Ascents
"But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, hope in the LORD from this time forth and forevermore." (Psalm 131:2-3)
"The greater our progress in theology, the simpler and more child-like will be our faith." (J. Gresham Machen)
August 2, 2025
Dear friends,
The past few mornings my wife and I have been reading through the Songs of Ascents, which are Psalms 120 through 134. Traditionally, these psalms were recited by Jews as they came to Jerusalem to worship God in the temple on Mount Zion.
Why are these psalms in the Bible? I believe that it is because we need to know that we are citizens of the kingdom of God, sojourning in this world as resident aliens, and we're on our way to the Father's house in the new heaven and new earth (Matt 6:33; Heb 11:16; 1 Pet 2:9-12; 2 Pet 3:13). We are pilgrims on our way to the glorious City of God.
Each psalm has a particular theme, appropriate for all pilgrims, whether ancient Israelites or modern Christians. The fifteen themes are as follows: departure (120), protection (121), peace (122), mercy (123), deliverance (124), security (125), joy (126), fruitfulness (127), blessing (128), persecution (129), hope (130), trust (131), dwelling (132), unity (133), and worship (134). (See link below for more on these themes.)
Today we read Psalm 131, the song of child-like trust. What a beautiful image of humble faith in God! A weaned child is dependent, accepting her own smallness and limitations, contented in the mother's presence, and feeling secure about what the future holds. What simplicity -- all is well. This is not just the beginning of spiritual life, it is the journey and destination, too.
Anselm of Canterbury (AD 1033--1109) wrote the following words in the first chapter of his theological work, Proslogion... T
"I acknowledge, Lord, and I give thanks that you have created in me this your image, so that I can remember you, think about you and love you. But it is so worn away by sins, so smudged over by the smoke of sins, that it cannot do what it was created to do unless you renew and reform it. I do not even try, Lord, to rise up to your heights, because my intellect does not measure up to that task; but I do want to understand in some small measure your truth, which my heart believes in and loved. Nor do I seek to understand so that I can believe, but rather I believe so that I can understand. For I believe this too, that unless I believe I shall not understand." (Translated by David Burr)
May we all likewise rest contented in God's arms!
RECOMMENDED READING.
-- The Pilgrim's Progress, by John Bunyan. For me, the Cheryl Ford translation preserved a good balance between the original text and modern language.
-- A Long Obedience in the Same Direction, by Eugene Peterson (InterVarsity Press, 1980, 2000). I read this book while on a mission trip and found that Peterson's application of the Songs of Ascents was so helpful as I traveled!
-- Here's my own summary of the fifteen themes of the Songs of Ascents.
That’s it for this week!
Sandy
Afterwords is an occasional newsletter on topics of interest to me (Sandy Young) since my retirement from full-time pastoral ministry. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.