Podcasts about ascents

Welcome to Day 2880 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2880 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 135:1-7 Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2880 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day two thousand eight hundred eighty of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. The title for today's Wisdom-Trek is: Unmasking the Idols – Yahweh's Unrivaled Cosmic Supremacy In our previous stop along this grand, poetic landscape, we witnessed the beautiful, atmospheric conclusion to the Songs of Ascents. In Psalm One Hundred Thirty-Four, we stood under the starlit canopy of Jerusalem at midnight, watching the weary pilgrims prepare to descend the mountain. Before disappearing into the darkness, they exchanged a parting blessing with the temple guards and the Levites, who kept watch through the treacherous night. We learned that while the surrounding pagan world cowered in terror of the nocturnal shadows—fearing the chaotic whims of the rebel spiritual principalities—the guardians of Yahweh raised their hands in holiness, enforcing the spiritual borders of the Creator's earthly embassy. We left that trail with the comforting assurance that the Maker of heaven and earth issues an unshakeable benediction from Mount Zion, a blessing that follows us into every dark corner of our exile. Today, we transition into a grand, sweeping temple liturgy that takes the flickering spark of that midnight praise, and explodes it into a glorious, daytime anthem of cosmic victory. We are stepping onto a new trail, exploring the opening movement of Psalm One Hundred Thirty-Five, verses one through seven, in the New Living Translation. This psalm is historically categorized as a “Hallel”—a great song of praise—and it serves as a spectacular, polemical unmasking of the false gods of the nations. The psalmist pulls back the cosmic curtain, calling the assembly to praise the unrivaled, absolute sovereignty of Yahweh. Let us step onto the path, adjust our focus, and prepare to encounter the High King of the celestial council. The first segment is: The Call to the Courts of the Most High Psalm One Hundred Thirty-Five: verses one through three. Praise the Lord! Praise the name of the Lord! Praise him, you who serve the Lord, you who stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God. Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; celebrate his lovely name with music. The psalm opens with a thunderous, rhythmic command that shatters the morning silence of the temple courts. “Praise the Lord! Praise the name of the Lord!” In the original Hebrew, this opening blast is Hallelujah—a direct, imperative shout commanding the entire assembly to boast in Yahweh. Notice the specific target of this adoration: “the name of the Lord.” In the ancient Near East, and throughout the biblical narrative, a deity's name was not just a convenient label or a linguistic tag. The name represented the very essence, the character, the reputation, and the active presence of the person. In the books of Moses, Yahweh explicitly stated that His "Name" would dwell in the sanctuary. Therefore, to praise the Name is to actively execute an assignment of cosmic allegiance. It is declaring that the reputation of the God of Jacob is superior to any other entity in existence. The psalmist specifically addresses the leaders of this worship in verse two: “Praise him, you who serve the Lord, you who stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God.” This bridges perfectly with our previous study of the final Song of Ascent. The watchmen who stood by night are now joined by the full daytime staff of priests, musicians, and gatekeepers, standing in the expansive, sunlit courts of the sanctuary. To "stand" in the ancient courtly language did not mean merely to be on one's feet; it was a technical term for serving as an official minister in a royal court. The priests were the human counterparts to the loyal, heavenly host. Just as the angels stand in the celestial throne room to execute the decrees of the King, the priests stand in the earthly copy of that throne room, maintaining the cosmic order through worship and sacrifice. The motivation for this unceasing service is detailed in verse three: “Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; celebrate his lovely name with music.” The goodness of Yahweh is the absolute bedrock of biblical theology. The surrounding pagan nations lived in constant, paralyzing anxiety because their gods—the rebel elohim of the divine council—were fundamentally fickle, malicious, and self-serving. They had to be constantly appeased with blood, bribes, and frantic rituals just to keep them from throwing a cosmic temper tantrum. But the God of Israel is immutably, beautifully good. His Name is "lovely"—meaning sweet, pleasant, and deeply satisfying to the soul. The community is commanded to celebrate this goodness with music, using the rhythmic resonance of harps, lyres, and voices to align the atmosphere of the earth with the harmonious songs of the heavenly host. The second segment is: The Sovereign Allotment and the Treasured Heritage Psalm One Hundred Thirty-Five: verse four. For the Lord has chosen Jacob for himself, Israel for his own special treasure. The psalmist shifts from the general goodness of God, to a specific, historical act of cosmic boundary-setting. “For the Lord has chosen Jacob for himself, Israel for his own special treasure.” To unlock the massive, explosive weight of this single verse, we must view it through the brilliant lens of the Ancient Israelite divine council worldview, as masterfully taught by Doctor Michael S. Heiser. We must look back to the foundational blueprint of cosmic geography recorded in Deuteronomy, chapter