1Peter 3:15…always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect…The word for “defense” is where we get our modern word apology. Apology meant a defense like you would make in a court of law. The Biblical understanding of APOLOGY is not trying to defend God (or apologize for Him), it is witnessing about the goodness of God. Psalm 124 is an excellent model of how TRUE witnessing takes place because it does not argue God’s help or try to justify it; it is a testimony of God’s help in the form of a song. We are to see it and ask, “How do people sing with such confidence that ‘God’s strong name is our help’?” When we understand it, our lives have so much more substance that cause many of our complaints to subside.
The Songs (or Psalms) of ascent are 15 psalms that pilgrims would sing or recite on their way to Jerusalem to celebrate the feast days. They were reminders of God’s grace and goodness. These songs were and are reminders of what discipleship looks like as we walk in relationship with God in our own lives. We will use these 15 songs to travel us towards our holiday of Christmas because (as all things do in the Bible), they ultimately point to Jesus the founder and perfecter of our faith.
