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Intro:
anticipated a greater fulfillment of the symbolism of the feasts.
It is not surprising that each of the major feasts is in some way alluded to in the New Testament
Today we will continue our series entitled, [Praise in Progress].
The subject of today’s message is, [Praise Brings Help].
I am going to ask a question, and I would group participation.
Answer honestly.
Who LOVES to travel?
Who can say, the idea of packing, driving, and being away from home more than a night or two sounds terrible?
For five years I traveled full-time as an evangelist.
I loved getting to the places where I needed to be, but the travel was what I disliked.
I wanted to wake up and be there and when it was time to leave, I wanted to be translated home.
Looking back, my travel experiences were not too bad.
The most I drove in a day was six to eight hours.
If it was farther then that, I would fly in relative comfort.
Even if I attempted to describe my worst travel day, it would not compare to what we are going to study this morning.
In ancient times, the faithful Jewish man was required to travel to Jerusalem three times a year.
That is not too bad if they lived in Jerusalem, but imagine the ones who had to travel for days or weeks to get there.
It makes me glad I live on the hill behind the church!
These feasts were important to them.
They were a time of:
communication- people would gather together and celebrate all God did in their history.
commemoration- it was a way to keep God’s story alive in the hearts of His people.
theological- during their celebration, they observed themes of sin, judgment, and forgiveness.
To make the journey easier, they had a collection of fifteen Psalms, known as the Psalms of Ascent or the Psalms of Degrees.
These Psalms were similar to our Christmas Carols or Patriotic Songs.
They were sang at specific times of the year and when they started, everyone knew, it is time for our three festivals where our presence is required in Jerusalem.
These three feasts were, Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles.
At Passover, they remembered when God sent the angel of death to Egypt, but He passed over the Israelites who had the blood of the lamb applied to their door.
At Pentecost, which was seven weeks after Passover, they would bring an offering based on last years harvest.
The feast of Pentecost is also known as the festival of harvest.
It was a time to give thanks for God’s supernatural blessing, knowing that ALL they had was a result of God’s blessing.
At Tabernacles, which was in the fall.
It was a time where they would live in huts made of palm trees and leafy branches to remember the journey from Egypt to the Promised Land.
They did this to remind future generations that God is the provider.
En route to these feasts, the travelers would sing the Psalms of Ascent.
This particular Psalm began, I look to the mountains, does my help come from there?
My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth.
Knowing the Jewish people were people who loved their history, as they journeyed through the mountains and hills to get to Jerusalem, they had to remember the times God met with His people on the mountain!
Mt.
Moriah- God spared Isaac’s life and confirmed His covenant with Abraham.
Mt.
Sinai- God spoke to Moses, gave him the law, and promised to travel with the Israelites to the Promised Land.
Mt.
Ebal- God renewed His covenant with His people after they entered the Promised Lan.
Mt.
Zion- God gave it to David, leading David to make it the capital city of Jerusalem.
The Tabernacle of David was on Mt.
Zion, where the Ark dwelt!
Mt.
Carmel- God defeated the prophets of Baal by sending His fire when Elijah called on Him.
These are a few instances where God met with His people on the mountain.
But the traveler also knew the dangers of the mountains and hills.
Criminals and thieves would hide in the mountains to rob and mug people on their way to Jerusalem.
Perhaps they also remembered their backslidden relatives who had worshipped false gods on various mountains.
Maybe they remembered the high places that littered Israel and Judah’s hilltops as unbelieving people called to false gods.
Whether they remembered the good or bad events that occured on the mountain they sang a question, I look to the hills and mountains, does my help come from there?
Jeremiah
Whether they remembered the good or bad events that occured on the mountain they sang a question, I look to the hills and mountains, does my help come from there?
Absolutely not!
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of the mountains, the heavens, and the earth!
As they ascended to Jerusalem to remember God’s faithfulness, they sang on the way.
We could say they Praised in Progress.
They knew the journey would be difficult, but they looked up to God and knew three truths about God’s help.
They knew the Lord would help because, [The Lord is Awake], [The Lord is Alert], and [The Lord is Active.]
Let’s begin
1.
The Lord is Awake
Because God made heaven and earth, He will not allow us to stumble.
Since creation, Satan has had one goal, to cause God’s people to turn their back on God.
He is crafty and cunning in the way he causes people to stumble into sin.
He knows our weak spots and he know how and when to tempt us.
When we walk through this journey in life, there will be times when we feel like we are on shaky ground.
Perhaps the ground is shaking because of temptation or situations beyond our control.
When these feelings erupt, worry, panic, anxious feelings, concern, and confusion are soon to follow.
I am sure many of us have had trouble getting a good night’s sleep because of the problems that surround us.
I have this in my mind when the Psalmist speaks of God keeping us from stumbling.
He will not let us stumble into a pit of despair, why?
Because He is awake!
He watches over us and never sleeps or slumbers!
Six times in this Psalm we read the word “keep.”
In Hebrew the word keep means, to watch, to observe, to guard, to set aside, to secure, to cling to, or to preserve.
In Hebrew the word keep means, to watch, to observe, to guard, to set aside, to secure, to cling to, or to preserve.
As they journeyed to Jerusalem looking toward the mountains, they knew up in the sky was the God of heaven and earth.
He never sleeps.
So when they needed to camp over night, they could rest easy knowing God was watching!
I heard the story of a Methodist leader who was working into the morning hours trying to finish a project.
At a moment of intense pressure, when he felt so tired and overwhelmed, he read and he was reminded that the Lord does not sleep nor slumber.
It was at this moment that he was reminded how defeated his efforts to work for God rather than letting God work through him.
He heard in his spirit, “There’s no need for both of us to stay up all night.
I’m going to stay up anyway, so you go to bed and get a good night’s sleep.”
We can praise God through the journey of life, knowing He helps us, because He is awake!
2. The Lord is Alert
Alert is defined, quick to notice any unusual and potentially dangerous or difficult circumstances.
There are many reasons I am thankful for Bekah, but one reason is she is very alert, especially when we drive.
If we passed ten deer on the road, she saw nine of them.
At various times she will ask did you see that deer?
Of course my answer is ALWAYS yes, but it is mostly because she is watching and tells me THEN I see the deer!
There are situations in life that will catch us by surprise.
Just like a deer running in front of the car unannounced, sickness, suffering, attacks, and struggles can seem to come out of nowhere.
Except one thing, it is NEVER a surprise to God.
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