Becoming a Pilgram

Good morning and welcome! We are so grateful to each of you for joining us, whether you are online or in the room, we are grateful that you have joined us as we come together in an attitude of worship before the Lord. And today we’re starting a new series that will carry us through most of the summer.

its a series on the book of Psalms. You might be asking the question: “Why are we doing a summer long series on the book of Psalms?”

I want to suggest three reasons why we want to enter into the summer in this way.

First, We want to claim the practice of God’s people... in reading, praying, and singing the Psalms - throughout history the book of Psalms has been the prayer language of God’s people. Even before the time of Jesus, it was regular practice to use Psalms in the worship gathering, as a prayer guide, as a song to the Lord.

For so many of us, I fear that we’ve lost or maybe never even known the common prayer language of God’s people. So this summer, lets gather together around the Psalms and let’s be intentional about embracing them, learning this language of prayer.

I want to invite each of us to become a Pilgrim Christian. It is so easy for us to fall into habits of attending church. Where my walk with the Lord is simply marked by whatever the church is doing or the trap of being so casually Christian that we forget to actually seek God. Coming to church becomes a burden in that it just feels like another thing i need to go to.

Becoming a pilgrim also means that we need to repent from being a tourist, Christian. The kind of Christian who pursues God leisurely or out of convenience. You find yourself at church when you have time, or at special holidays like Easter or Christmas. Or maybe it’s when we have a need when everything is going wrong in our life - then we turn to God.

Let’s repent from drifting into tourism, from going through the motions. Lets pack our gear for our journey and be consistent in our movement towards God.

To expand our worship of God. So often, when we think of worship, we only think of singing songs to God. Worship is so much more.

It is accepting that there is someone who is greater than yourself. It is an act of humility that brings you into alignment with God’s plan for you.

It is the removal of toxicity in your heart. Worship is the act of surrendering earthly pursuits.

What is interesting about worship, is that we receive far more from it than God does.

The name of our series is “ASCEND: The way of worship.”

In our pilgrimage to worship, we are studying a specific set of Psalms, from chapter 120-134 and these Psalms are referred to as the Psalms of Ascent. Ascent simply means to go up. Jerusalem is 2,300 feet above sea level and it didn’t matter which direction you came from; you would have to climb up the mountains around Jerusalem in order to make it there. Jewish Pilgrims would come three times a year for the different festivals to worship God.

Three major festivals:

Spring Time they would go up for the Feast of Passover to remember the saving ways of God.

Just as they made this a practice we to have intentional ways to recall the saving grace of Jesus as He died on the cross for our sin. Three days later rising again, defeating death, and inviting everyone into eternity who would enter into a personal relationship with Him.

In the summer they would go for the Feast of Pentecost - renew commitment to be His covenant people - understanding that they were called out to be blessed, to receive that blessing as well as to bless others.

They would recommit themselves to the Lord understanding that they are His covenant people. In this covenant relationship, they would be greatly blessed by God himself. In reciving this blessing they were to use it to bless those around them. It’s the Abrahamic Covenant, that we are blessed to be a blessing.

In the Fall they would go for the Feast of tabernacles - go up to give thanks to God for His provision for their every need.

What we know about these Psalms of Ascent is that the Israelites would use them in song, in reading, and in prayer on their way to these feasts as well as while they were in Jerusalem celebrating. This was a practice of all Israel and also of Jesus Himself.

We read in Luke 2:41–42

“41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom.”

Meaning that Jesus would have read, sang, and prayed through these Psalms as well.

Lets pray before we jump into the first Psalm of this series.

Before we dive in, I just want to make a note that I had some help with this sermon from a pastor who I used to work alongside.

Psalm 120:1–7 (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!

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!

I don’t know if you noticed, but this Psalm is a little raw.... It’s one that reflects realities of great conflict in our relationships. It’s interesting because its the first Psalm in a long series. You would think early in the journey, getting in the car, ready for the trip you would play something upbeat, with rhythm, something that reveals your excitement to be on your way to go meet with God and all His people.

So, why is it that this is first Psalm?

Some of you may already know..... Because as fallen people, we are most inclined to turn to God in times of struggle and hardship. Its when we are suddenly awakened to our needs that we cry out to God. Our habit as people is to run to God when everything is on fire because we know the saving ways of God. Because we know that He is able to save.

