When Phil Wickham first announced that his new album would be called ‘The Ascension’, I assumed he was talking about the ascension of Christ to heaven after His resurrection. However, as he talked more about the album, it became obvious that what he was actually referring to was the journeys pilgrims made to Jerusalem each year, captured for us in the ‘Songs of Ascent’ (Ps 120 to Ps 134). These fifteen psalms were sung by Hebrew pilgrims as they went up to Jerusalem three times a year for the great worship festivals. Jerusalem was the highest city geographically, and so they were called the ‘songs of ascent’ because the people literally had to go up to get there! Eugene Peterson comments ‘The ascent was not only literal, it was also a metaphor: the trip to Jerusalem acted out a life lived upward toward God, an existence that advanced from one level to another in developing maturity. What Paul described as the “upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 3:14)’ (Eugene Peterson, ‘The Journey’ P 6)
These ideas are captured in the title song on the album, as we reflect on the ‘start of something amazing’ when heaven touches earth, when we realise that there is so much more of God to be seen and experienced.
‘This is the start of something amazing
A moment when heaven touches earth
Here in our hearts, Lord, we are waiting
For something that’s far beyond what we have seen or heard
Let us start the ascension
Let’s begin the climb
Up this holy mountain
Where Your glory shines
Further up, further in
Just to be with You again
Let us start the ascension.
We’re fixing our eyes on glory and fire
Your name is branded on our hearts
You are the source of all we desire
Nothing can hold us back, we’re running to where You are
Let us start the ascension
Let’s begin the climb
Up this holy mountain
Where Your glory shines
Further up, further in
Just to be with You again
Let us start the ascension,’ (‘The Ascension’, Phil Wickham)
‘The Ascension’, Phil Wickham