thirty-two, verses eight and nine. That text reveals that when the Most High divided the nations at the Tower of Babel, He scattered humanity into separate language groups, allocating them to the oversight of lesser spiritual beings—the sons of God. Those territorial elohim subsequently rebelled, choosing to demand worship for themselves, and plunging the pagan world into darkness. But the text explicitly states that Yahweh's personal portion is His people; Jacob is the lot of His inheritance. By repeating this reality in Psalm One Hundred Thirty-Five, the writer is launching a devastating polemical attack against the claims of the rebel nations. He is stating that Israel's existence is not a geopolitical accident. While the rest of the world was disinherited, and handed over to the dominion of corrupt, angelic governors, Yahweh reached down into history, called Abraham out of paganism, and birthed a unique nation “for himself.” He calls Israel His “own special treasure.” The Hebrew word used here is segullah, which refers to a monarch's private, personal wealth. In the ancient world, a king would collect taxes that went into the public treasury to run the empire; but he also possessed a private vault of priceless jewels, gold, and treasures that belonged uniquely to him. Israel is Yahweh's segullah. The Creator of the universe looks at this small, historically persecuted group of exiles, and He says, "You are My private jewels. You are the specific family through whom I am going to launch My rescue mission to reclaim the entire planet from the rebel gods." The third segment is: Stripping the Power of the Rebel Council Psalm One Hundred Thirty-Five: verse five. I know the greatness of the Lord— that our Lord is greater than any other god. The corporate song suddenly shifts into a bold, personal testimony of cosmic discernment. “I know the greatness of the Lord—that our Lord is greater than any other god.” In our modern, Western theological framework, we often read a verse like this and assume the psalmist is talking about psychological idols—things like money, career, or self-esteem. Or, we assume he is stating that the pagan gods are completely non-existent figments of human imagination. But in the ancient Near Eastern context, the statement is far more radical, and far more dangerous. The psalmist is not an abstract monotheist in the modern sense; he is a fierce monolatrist. He fully recognizes that the "other gods"—the elohim of the nations—are real, active, and powerful supernatural entities operating in the unseen realm. They are the rebel principalities that inspire human empires to commit systemic injustice and violence. But the psalmist stands in the temple courts, looks out at the towering structures of the pagan world, and delivers a definitive...

Welcome to Day 2878 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2878 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 134:1-3 Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2878 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2878 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. The title for today's Wisdom-Trek is: The Song of Ascent – The Midnight Benediction of the Cosmic Mountain In our previous episode on this grand, generational expedition, we explored the fourteenth Song of Ascent, Psalm One Hundred Thirty-Three. We peered inside the seamless walls of Jerusalem to witness the radiant, supernatural atmosphere of the kingdom. We discovered that holy harmony among the family of God is an aggressive, defensive weapon that actively subverts the chaotic fragmentation of the Tower of Babel. We felt the fragrant, vertical cascade of Aaron's precious anointing oil, and we marveled at the cosmic inversion of the landscape, where the life-giving dew of Mount Hermon—the ancient, dark stronghold of the rebel gods—was hijacked, and redirected by Yahweh to refresh the holy mountain of Zion. We rested in the ultimate, sovereign decree of life everlasting. Today, my friends, we have reached the final step of this specific trail. We are standing at the absolute conclusion of the fifteen pilgrim psalms, exploring Psalm One Hundred Thirty-Four, verses one through three, in the New Living Translation. This final Song of Ascent is a short, dramatic, and intensely atmospheric liturgy. The great festival in Jerusalem has ended, the crowds are dispersing, and the pilgrims are preparing to descend the mountain under the cover of darkness, to return to their ordinary lives in a compromised world. But before they lose sight of the temple, they turn back one last time to exchange a beautiful, midnight blessing with the guardians of the sanctuary. Let us step onto the final ridge, look into the glowing courts of the Lord, and receive the parting benediction of the cosmos. The first segment is: The Midnight Vigil of the Royal Guardians Psalm One Hundred Thirty-Four: verses one and two. Oh, praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, you who serve at night in the house of the Lord. Lift your hands in holiness, and praise the Lord. The final psalm opens with a stirring, midnight call to worship, issued by the departing pilgrims to the staff of the temple. “Oh, praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, you who serve at night in the house of the Lord.” To fully appreciate the cinematic, mysterious beauty of this moment, we must paint the physical, and spiritual, picture. The annual feast is over. The campfires on the hillsides around Jerusalem are dying down, and the thousands of pilgrims are packing their bags to begin the long trek back to their distant homes. As they step out into the cold night air, leaving the safety of the inner courts, they look back at the dark, towering silhouette of the temple standing against the starlit