God and walking in His ways daily. Is your fear of the Lord shaping your choices at work, home, and church? Live today with a reverent purpose.

Psalm 129 – Confidence in Times of Persecution

This psalm can rightly be seen as a community song of confidence, reflecting on the trials God’s people have endured and His faithful sustenance through them. It also carries elements of a communal thanksgiving, celebrating God’s ongoing presence, and even echoes of lament, as it calls on the Lord to continue protecting His people from those who seek to harm them. As a Song of Ascents, it served as a powerful reminder to pilgrims not to take their covenant privileges for granted, but to walk in humble gratitude and trust

The opening verses depict Israel speaking as one voice, recalling a long history of affliction. Though enemies have caused deep suffering (“plowed upon my back”), they have never overcome God’s people. Because the Lord is righteous and faithful to His promises, He has broken the cords of oppression and set them free from those who hate them (v. 1-4).

The psalm then turns into a plea for justice: that those who hate Zion would wither like grass and not see blessing (v. 5–8). The image of grass on housetops symbolizes the fleeting and fruitless nature of the wicked. In ancient Israel, roofs were typically made of beams overlaid with reeds, grasses, and a coating of mud to seal the surface. Seeds caught in the material might briefly sprout, but without depth of soil or strong roots, they would quickly wither and die, just like those who oppose the Lord and His people.

Psalm 129 reminds us that those who oppose God and His people ultimately wither, no matter how strong they may appear for a time. Like grass on the housetops, the wicked may seem to thrive briefly, but without the deep roots of righteousness, their influence quickly fades. God, who is righteous and faithful, will judge those who hate Zion and vindicate His people. His justice may be delayed, but it is never denied.

When you face opposition or hostility for your faith, take heart. God sees, remembers, and defends His people. Don’t be discouraged by the temporary success of the wicked. Instead, stay rooted in God’s truth, knowing that lasting fruit only comes from a life grounded in Him.

Psalm 130 – Waiting on God’s Redemption

Many scholars view this psalm within a post-exilic context, where Israel, having endured the consequences of sin, such as exile, now turns to God in hope for redemption. The cry “out of the depths” (v. 1) conveys deep desperation and guilt. While it may reflect personal sorrow, it likely also expresses the collective heart of a humbled community seeking God’s mercy.

Verses 3-4 reveal a profound theological truth: if God kept a record of every sin, no one could stand. Yet with Him there is forgiveness, and that mercy leads to reverent awe. This challenges the surrounding ancient Near Eastern view of gods who had to be appeased through fear or manipulation. Instead, Psalm 130 portrays a God who forgives because of His righteous character, not merely in response to ritual or sacrifice.

The psalmist waits for the Lord as watchmen wait for the morning (vv. 5–6), trusting in His steadfast love and full redemption (v. 7-8). The image likely draws from ancient city guards who kept watch through the long, dark hours of the night, eagerly anticipating the dawn. This metaphor powerfully expresses a posture of hope-filled longing, not for the sunrise itself, but for the light of God’s redemptive mercy.

The psalmist’s comparison of waiting for God to the watchmen waiting for morning reflects the anticipation and trust we should place in God’s redemptive work. Just as the night gives way to the light of dawn, so too will God’s mercy break through our deepest despair. This psalm also reveals that God’s forgiveness is rooted in His character, not in our rituals or merit. We do not need to manipulate or appease Him. His mercy flows freely to those who seek Him in humility.

In conclusion, the Songs of Ascents invite us into a rhythm of trust, worship, and hope. They remind us that God is not only present at the destination but walks with us every step of the way. From the cries for mercy to the shouts of deliverance, from the calls for justice to the promises of blessing, these psalms lead us to a deeper fear of the Lord and greater confidence in His faithful care. As we journey through our own hills and valleys, may our eyes remain fixed on the Lord, our Keeper, Redeemer, and unshakable foundation.