Richard Kuns
Songs for the Pilgrims Way
Today’s Daily office designates a portion of the 15 Psalms known as the “Songs of Ascent”. (Psalms 120 - 134; the reading of the entire corpus will be completed with Thursday’s Daily Office).
There are two schools of thought about these psalms and why they are called “Songs of Ascent”. The first is that the psalms are “Pilgrim Songs”. The Torah required the men of ancient Israel to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem three times a year to celebrate the festivals of Passover, the Feast of Weeks (50 days after Passover) and Sukkot (Festival of Booths). The psalms were sung as testimonies of faith and confidence as they walked the dusty and treacherous roads of ancient Israel, climbing their way to Mt. Zion and the second Temple.
The second thought is that the 15 Psalms were sung by the Levites as they ascended the steps to enter the courtyard of the Temple. If so, the pilgrims probably would hear the strains of the Levites singing as they made their final ascent into Jerusalem. The long journey was nearing an end and their hearts would swell with “glad song” of gratitude to The One who had brought them out of exile to renew their vows in the Temple, once desecrated and razed, but now a glistening assurance of God’s lovingkindness.
These psalms offer an insight into the faith of the pilgrims and the treacherous obstacles they faced along the way. The way was hilly, unsafe, and tiring. They traveled in groups for safety, carrying with them whatever food they needed to sustain them for the long journey and the gratitude offerings they planned to give to God when they arrived in Jerusalem and the Temple. The gospel of John references this as the background for the feeding of the five thousand. (John6:3-13). Jesus saw the pilgrims headed to Jerusalem for Passover and knew how hungry and tired they were. He had compassion and ask his disciples to prepare to feed the traveling throng.
I share with you this morning, as you start your day’s journey, a few verses of these “Songs of Ascent”. These are songs of ancient pilgrims, but they speak across every age a word of hope, strength, and faith. As you read the psalm portions, imagine that you are traveling toward Jerusalem with the pilgrims, feeling the fatigue, the anxiety, and hopes of the journey.
As the pilgrims’ legs grew weary, you can hear them sing:
I lift my eyes to the mountains: from where will my help come?
My help is from the Lord, maker of heaven and earth…
Look, He does not slumber nor does He sleep, Israel’s guard…
The Lord guards your going and your coming,
now and forever.
(Psalm 121:1-2, 4, 8, Robert Alter)
The pilgrims are vulnerable to bandits who seek to seize their food and steal their offerings.
Blessed is the Lord, who did not make us prey for their teeth.
Our life is like a bird escaped from the snare of the fowlers.
The snare was broken and we escaped.
Our help is in the name of the Lord, maker of heaven and earth.
(Psalm 124:6-8, Robert Alter)
Now Mt. Zion is coming into view, the expectation and joy increases, listen as they sing.
I rejoiced in those who said to me: “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”
(Psalm 122:1, Robert Alter)
The faint strains of the Levite singers are now heard in the distance and the pilgrims are overcome with emotion. They are remembering the sad days when they sat by the rivers of Babylon and their captors asked them to sing the “Songs of Zion.” (Read Psalm 137) Now Mt. Zion is in view; the gates of Jerusalem are open to welcome them and their tired legs find new strength.
When the Lord restores Zion’s fortunes, we should be like dreamers.
Then will our mouth fill with laughter and our tongue with glad song…
They who sow in tears in glad song will reap.
He walks along and weeps, the bearer of the seed bag.
He will surely come in with glad song bearing his sheaves.
(Psalm 126:1-2,5-6; Robert Alter)
Finally, the Pilgrims stand in awesome wonder on Mt. Zion and enter the courtyards of the Temple. The pilgrims offer to God their hearts, calm and resting in God’s grace!
Lord, my heart has not been haughty, nor have my eyes looked too high,
nor have I striven for great things, nor for things to wondrous for me.
But I have calmed and contented myself like a weaned babe on its mother -
like a weaned babe I am with myself.
Wait, O Israel, for the Lord, now and forever.
(Psalm 131; Robert Alter)
May the One who guarded the way of ancient pilgrims fill our mind with joyful understanding; our heart with a yearning to walk in His way; and enliven our being with the eternal breath of life. Christ have mercy for I am a wandering and wayward servant rejoicing that You give me wine to quench my thirst; the Bread of Heaven to nourish and sustain me; and the comfort of Your people accompanying me on my pilgrimage that I may not falter with a weary spirit.
Shalom - Richard Kuns