Psalms of Ascent Pilgrimage

The Psalms of Ascent comprise a total of 15 songs, Psalms 120–134.

Historically, they were sung by pilgrims on their way to the Temple at Jerusalem. They provided inspiration for the pilgrims as they travelled from their homes to participate in the four major festivals.

The Temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD.

However, this sequence of Psalms can still provide a framework for a spiritual journey, encouraging us to seek God in our hearts as the Jewish pilgrims sought Him.

These inspired pilgrim songs can still arouse the same motivating power in us today.

A journey through these Psalms can become a metaphor for the life we live as we journey to God.

This is particularly true for people who find themselves in a period of transition or in a difficult period in their lives. The Psalms of Ascent not only praise God, but also address our deepest fears, anger and disappointments.

Nevertheless, my prayer is that the journey will deepen our understanding of what it means to follow Jesus along the way, being able to testify as Paul did:

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Jesus Christ. Philippians 3.14

1. Holy Longing

“Examine yourselves”, 2 Corinthians 13.5
Your pilgrim journey begins with new thoughts or experiences that are in some way challenging, or a desire to examine a specific Scripture.

As our journey through the Psalms of Ascent is a pilgrimage, it is important to have a sense of travel. This can be relatively simple for those able to undertake a physical journey, but perhaps less easy for those who circumstances mean they are less mobile. This section explores a number of options.

There is no set time for the journey. For example, you might choose to read a Psalm a day spread over 2 to 3 weeks. Or you might decide to read one Psalm every Sunday, spreading your journey over a few months.

Here are the options.

Virtual Pilgrimage

A pilgrimage in which you remain in one settled position.

Select a suitable location that will facilitate your time of reflection. If you use this option, it might be helpful to use the illustrations for each Psalm included in this article. Moving between each psalm can help develop a sense of journey. You might like to find pictures of your own that illustrate your meditations.

Click on this link to read an explanation of Virtual Pilgrimage.

This page shows an example Virtual Pilgrimage.

Domestic Pilgrimage

A pilgrimage in in which move around a home, garden or both.

For this option, think about the space that is available to you and consider how you could make a pilgrim journey around it.

This could involve identifying places around your home and then engaging with a different Psalm at each in turn. Depending on individual circumstances, it may be that you could start downstairs and work upstairs, harmonising with the idea of ascent. You may choose to place a significant symbol in each location, such as a cross, icon or candle.

Click here for an example Domestic pilgrimage.

This page describes a Domestic pilgrimage around a church.

Neighbourhood Pilgrimage

A pilgrimage in which you utilise your immediate locality.

As with a Domestic pilgrimage, identify a number of stations around your locality and engage with a different Psalm at each one. This could be indoors or outdoors, depending on your opportunities and the weather.

Looking at the Psalms below may be helpful in giving some ideas. For example, Psalm 120 may be read near an area of social concern for you, for example where has been vandalism or graffiti. Alternatively, Psalm 122 might be appropriate to reflect upon in a church.

Click on this link to see an example Neighbourhood pilgrimage.

Wayfaring Pilgrimage

A pilgrimage in which you explore much further abroad

For this, establish a destination that has significance for you. Normally this would be a place at some distance from your current locality, requiring at least one overnight stay, along the route to the final chosen destination.

Within the allocated time, make space to engage with the 15 Psalms as you journey.

Click here for an example Wayfaring pilgrimage.

2. Pilgrim Journey

“Set your heart on pilgrimage”, Psalm 84.5
During your journey, mediate on the Bible verses you are reading as you review and reflect on your thoughts and experiences.

This pilgrimage is not primarily a Bible study. Rather, it is an invitation to explore the Psalms in a more meditative, prayerful, way with a focus on personal transformation leading to a deeper connection with God.

This does not exclude intellectual or cultural analysis, and you may consult biblical commentaries before you begin your journey, and subsequently during it. This could provide helpful context and insight.

However, is important maintain the focus of your journey to bring you closer to God.

With the above in mind, it is suggested that the Lectio Divina approach may be helful. This can be more faithful to the spirit of the pilgrimage.

Read more about Lectio Divina here.

The 15 Psalms of Ascent

These are the Psalms that you will be progressing through. For each of them, a representative verse is highlighted. However, this is just for illustrative purposes; the key thing is to come before God and see what is being said to you on this occasion.