sky. The city is quiet, but the temple is still alive with activity. They see the flickering orange glow of the altar fires, and they spot the shadows of the Levites and the priests moving through the corridors. The pilgrims shout out a final, parting charge to these nocturnal ministers: “Praise the Lord... you who serve at night.” In the ancient Hebrew framework, the night watch was a position of immense responsibility. While the rest of the nation slept, these specific servants were commanded to keep the sacred fires burning, to guard the thresholds, and to maintain a continuous, unceasing rhythm of prayer and vigilance within the courts of Yahweh. We must look at this nocturnal service through the profound lens of the Ancient Israelite divine council worldview, as masterfully taught by Doctor Michael S. Heiser. In the ancient Near Eastern mindset, the night was not just a time for rest; the night was the domain of chaos. The darkness was considered the primary operating hour for the rebel spiritual principalities—the fallen elohim who ruled over the disinherited nations. The pagan world lived in constant, paralyzing terror of the night, believing that evil spirits and demonic forces prowled the earth when the sun went down, seeking to undo the order of creation. But inside the house of the Lord, the darkness is completely neutralized. The temple watchmen are not cowering in fear; they are standing on duty as royal guardians of the cosmic gateway. The temple is the earthly embassy of the Supreme Commander of the heavenly armies. By keeping the lights burning and the praises rising through the midnight watches, these priests are actively enforcing the spiritual borders of God's domain. They are asserting Yahweh's absolute sovereignty over the night, demonstrating to the unseen, rebellious realm that the true King never slumbers, and His fortress is never undefended. The departing pilgrims instruct these guardians exactly how to execute their spiritual defense in verse two: “Lift your hands in holiness, and praise the Lord.” The lifting of the hands is the ancient, universal posture of complete surrender, intense appeal, and open-hearted adoration. The priests are told to lift their hands “in holiness”—or, as other translations render it, “toward the sanctuary.” They are aiming their worship directly at the Holy of Holies, where the Ark of the Covenant rests beneath the wings of the cherubim. By raising their hands in the dark, the watchmen are acting as human lightning rods, drawing the supernatural sanctity and the protective power of the heavenly throne room straight down into the earthly realm, creating a continuous barrier of holy light that keeps the forces of chaos at bay. The second segment is: The Return Blessing from the Creator of the Cosmos Psalm One Hundred Thirty-Four: verse three. May the Lord, who made heaven and earth, bless you from Zion. In the final sentence of the entire Songs of Ascents collection, the direction of the voice shifts. The temple watchmen, standing on the high, illuminated battlements of the sanctuary, hear the parting shout of the pilgrims. They look out into the darkness at the departing travelers, raise their own holy hands over the crowd, and speak a majestic, reciprocal blessing back down upon them: “May the Lord, who made heaven and earth, bless you from Zion.” This closing benediction is a masterpiece of covenant theology and cosmic polemics. Notice the specific, dual title given to Yahweh: “the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” In the Deuteronomy chapter thirty-two worldview, the surrounding pagan nations believed that the universe was carved up into separate, localized jurisdictions. The gods of Babylon claimed the rivers; the gods of Egypt claimed the Nile; and the gods of Philistia claimed the coastal plains. These rebel spirits asserted that their authority was absolute within their own geographic boundaries, and they demanded total compliance from any human who entered their territory. But the priests of Israel shatter that illusion with their final blessing. They remind the departing pilgrims that the God they serve is not a minor, regional spirit of the hills. He is not a localized deity trapped inside the stone walls of Jerusalem. He is the absolute, supreme Architect of the entire macrocosm. He spoke the heavens into existence, and He formed the earth from the void. Therefore, there is no place on the planet that is outside of His jurisdiction. When the pilgrims leave Jerusalem to return to their homes in the distant, compromised corners of the world, they are not leaving the territory of their God. They can walk confidently into any environment, knowing that every square inch of dirt they step upon belongs exclusively to the Maker of heaven and earth. And look at the launching pad of this blessing: “from Zion.” As we have learned on this fifteen-stop mountain climb, Mount Zion is the designated cosmic mountain, the official footprint of Yahweh's heavenly throne room in the human realm. The blessing that the priests pronounce is not a cheap, temporary wish for good luck. It is a massive, supernatural transmission of Shalom—complete, flourishing wholeness and divine favor—cascading down directly from the centralized command center of the universe. The pilgrims are told that this blessing from Zion will follow them down the mountain trail. It will go with them as they navigate the treacherous roads, as they return to their families, and as they face the daily, suffocating hostility of the pagan cultures. Zion's light will go with them into the darkness of their exile. The final step of the ascent is actually the beginning of the descent, where the travelers are sent back out into the world, transformed into living extensions of the cosmic mountain,...

