The people making the ascent to worship God in these Psalms of Ascent endured multiple hardships. They walked and prayed what they did because they knew that God is a rescuer of those who cry out. We know that He is the God of the Passover, the God of the Exodus, and ultimately of Easter; the God of slavery, death, life, freedom. The cross is where the reality of our image bearing becomes a restored reality. Peterson writes, “If God is worth our attention at all, he must be a God we can look up to—a God we must look up to…The moment we look up to God (and not over at Him, or down on Him) we are in the posture of servitude.” As servants we serve Him as peacemakers, calling the world to understand not only who made them, but how they were made to live.
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.
