Bent Oak Church

As we near the end of our psalms of ascent, the pilgrim's attention is turned to the community ahead—a nation worshiping together in Israel. It can all seem like our accomplishment: our journey, our success, our worship. But Psalm 133 teaches us that community is never an achievement. Psalm 133 teaches us to receive.

Psalm 131 remembers the faithfulness of David through difficulty—suffering inflicted by others and his own personal failures. Still, David persevered on. The Psalm also recounts the faithfulness of God. It teaches us the relationship between remembering and obeying, that faithfulness is always marked by a memory of God's faithfulness.

Psalm 131 is a maintenance psalm, a kind of soul pruning for our hearts and eyes. The psalm teaches us to have hope in God, a kind of hope that leads us to a deeper rest and contentment in him.It is a lesson many of us need to be reminded of. As the world seems to unravel, we focus our hearts and eyes on what matters most. Hope in the Lord, now and forever more.

Psalm 129 is about the reality of trials and suffering. God's people can always speak of their trials. It is a part of this journey. Even today, around the world, brothers and sisters of faith continue to face persecution and trials. But Psalm 129 interjects an equal reality. God is righteous. 

Psalm 128 describes what it is like to fear the Lord, but it's images are surprising. Fearing the Lord requires a recognizing of dependence, but with that recognition comes the opportunity to receive: food, family, and health. 

Brad Lombardi delivers a Father's Day sermon on Psalm 127.

Psalm 126 is about perspective. The Psalmist teaches us to look back on the amazing things God has done for his people, to realize God is good in the present, and to anticipate all that God has in store. The effect is gladness and joy.

God promises he will do good for his people. He promises not to let wickedness rule over his people as to tempt them to wickedness. The faithfulness of God's goodness motivates us to continue doing good. 

Had God not been for us we would have been swallowed alive.  How did Israel survive? How after invasions and enslavement and assimilation did God persevere a remnant? Because God was with them—form them. Psalm 124 looks at the miraculous gift of God's Faithfull perseverance.

Not everyone thought the psalmist's pilgrimage to Jerusalem was a good idea. The psalmist admits feeling the disdain of others. So he turns to God in prayer. Show us mercy. As we fix our eyes on you, turn your attention to us.