Steve Surbaugh

Speaker: Vijay Main Bible passage: Psalm 121 Theme: Trusting God to keep us through the whole journey of life. Vijay closes the Psalms of Trust section of the series by preaching from Psalm 121, one of the Songs of Ascents sung by pilgrims travelling to Jerusalem. He frames life as a pilgrimage: we move through changing seasons, uncertainty, weakness, ageing, and eventually death. Psalm 121 speaks to travellers who know the road may be long and difficult, but who are promised that the Lord will keep his people all the way home. The sermon gives four reasons why the Lord can be trusted on life's journey. First, God is powerful enough to keep his people. When the psalmist says, "I lift up my eyes to the hills," Vijay explains that ancient pilgrims would not only see beauty but danger: exposure, robbers, exhaustion, and uncertainty. The answer is not found in the hills themselves, but in the Lord, "who made heaven and earth." Faith lifts our eyes beyond the problem to the Creator. Second, God is attentive enough to preserve his people. Vijay highlights the repeated word "keep" in Psalm 121. God does not promise a pain-free life, but he does promise that suffering, evil, and calamity will not finally destroy his people. Like a harness on an aerial adventure course, God may not prevent every stumble, but he prevents the final fall. Third, God is always near. The Lord is described as "your shade at your right hand." Vijay explains that the right hand was the vulnerable side in battle, so this image shows God standing close to his people at the place of greatest weakness. God does not merely send help; he himself is the help who walks beside us. Fourth, God's keeping is total and comprehensive. The psalm's language, heaven and earth, day and night, going out and coming in, now and forevermore, shows that no time, place, season, or circumstance lies outside God's care. Vijay notes that the psalm leaves the danger unspecified so each believer can fill in the blank: diagnosis, grief, family heartache, uncertainty, or anything else. The promise remains: the Lord will keep you. Vijay ends with the image of a turbulent overnight flight. The passengers may panic because they cannot see the route, but the journey depends on the pilot, not the passengers. In the same way, our hope is not in our own strength or understanding, but in the Lord who keeps us. One day the journey will end, the final hill will be behind us, and we will look back and say, "He kept me." Key Takeaway Psalm 121 assures God's people that the journey may be hard, frightening, and uncertain, but the Lord who made heaven and earth is powerful, attentive, near, and faithful. He will keep his people from now and forevermore. 00:00 Opening thanks and OM update 02:23 Psalms series: moving from trust to praise 03:01 Life as a pilgrimage 04:58 Introducing Psalm 121 06:57 Reading Psalm 121 08:26 God is powerful enough to keep us 11:11 "My help comes from the Lord" 16:34 God is attentive enough to preserve us 18:02 What "keep you from all evil" means 21:16 "He will not let your foot be moved" 23:53 The God who never slumbers or sleeps 26:55 God is always near 30:42 God's keeping is total and comprehensive 35:10 The turbulent flight illustration 37:06 The promise: the Lord will keep us 38:46 Closing prayer

Welcome to Day 2873 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2873 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 132:6-12 Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2873 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2873 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. The title for today's Wisdom-Trek is: The Song of Ascent – The Enthronement of the Ark on the Holy Mountain In our previous episode on this grand expedition, we stepped onto the thirteenth ridge of our fifteen-part pilgrim journey through the Songs of Ascents. We explored the opening section of Psalm One Hundred Thirty-Two, verses one through five. We witnessed the unyielding, sleepless passion of King David. Even though he had a quiet, weaned soul within himself, he refused to enjoy the private luxury of his cedar palace while the Ark of the Covenant remained neglected in a temporary tent. We examined his solemn vow to the Mighty One of Jacob, a vow of deliberate restlessness, where he refused to sleep until he found a permanent, sacred space—a cosmic embassy—where the True King of heaven and earth could establish His earthly footstool. Today, we take our next historic step forward, continuing directly from that narrative. We are entering into the second movement of this grand, processional anthem, exploring Psalm One