Songs of Ascent

“Songs of ascent” are fifteen psalms from 120 to 134. “Songs of the ascent” is the subtitle above the text in most translations of the Bible. The King James Version uses the term, “degree” rather than “ascent.”  Most of the older commentaries and biblical writers use the term “degree” rather than the more modern tern “ascent.” The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church calls them “gradual psalms.”

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible defines the original Hebrew word as, “an elevation – a journey to a higher place – a step or grade mark – progression – high degree or stair.” David wrote four of them (Psalms 122, 124, 131, and 133). There are ten whose writer is not identified, and Solomon wrote one (Psalm 127). Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg noticed a pattern in the authorship of these psalms. The first seven have two Davidic Psalms and five new ones which are anonymous, then the psalm authored by Solomon, and then another grouping of seven with two more Davidic psalms and five more anonymous psalms (Googled “Song of Ascent” Christianity.com). I don’t know if that is significant or not, but it is interesting. Most of these are very short songs. Three of them have only three verses (131, 133, 134). The longest has 18 verses (132).

The root word for “ascent” or “degree” is used several times in the Old Testament passages. In I Chronicles 13:7 when David brought up the ark from Kiriath-jearim to Jerusalem the same root word as “degree” (ascent) is used.  Also, in I Chronicles 15:14 David has the ark brought up in the proper way, again the same root word is used. In 2 Chronicles 5:5 the same root word is used when Solomon brought up the ark from Zion to the temple. Notice in each of these the idea of ascending is mentioned.

Ascending to What?

The natural question is, “why was this subtitle given to these fifteen psalms?” To what were they, and who were the “they,” ascending? There are several interesting answers that have come from Jewish tradition. Some have tried to show that there is an ascension in the message of the psalms. Others try to show that there is an ascension in the rhythm and theme in the music of the psalms. There are probably two other explanations that come nearer to being the reason they are called by this term.

There were fifteen steps which led from the “court of women” to the “court of the Israelite men.” Tradition has it that the Levites sang one of the psalms on each of the fifteen steps. (The Mishna-Middoth 2.5 also confirms this as seen in the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia).

There were also fifteen semicircular steps leading into the temple on each of which the priests sang one of these fifteen psalms (David Kimchi as quoted in The Treasury of David Vol. III by C. H. Spurgeon). In the Hebrew language each letter is given a numerical number. Interestingly, the two consonants in the Hebrew word “Jah” in the Hebrew have the point value of “fifteen.” This is interesting in view of the two sets of steps which each have fifteen steps and tradition has it that the Levites sang one of these song of ascent on each step.

More Likely Explanation

     “Traditionally this has been interpreted as a series of psalms to be sung as the Israelites ‘went up’ to Jerusalem or as the Levites ascended the fifteen steps between the court of women and the court of the Israelites” (Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament by Harris, Archer, Jr., Waltke #1624m).

There were three annual feasts to which all Jewish men were to come to Jerusalem to celebrate (Exodus 34:24; Deuteronomy 16:16). As men and even women came to these feasts from great distances, they probably sang these psalms as they walked. Throughout the Bible the description of going to Jerusalem was spoken of as “going up” or to “ascend.” In the country of Israel proper, Jerusalem is the highest point, being about 2,400 feet in elevation.

One can image the increasing crowd of those walking to Jerusalem and the excitement they felt the nearer they got to the beloved city and sacred temple. It is not uncommon for large groups to sing as they walk. There are at least ten popular songs we have today which came from our Civil War as the soldier sang as they marched into battle.

Application

     With anything we study, we ought to ask, “So what?” – What does what they did hundreds of years ago, mean for us? First, we see people looking forward to and so happy to be going to worship. That is the attitude we should have as we look forward to gathering with saints to worship God. Second, each of the psalms focuses on a special relationship with God. If we will think about all the ways God has worked in our lives, it motivates us to praise Him. The emphasis in the songs was not so much on the place as it was on having fellowship with God.

Someone has expressed this idea well: “The Psalms of Ascent are a call to once again pursue a dwelling with God. As Hebrews 13:14 would later say “For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.” It was never about a specific stretch of land as much as the temple and the land was always pointing to where God’s people are headed; namely, for God to make His dwelling with humanity in joy for all eternity.”

Third, let me urge each of us to read and meditate on the message of each of those psalms. We will find they express our feelings and needs. Below is my summary statement about each of these psalms. What summary statement would you make about each of them?

Psalm 120 – “Crying to the Lord in Time of Trouble;” 121 “God’s Protection;” 122 “Exalting Jerusalem;” 123 “Looking to God;” 124 “Our Help;” 125 “God Surrounds His People;” 126 “Joy;” 127 “The House the Lord Builds;” 128 “Blessed Are Those Who Fear the Lord;” 129 “A Psalm of Confidence;” 130 “Forgiveness;” 131 “The Contented Soul;” 132 “Zion, the Lord’s Habitation;” 133 “How Good and Pleasant Is Unity;” 134 “Bless (Worship) the Lord.”

Wayne Burger