The Christian Pilgrims Song

Psalms 120:1-7

I have been praying and meditating on Psalms one hundred and twenty for the last few days and I believe that this Psalm is more relevant to us today than we think. I was the first of fifteen “ascension Psalms” which were songs that were sung by Jewish pilgrims as they made their way to Jerusalem for a feast. They would come from all over the known world back to Jerusalem to worship the Lord. In this particular Psalm there are two nations that are mentioned that give us the indication of what type of culture they lived in. That’s where we can identify with this ancient people and Psalm in our modern times. Solomon had it right! “There is nothing new under the sun.” Not much has really changed!

Notice he said they came from the land of Meshech and Kedar. Both of these nations were enemies to the Hebrews. They were not just physical enemies, but also their names represent spiritual enemies or afflictions that are also enemies to us as Christians. Meshech means “to draw by force.” It speaks of violence, war, and bloodshed. Ultimately it means death. We live in a death culture, a culture that is fascinated with and fantasizes about death. Kedar means “dark one” and it speaks of the darkness that pervades on our culture because it has rejected the light of Jesus Christ and the Gospel.

Notice also the Psalmists says that he dwells “among lying lips and a deceitful tongue.” Truth had fallen to the streets in those days and good was called evil and evil was called good. As it was then, so it is now!

So, what does this Psalm teach us? It teaches us that we live in a fallen world, but yet this world is not our home. We are just pilgrims and strangers passing through it on the way to our heavenly abode with Christ. It teaches us to stay focused on the mark of the high calling of Christ, looking unto to him who is the author and finisher of our faith. Just as the Psalmist was for peace, we need to focus on being peacemakers as Christ said in the Sermon on the Mount, for in peace making we find blessedness.

The journey may be long and arduous, but the good shepherd of our souls is leading us through this valley of darkness, death, and deceit and will bring us into everlasting life when we arrive at that heavenly Jerusalem!

Pastor Robby