So it is certainly not a bad thing to run to God in hard times, but we might also ask the question, “How often are you turning to God during the good times?”

As we enter into this pilgrimage, lets be committed from the very beginning that we will aim to seek God every day. Whether it is a good day or a hard day, lets make time to turn to God.

Secondly, lets consider the portrait that the author is painting. It would seem that he is speaking of being far from Jerusalem. In fact, Meshek and Kedar are quite distant from Israel. Not only are they distant, but these are people who have been considered enemies of Isreal at times. Meaning, that as we understand this Psalm, it’s someone who is living between a rock and a hard place and they are beginning their journey to be with their people and their God.

So don’t be mistaken, this is a Psalm of gratitude. Though it deals with hard realities, there is a sense of leaving these realities behind as he moves toward the Lord. You see, he is becoming a pilgrim, stepping away from hard living conditions to look up and ascend to Jerusalem to worship the Lord. Now its not that the situation or context has changed. These hard relationships remain. But he has an opportunity to have a break from the conflict as he turns toward the Lord in his pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

And in verse 1 we see that He calls out to God and God answers Him.

Take a look at verse 1:

Psalm 120:1 “1 In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me.”

In our distress God is our comfort. Sometimes we grow anxious, we get nervous about the challenges we face and we begin to sense our weakness. Our inability to control what happens next. In our anxiousness, in our concern, we cry out to God.

One of the great blessings for the believer is that God hears our cry. There are times where we may feel like He has not but what we find to be true of God is this, not only does He hear your prayers but He always answers.

God always responds to prayer in one of three ways. He says “yes,” “no,” and “wait.”

God hears our prayer but we can hinder our own prayers.

1 Peter 3:7 “7 Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.”

Proverbs 10:24 “24 What the wicked dreads will come upon him, but the desire of the righteous will be granted.”

Pay attention to the posture of your heart when you pray. Are there patterns that reveal a selfish focus? Are you willing to live in broken relationship with those around you? in your family? Are you aware that your reluctance to live in harmony, to cultivate unified trusting relationships will hinder your prayer?

Our journey begins with prayer, and we are reminded that He is present with us, He hears us, and He responds to us. But sometimes we have to be patient. Don’t let you impatience deter you from resting in God’s presence.

Where you have anxiety, be specific and bring it to the Lord. Learn to turn towards Him in every struggle, every battle, every moment. Because it is there that you can learn to trust Him and it is there that you can find rest from the burden.

Psalm 120:2 “2 Deliver me, O Lord, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue.”

Our author is specific in his prayer. He doesn’t just say “God help me.” He says Lord, deliver me from lying lips, deliver me from deceitful tongues.

Have you ever had someone go around spreading lies about you?

It can be so hard and so hurtful. You can feel personally violated and attacked. What’s hard is, you simply don’t know who they will tell and what they will say. You don’t know if the other person will believe them and what they might then repeat.

We can get caught in a whirlwind of possible outcomes that cause us to worry all the more.

Maybe you have not been lied about but you have had people who are lying to you?

This can be just as hard, just as damaging, and you can hold on to that feeling, that pain that lingers from the person you once trusted.

Call on the Lord in your pain. Where you are struggling, come to the Lord again and again. Invite others into that prayer. Ask them, to pray on your behalf as you seek healing in the Lord’s presence.

3. Maybe you are one who is not in a hurting place but in a place of causing hurt. Have you ever been the one lying or spreading lies. Call on the Lord and repent. Go to those who you have falsely spoken of and confess your sin to them. Do what you can to make it right.

4. Need to pay attention to what we are hearing.

Psalm 120:3–4“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!”

Sometimes we find ourselves in a place where we inflame the lies that are being spread in how we respond. Sometimes we make assumptions about what was said. We make assumptions about who heard it. We make assumptions how convincing the lie was and the significance of its impact. When we respond with an assumption, we have a tendency of inflaming the situation.

We tend to take things into our own hands by explaining ourselves to people who may have heard something. Or making sure that people know that we are being falsely accused.

Romans 12:19 “19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.””

Be careful how you respond to people who lie about you. Because you are not the warrior who shoots sharp arrows as punishment. We are unskilled in justice. But we are skilled in trying to play god. Don’t give in to such temptations. Instead, turn to the Lord, submit to Him in you pain and trust that He will guard you and deal with them.

