This week brings the conclusion of our journey to the dwelling place of God through the Psalms of Ascent. Our journey not only brings us with rejoicing - together as God’s people - into the presence of our God, but also to the very heartbeat, the very beating center of our life together - the Worship of the Living God. The final Psalm of Ascent, Psalm 134, actually propells us into a flurry of praise, the repeated praises of Psalms 135-150.

Pastor James Boice summarizes the Journey of the Song of the Ascents :

Psalm 120 - the people of God, dwelling in lands far from the peace of God’s presence, in the hostile worlds of Mesheck and Kedar, cry out, confessing and repenting of their sin.
Psalm 121 - having turned away from Meshak and set out to the dwelling of God, the pilgrims come upon the city of Jerusalem, the dwelling place of God and city of his peace;
Psalm 122 - the pilgrims have arrived and find themselves actually standing in the gates of God’s city;
Psalms 123-132 - the pilgrim reflects on the presence of God among his people, the abundance of the blessings of his grace on his people in faithfulness to his promises;
Psalm 133 - the pilgrims delight in the unity the prevails over the people of God as they dwell and worship together in his presence, another gift of his grace and covenant faithfulness.

This all culminates with the perpetual and joyful worship of God by those who are called into his presence day and night to offer their lives as living sacrifices:

“Come, then, O people of God, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, who stand by night in the house of the Lord! Lift up your hands in the holy place and bless the Lord!”
(Psalm 134)

The songs of Ascent, like the lives made new by God’s grace and peace in Jesus Christ, begin with repentance and culminate in praise.

Order of Worship 08.02.09