Hey Church!

Fifteen of the psalms in the Bible begin with the superscription, “A Song of Ascents” (Psalms 120-134). Three times per year, Jewish people from all over the earth would make pilgrimmage to the Temple in Jerusalem, singing these songs of praise along their way. Since Jerusalem was elevated among the mountains, their journey involved a literal ascent–a fairly steep slope even to this day. 

What an amazing spectacle it must have been to see a hoard of people ascending the Hill of the Lord! Imagine the roar of their feet, the unity of their voices, the hands that were raised, clapped, and waved. Looking upward with zeal for the House of the Lord, they offered these songs with their whole heart, soul, mind, and body. And as they did, every one of their sensory and memory pathways flooded with Gospel truth. 

We may not have a hill or steps to climb on Sundays but, nonetheless, we should seek to know and worship the Lord with every faculty He has given to us—heart, soul, mind, and body. We behold the fullness of Christ by singing out loud, tasting the elements of communion, clapping in rhythm, raising hands in surrender, kneeling in humility, standing in reverence, sitting in attentiveness, and moving in the joy of His Spirit. 

If you are not naturally inclined to move your body in worship, try raising a hand or foot-tapping to the beat this Sunday. If your eyes track with the words on the screen but you never open your mouth, try singing out loud! Sometimes the inward reality follows the outward obedience (e.g. I raise my hands and then my spirit submits in surrender). Other times, it’s the other way around. But in both cases, I offer Him everything I can and not only what is comfortable for me. 

We will have the privilege of sharing in the sacrament of communion this Sunday. Taste, smell, touch, and see that the Lord is good! When the Word is preached, hear that the Lord is good! And when we lift our songs of ascent, see with eyes of faith that far greater Temple to which we have been invited to share in the presence of God.