God is the warrior in this passage, He has great precision in His aim, He gives appropriate punishment.

The glowing coals of the broom tree is referring to a juniper tree that has particularly hard wood and the coals would burn for a long time. Meaning, that the punishment of the Lord, the arrows with burning coals He will deliver to the deceitful tongue. It will be inflicting and it will be lasting.

Trust that God is sovereign over all. There is no injustice He doesn't not see. And we know that He is perfect in justice, meaning that He will deal with such people in His timing.

Humble yourself, trust the Lord, lean into His mercy and grace. Don’t allow people to define you, when it comes to your identity - listen to God’s voice.

Psalm 120:5–6 “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.”

There is so much confusion in our world today. There are so many ways that we see pain and affliction all around us. We hear about the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. We hear about the protests in our own country related to how we respond to those situations.

In fact, because of the news, we pretty much hear all of the bad things that happen all over this country and all over the world.

Because of the news, we pretty much know all of the hardships that happen all around the world. We get focused on what has gone wrong. We only listen to where there is trouble. But we rarely are looking for the ways God is at work. We don’t listen to sources that would speak to how God is at work in the midst of all this strife.

I think it would be easy to look at all of the negatives, all of the hardships, all of the pain and the hate, and to wonder where is God in this? Why isn’t He doing something?

I think there are a couple things we need to quickly consider:

God never sits on the sidelines.

Though there is much going on in this world that is hard to understand, we need to remember that the Lord is actively present. He doesn’t leave, He doesn’t step away, He doesn’t take a nap. Meaning, that though we can’t see it, God is at work in each of those situations.

It’s why this Psalmist has confidence, because not only is God able to do something but He is doing something. We might not see it or understand it but God is going to use these hard situations to draw people to Himself.

I think the question is, how do we as believers lean into hard situations to speak the truth of God in love?

Because we know He is at work, how can we aim to join Him in what He is already doing?

There are things we can do, there are ways for us to get involved. But if we don’t come with the love of God it doesn’t matter.

Matthew 22:37–39 “37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

You see, we are called to pursue God in such a way that we live in surrender to Him. We live in surrender to Him because He wants to lavish His love on us.

He wants us to know the depths and heights of His love so intimately that we can simply rest and find peace for our souls.

The love of God draws us to Himself, bringing healing and peace to our souls. If the love of God has the power to overcome our wickedness and bring us into His Holy presence, how might the love of God diffuse the hostility we see all around us?

By spending time with God, by seeking Him in Song, Prayer, and reading His word - He reveals His love to us. And as He draws us deeper, He equips us to act in accordance with His love so that we can freely shar it.

Psalm 120:7 “7 I am for peace, but when I speak, they are for war!”

“I am for peace.”

Throughout the Bible, we are taught to cultivate peace. Jesus said it in the beatitudes:

Matthew 5:9 ““Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”

How are you doing in building peaceful community?

Do you find that you inflame situations? Or do you bring a calming presence?

Do you find yourself getting frustrated or angry with regularity? Do you allow that frustration and anger to come out in attitude, tone, or choice of words?

The only way to be a peacemaker in a hard situation is to trust God. Our emotions and need to defend ourselves will always drive us to stir up rather to calm down.

Surrender yourself to the Lord, cry out to Him and trust that He will answer you. Learn to rest in His presence every day by spending time in prayer as you read His word. Make Him the central focal point of your life and your will find the peace of God in your life.

The word for peace here is Shalom. Shalom speaks to peace, to health, unity, restored relationships. It speaks to safety and prosperity. While it speaks to all of these things, this word Shalom has a solid foundation. Because whenever it speaks of these it is from a resting place of completion and fulfillment.

In other words, when it speaks of peace and unity - it is in the fullest of senses.

Shalom is a wholesomeness before God where you are resting in His mercy and Grace as His child.

You cannot be a peace maker unless you are living in Shalom with the Lord. Be sure to spend time with Him. To be made whole and complete by Him. To know and experience His love and His fulfillment so that you you can pour all of this out on your family and all those who the Lord gives you interaction. Be constant in prayer, be a peace maker.

Pray - Lord, we pray that for those who are hurting and struggling today. That you would do, what only you can do. Lift them up, bring encouragement to their souls, help them to live in Shalom.

Closing:

Memorize a Psalm.

Pray through the Psalms.

Join us tonight.