Hundred Thirty-Two, verses six through twelve, in the New Living Translation. The psalmist shifts our focus from David's private, intense vow, to the corporate, joyful experience of the entire nation as they actually locate, recover, and march with the symbol of God's presence up the mountain. Let us step onto the rugged trail, join the ancient procession, and watch the Divine Warrior ascend His throne. The first segment is:The Discovery and the Procession to the Footstool Psalm One Hundred Thirty-Two: verses six and seven. We heard that the Ark was in Ephrathah; then we found it in the distant countryside of Jaar. Let us go to the sanctuary of the Lord; let us worship at the footstool of his throne. The narrative transitions from David's intense, singular obsession, to the collective voice of the Israelite community, singing together on the road to Jerusalem. “We heard that the Ark was in Ephrathah; then we found it in the distant countryside of Jaar.” To fully appreciate the deep, emotional relief embedded in these two names—Ephrathah and Jaar—we must recall the tragic, historical backstory. Decades earlier, during the chaotic days of Eli the priest, the Israelites had foolishly treated the Ark of the Covenant like a magical good-luck charm, dragging it onto the battlefield against the Philistines. The rebel spiritual forces operating behind the Philistine armies achieved a temporary, mocking victory; the Ark was captured, and the glory of God seemed to depart from Israel. Even after the Philistines returned the Ark due to divine plagues, it sat neglected, stashed away in the obscure, overgrown, and wooded fields of Kiriath-jearim—which the psalmist poetically calls the “distant countryside of Jaar.” It was hidden in the brush, largely forgotten by the general public, while the nation drifted spiritually. But David mobilized the nation. The pilgrims recount the great rally: “Let us go to the sanctuary of the Lord; let us worship at the footstool of his throne.” We must view this through the profound lens of the Ancient Israelite Divine Council worldview, as masterfully taught by Doctor Michael S. Heiser. In the ancient Near East, a supreme monarch sat on a high, elevated throne, and his feet rested upon a beautifully crafted footstool. The footstool was the critical point of contact where the heavenly, royal realm physically touched the lower, earthly domain. In cosmic geography, the Ark of the Covenant, positioned inside the Holy of Holies beneath the outstretched wings of the golden cherubim, was recognized as the literal footstool of Yahweh's heavenly throne room. When the pilgrims say, “let us worship at the footstool of his throne,” they are not merely engaging in formal temple rituals. They are entering the earthly embassy of the Supreme Commander of the cosmos. They are stepping into the direct presence of the High King, joining the heavenly assembly of loyal angels, and declaring that Yahweh's authority completely eclipses the claims of the rebel spiritual principalities who rule over the surrounding, disinherited nations. The second segment is: The Divine Warrior Takes His Seat Psalm One Hundred Thirty-Two: verses eight through ten. Arise, O Lord, and enter your resting place, along with the Ark, the symbol of your power. May your priests be clothed in godliness; may your loyal servants sing for joy. For the sake of your servant David, do not reject the king you have anointed. The procession reaches its absolute climax as the Ark is physically carried up the slopes of Mount Zion. The king and the priests raise a dramatic, liturgical shout to the heavens: “Arise, O Lord, and enter your resting place, along with the Ark, the symbol of your power.” This phrase, “Arise, O Lord,” is a direct, intentional echo of the ancient wilderness battle cry recorded in Numbers, chapter ten. Whenever the Ark of the Covenant set out from the camp to lead the tribes through the desert, Moses would stand and shout, “Arise, O Lord, and let your enemies be scattered!” It was the invocation of Yahweh Sabaoth—the Lord of Hosts, the Commander of the heavenly armies. But notice the fascinating, beautiful shift in Psalm One Hundred Thirty-Two. The Divine Warrior is no longer marching out to do battle in the wilderness; He is marching in to take His seat. He is entering His “resting place.” In the Deuteronomy Thirty-Two framework, the rebel gods claimed ownership over the nations, but Yahweh has chosen Zion as His permanent, centralized cosmic mountain. By placing the Ark—the symbol of His power—on Mount Zion, Yahweh is establishing an unshakeable, eternal fortress. The warfare is completed; the King is