The first group of three psalms in the Psalms of Ascent look at the problems faced on the journey, the help and protection God gives and the sense of joy on arrival in Jerusalem.
Ps 120 is an admission of need, almost a psalm of complaint. It starts in the place of distress (Ps 120:1), with the psalmist all too aware of the ‘lying lips and deceitful tongues’ all around him (Ps 120:2) and distressed by living among those who hate peace (Ps 120:5-7). We live in a world where it’s a constant battle to do good and we often feel like fish swimming against the tide. Being slandered and misrepresented and living in a society which condones (and often promotes) exploitation (Meshek and Kedar were cities which sold humans for profit, Ezek 27:13,21) is wearing and wearying, but it is only as we face these situations that our hearts are stirred towards God.
Ps 121 reassures that God is our help; it is a psalm of comfort and consolation. Life – whether seen as a literal or metaphorical pilgrimage – is full of pitfalls and traps (stumbling, tripping, heatstroke, perils at night), but God is beside us at all times; our help comes from Him. (Ps 121:2) In life, we are not guaranteed immunity from troubles (John 16:33), but we do have a God of protection and providence to help us.
Ps 122 is a psalm which rejoices in Jerusalem, the pilgrim’s destination, and which celebrates community. Collective joy and collective worship are crucial parts of the Christian journey and we need, like Moses, to encourage others to join with us in this experience (see Num 10:29). The pilgrimage always starts with a first step; without that collective ‘Let us go’ (Ps 122:1), we are often too prone to stay at home and worship in private. Gladness in collective worship and the importance of prayer are both highlighted in this psalm, which reminds us of the peace which God can bring (Ps 122:6-8).