Step 1, Psalm 120

I call on the LORD in my distress, v1

Step 2, Psalm 121

I lift up my eyes to the mountains —
where does my help come from? v1

Step 3, Psalm 122

I rejoiced with those who said to me,

“Let us go to the house of the LORD.” v1

Step 4, Psalm 123

So our eyes look to the LORD our God,
till he shows us his mercy. v2

Step 5, Psalm 124

We have escaped like a bird from the fowler’s snare; v7

Step 6, Psalm 125

Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion,

which cannot be shaken but endures forever. v1

Step 7, Psalm 126

Those who go out weeping,
carrying seed to sow,

will return with songs of joy,
carrying sheaves with them. v8

Step 8, Psalm 127

(The Tower of Babel by Pieter Bruegel the Elder)

Unless the LORD builds the house,

the builders labor in vain. v1

Step 9, Psalm 128

May the LORD bless you from Zion;

may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem

all the days of your life. v5

Step 10, Psalm 129

They have greatly oppressed me from my youth,

but they have not gained the victory over me. v2

Step 11, Psalm 130

I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, v6

Step 12, Psalm 131

I do not concern myself with great matters

or things too wonderful for me. v1

Step 13, Psalm 132

I will allow no sleep to my eyes

or slumber to my eyelids,

till I find a place for the LORD, vv4,5

Step 14, Psalm 133

How good and pleasant it is

when God’s people live together in unity! v1

Step 15, Psalm 134

Lift up your hands in the sanctuary

and praise the LORD. v2

3. Prayerful Arrival

“Be transformed by the renewing of your mind”, Romans 12.2
Your reflections during the journey become formulated into definite thoughts and prayers, forming new ideas or modifying existing concepts.

Your journey has finished. It is time now to pause and take stock of your recent experiences, taking heed of what the old hymn enjoins us to:

Take time to be holy, speak oft with all thy Lord

Review the pilgrim journey

You have just come back from the world in which you have encountered many exciting, joyful and also challenging thoughts! Speak to God about your recent journey, exploring with Him the insights, emotions and encounters that you had along the way.

  • Give thanks for the moments that went well and for gifts and blessings received.

  • Recognise and acknowledge frustrations and difficulties.

Repent

Recognise the thoughts that may have led you astray.

  • Ask for forgiveness and healing, for any mistakes or failures.

  • Ask for healing of any harm that might have been done by accident.

  • Ask for wisdom to discern how you might better handle such moments in the future.

Respond to the Holy Spirit

On the basis of what has come to your mind so far, ask for the Holy Spirit’s wisdom on what you should pray for as you move forward.

Request in prayer

Following on from your reflections, make your petitions known to God about the areas where things could potentially change.

Rest in God

Sanctuary - Dwell and rest in the presence of God.

Reflect - Meditate on what it means to be completely open to God.

Adoration - Give God your devotion and reverence.

4. Servant Response

”Love one another”, John 13.34
Prompted by what you have learnt on your journey, commit to appropriate areas of service in God’s Kingdom.

Consideration needs to be given to how we might respond to our experience.

For any pilgrimage, this stage of return is vital. Our journey is symbolic of our journey to our heavenly home, represented by Mount Zion, but in reality we’re not there yet. For now, the call is to go back down the mountain and to share some of the experiences you have had, together with the insights the God may have been given.

Now is the opportunity to see what you can give back. You have been breathing in, now is the time to breathe out.

Because of the nature of this particular pilgrimage, keep in mind some of the highlights from each of, or at least some of, the 15 psalms that you have visited on your journey.

Resolve on a servant heart

Pray for the spiritual strength to live your life in a way that is worthy of the distinctive calling upon it.

• Decide how you will respond

Consider the insights you received during your pilgrimage, perhaps a challenge to a new area of service or perhaps a change of practice, arising from some new understanding of Scripture.

  • Review your resources, gifting and other responsibilities.

  • Decide if there is something specific to do.

Plan

Plan to put into practice any new area of service to which you may be being called. Or be prepared to reconfigure your life in line with some new spiritual insight that you have received.

It may be useful to discuss your promptings with other people. This can be particularly helpful to test the legitimacy of what you have been hearing.

Be prepared to hear the call to further journeys.

And remember, don't worry if it takes a while to get any sense of where you might be led to next.

The important thing is to follow God’s timetable.

If you would like more information about this pilgrimage, or anything else, please email me at davidborrowdale54@hotmail.com

I look forward to hearing from you!