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<< Psalms 120-134: The Pilgrim Psalms >>   

THE Jews were captives in Babylon for seventy years. But we learned how the armies of Cyrus king of Persia took Babylon. This Cyrus showed great kindness to the Jews, and Daniel prospered in his reign. The king also made a decree through all his wide kingdom that the Jews should be free and might go back to their land and rebuild the temple of the Lord. He gave them again the precious vessels of gold and silver which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple, and had kept in the temple of his idol at Babylon. And he commanded that those who did not go should help their brethren.

Some persons have thought that Cyrus brought from his Eastern home a knowledge of the one true God, and that this was the reason of his kindness to the Jews. But whether this was so or not, he was the Lord's servant in sending them back to their own land.

Only a part of the captives returned, but a large company, some riding but more on foot, set out with great rejoicing. It was a journey of some months up the Euphrates and across the desert and down to Jerusalem. Zerubbabel was among them, and  became their leader;  Jeshua was chief among the priests.    Some of the Psalms, especially the beautiful Psalm of "degrees" or of going up, may well have been sung by the people on their way, or afterwards in memory of the journey.

We must read some of these Psalms.   You seem to see the pilgrims coming back to Zion. You feel, too, that these Psalms are songs of the heavenly journey, given to encourage us all on our way.

First the longing of the captives to be set free.

A   SONG   OF   DEGREES.
In my distress I cried unto the LORD,
And he heard me.
Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips,
And from a deceitful tongue.
What shall be given unto thee ? or what shall be done unto thee,
Thou false tongue?
Sharp arrows of the mighty,
With coals of juniper.
Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech,
That I dwell in the tents of Kedar!
My soul hath long dwelt,
With him that hateth peace.
I  am  for peace:
But when I speak, they are for war.
                                                  —Psalm CXX.

Then the looking with hope towards the holy mountains.

A   SONG   OF  DEGREES.
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills,
From whence cometh my help.
My help cometh from the LORD,
Which made heaven and earth.
He will not suffer thy foot to be moved:
He that keepeth thee will not slumber.
Behold, he that keepeth Israel
Shall neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD is thy keeper:
The LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.
The sun shall not smite thee by day,
Nor the moon by night.
The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil:
He shall preserve thy soul.
The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in
From this time forth, and even for evermore.
                                                 —Psalm CXXI.

Then the coming into the holy city.

A SONG OF DEGREES OF DAVID.
I was glad when they said unto me,
Let us go into the house of the LORD.
Our feet shall stand
Within thy gates, 0 Jerusalem.
Jerusalem is builded
As a city that is compact together:
Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD,
Unto the testimony of Israel,
To give thanks unto the name of the LORD.
For there are set thrones of judgment,
The thrones of the house of David.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
They shall prosper that love thee.
Wild tribes far from Canaan, Mesech to the north and Kedar to the south.
Peace within thy walls.
And  prosperity  within thy palaces.
For my  brethren  and my  companions' sakes,
I  will now say, Peace be within thee.
Because of the house of the LORD our God
1 will seek thy good.
                                        —Psalm CXXII.

Other songs of going up.

A  SONG  OF DEGREES.
When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion,
We were like them that dream.
Then was our mouth filled with laughter,
And our tongue with singing:
Then said they among the heathen,
The LOHD hath done great things for them.
The LORD hath done great things for us;
Whereof we are glad.
Turn again our captivity, O LORD,
As the streams in the south.
They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed.
Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
                                          —Psalm CXXVI.

A  SONG OF DEGREES  FOR  SOLOMON.
Except the LORD build the house,
They labour in vain that build it:
Except the LORD keep the city,
The watchman waketh but in vain.
It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late,
To eat the bread of sorrows:
For so he giveth his beloved sleep.
                                       —Psalm CXXVII. 1, 2.

A  SONG  OF  DEGREES  OF DAVID.
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brethren to dwell together in unity!
It is like the precious ointment upon the head,
That ran down upon the beard,
Even Aaron's beard:
That went down to the skirts of his garments;
As the dew of Hermon,
And as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion:
For there the LORD commanded the blessing,
Even life for evermore.
                                         —Psalm CXXXIII.

A   SONG OF DEGREES.
Behold, bless ye the Lord, all ye servants of the LORD.
Which by night stand in the house of the LORD.
Lift up your hands in the sanctuary,
And bless the LORD.
The LORD that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion.
                                            —Psalm CXXXIV.

Author: William L. Worcester 1904