Starting with a U-turn Songs of Ascent: Practices of the Lifelong Journey Series [1] Psalm 120

INTRODUCTION TO “SONGS OF ASCENT” SERIES Songs of Ascent are a title given to the 15 psalms [Psalms ]. They are also know as:  “Songs of Degrees”  “Songs of Steps”  “Pilgrim Songs” Songs of Ascent were sung by Hebrew pilgrims on the road ascending to Jerusalem.  Three times a year, Hebrews took a pilgrimage to Jerusalem to worship in the temple—the Feast of Passover (spring), the Feast of Pentecost (summer), and the Feast of Tabernacles (autumn).  These pilgrim songs were meant to teach/remind the Hebrews about the foundational ways in living a lifelong pilgrimage as the people of God.

INTRODUCTION TO “SONGS OF ASCENT” SERIES Songs of Ascent are consisted of 5 triads with the same pattern—the first in each triad deals with trouble, the second with trust, and the third with triumph [John Phillips]. Today, we are on the first triad:  Psalm 120Starting with a U-turn [trouble] –TODAY  Psalm 121Looking to God for Help [trust]  Psalm 122Gathering to Worship God [triumph]

“Songs of Ascent: Practices of the Lifelong Journey” Series [1] Psalm 120 Starting with a U-Turn [2] Psalm 121 Looking to God for Help [3] Psalm 122Gathering to Worship God [4] Psalm 123 Clinging to God’s Sovereignty and Mercy [5] Psalm 124 Becoming Confident in God’s Help [6] Psalm 125 Finding Unshakable Security in God [7] Psalm 126 Sowing in Tears for Shouts of Joy [8] Psalm 127Becoming a Wise Builder [9] Psalm 128 Living the Blessed Life [10] Psalm 129Persevering in the Lifelong Journey [11] Psalm 130Hoping in God [12] Psalm 131 Keeping a Quiet Humble Heart [13] Psalm 132 Maturing through Obedience [14] Psalm 133Dwelling Together in Unity [15] Psalm 134 Blessing God as the Blessed Ones

INTRODUCTION TO “SONGS OF ASCENT” SERIES Our threefold aim in this new series, “Songs of Ascent: Practices of the Lifelong Journey” are: 1)To embrace our Christian life as a lifelong pilgrimage toward God. 2)To practice these 15 essentials as the rhythms of life in following Christ. 3)To pray the pilgrim psalms as our “travel-guide” during our daily lives of the lifelong journey to God. Recommendations for the series study: Read along, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction by Eugene Peterson (InterVarsity Press)—an insightful book on “Songs of Ascent”—I will share a quote from this book each week. Pray the psalms of “Songs of Ascent”—each psalm per week.

Psalm 120 [ESV] 1 In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me. 2 Deliver me, O LORD, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue. 3 What shall be given to you, and what more shall be done to you, you deceitful tongue? 4 A warrior’s sharp arrows, with glowing coals of the broom tree!

Psalm 120 [ESV] 5 Woe to me, that I sojourn in Meshech, that I dwell among the tents of Kedar! 6 Too long have I had my dwelling among those who hate peace. 7 I am for peace, but when I speak, they are for war!

THREE REQUIREMENTS OF STARTING OUR JOURNEY TOWARD GOD 1)HOLY DISCONTENT: We must be fed up with lies of the worldly ways. In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me. Psalm 120:1  Worldly ways are full of lies.  The lies lure us with immediate satisfaction, easy paybacks, and quick fixes.  Therefore, before we truly desire God’s ways, we must first realize our deep disillusionment in the worldly ways as a holy discontent to relinquish our ways.

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16For all that is in the world— the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions— is not from the Father but is from the world. 17And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. 1 John 2:15-16

THREE REQUIREMENTS OF STARTING OUR JOURNEY TOWARD GOD 2)REALITY-CHECK: We must have a reality-check on God’s deliverance and judgment. 2Deliver me, O LORD, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue. 3What shall be given to you, and what more shall be done to you, you deceitful tongue? 4 A warrior’s sharp arrows, with glowing coals of the broom tree! Psalm 120:2-4

THREE REQUIREMENTS OF STARTING OUR JOURNEY TOWARD GOD 2)REALITY-CHECK: We must have a reality-check on God’s deliverance and judgment.  God delivers and vindicates those who turn to him.  God brings judgment and punishment on liars—those who distort/go against God’s truths—in due time. 7Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Galatians 6:7-8

THREE REQUIREMENTS OF STARTING OUR JOURNEY TOWARD GOD 2)REALITY-CHECK: We must have a reality-check on God’s deliverance and judgment.  God delivers and vindicates those who turn to him.  God brings judgment and punishment on liars in due time.  Therefore, we must turn to God for his truths, rescue, and justice. I am sure that the bit of the road that most requires to be illuminated is the point where it forks. John Baillie

Rescue Me from the Lies… Christian consciousness begins in the painful realization that what we had assumed was the truth is in fact a lie. Prayer is immediate… Rescue me from the lies of advertisers who claim to know what I need and what I desire, from the lies of entertainers who promise a cheap way to joy, from the lies of politicians who pretend to instruct me in power and morality, from the lies of psychologists who offer to shape my behavior and my morals so that I will live long, happily and successfully, from the lies of religionists who “heal the wounds of this people lightly,” from the lies of moralists who pretend to promote me to the office of captain of my own fate, from the lies of pastors who “get rid of God’s command so you won’t be inconvenienced in following the religious fashions!” (Mark 7:8). Rescue me from the person who tells me of life and omits Christ, who is wise in the ways of the world and ignores the movement of the Spirit. - Eugene Peterson

THREE REQUIREMENTS OF STARTING OUR JOURNEY TOWARD GOD 3)U-TURN : We must repent from our ways to God’s ways. 5Woe to me, that I sojourn in Meshech, that I dwell among the tents of Kedar! 6Too long have I had my dwelling among those who hate peace. 7 I am for peace, but when I speak, they are for war! Psalm 120:5-7  Repentance begins with a decision.  The decision is to make a U-turn from your worldly ways to God’s ways.  The U-turn is to say no to the world and to say yes to God.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Matthew 16:24

Praying the Songs of Ascent #1 -- Psalm 120 [MSG] 1-2 I'm in trouble. I cry to God, desperate for an answer: “Deliver me from the liars, God! They smile so sweetly but lie through their teeth.” 3-4 Do you know what's next, can you see what's coming, all you barefaced liars? Pointed arrows and burning coals will be your reward. 5-7 I'm doomed to live in Meshech, cursed with a home in Kedar, My whole life lived camping among quarreling neighbors. I'm all for peace, but the minute I tell them so, they go to war!

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS FOR OUR EVERYDAY LIFE 1.Cry out to God to RESCUE YOU FROM THE LIES OF THE WORLDLY WAYS.  Realize that this world is not your home—you are a sojourner, a pilgrim.  Discern your heart and identify the lies that affect you most lately.  Pray for vigilance and deliverance from the lies of the worldly ways. 2.Make A DECISION FOR A FULL U-TURN to follow Christ!  Decide that you have been wrong in insisting on going your way.  Decide that God is telling you the truth.  Decide to follow Jesus TODAY—no turning back!

I Have Decided To Follow Jesus Attr. to Sadhu Sundar Singh I have decided to follow Jesus; No turning back, no turning back. Though none go with me, still I will follow; Though no one join me, still I will follow; No turning back, no turning back. The world behind me, the cross before me; No turning back, no turning back.