officially taking His seat on the throne. This supreme, cosmic installation requires an entirely transformed community to serve the King. Verse nine petitions: “May your priests be clothed in godliness; may your loyal servants sing for joy.” The priests, who act as the human mediators between the heavenly council and the earthly congregation, must not wear the corrupt, manipulative garments of the pagan fertility cults. They must be literally wrapped, clothed, and saturated in tsedeq—true, uncompromised godliness and righteousness. When the leadership is holy, the entire community flourishes. The "loyal servants"—the hasidim, the covenant-keeping exiles—break out into uninhibited, roaring songs of joy. Their worship becomes a defensive shield, keeping the chaos of the world outside the walls of the sanctuary. The processional prayer concludes with a crucial plea for the continuation of the dynasty: “For the sake of your servant David, do not reject the king you have anointed.” The human king, the Mashiach, the anointed one, serves a vital function in the Divine Council worldview. He is designated as Yahweh's earthly vice-regent. He is the human representative who executes the justice, and the cosmic order of the High King, within the physical realm. The pilgrims pray that God will look at the faithful, historical sacrifices of David, and refuse to reject the current, fragile human king who sits on David's throne. They need the line of the vice-regent to remain unbroken, so that the connection to the cosmic mountain remains secure. The third segment is: The Reciprocal Oath of Eternity Psalm One Hundred Thirty-Two: verses eleven and twelve. The Lord swore an oath to David with a promise he will never take back: “I will place one of your descendants on your throne. If your descendants obey the terms of my covenant and the laws that I teach them, then your royal line will continue forever and ever.” In the final section of today's trail, the direction of the song flips completely. The pilgrims have finished speaking to God, and now, Yahweh speaks back to the pilgrims. He responds to David's historic, restless vow with a massive, unyielding oath of His own. “The Lord swore an oath to David with a promise he will never take back: ‘I will place one of your descendants on your throne.'” This is the beautiful, reciprocal irony of the Davidic covenant. In the first five verses of this psalm, David...

My Help Comes from the Lord A Song of Ascents. 121 I lift up my eyes to the hills.    From where does my help come?2 My help comes from the Lord,    who made heaven and earth. 3 He will not let your foot be moved;    he who keeps you will not slumber.4 Behold, he who keeps Israel    will neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The Lord is your keeper;    the Lord is your shade on your right hand.6 The sun shall […]

Steve Surbaugh

Welcome to Day 2872 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2872 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 132:1-5 Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2872 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2872 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. The title for today's Wisdom-Trek is: The Song of Ascent – Securing the Cosmic Footstool Today, we are lacing up our boots, and setting our feet firmly onto the thirteenth step of our fifteen-part pilgrimage, through the beautiful, ancient collection known as the Songs of Ascents. We are entering into a magnificent, epic narrative found in Psalm One Hundred Thirty-Two, verses one through five, in the New Living Translation. In our previous episode, we rested on a quiet, sunlit ridge of this alphabetical mountain range, exploring the beautiful, intimate sanctuary of Psalm One Hundred Thirty-One. In that short, brilliant song, King David modeled the rare, supernatural art of a quiet, weaned soul. We witnessed him completely abdicate cosmic hubris, choosing to step out of the frantic, status-driven games of the surrounding pagan empires. We saw him rest peacefully upon the lap of Yahweh; content, quiet, and still, like a fully satisfied child content simply to be in its mother's loving presence. But today, as we transition into Psalm One Hundred Thirty-Two, we encounter a stunning, brilliant paradox in the life of King David. While he possessed a deeply quiet, fully content internal soul, his external life was driven by a fierce, restless, and completely unyielding passion for the glory of God. He was a man who absolutely refused to settle for comfortable, private spirituality, while the presence of the Creator remained neglected. This psalm takes us deep into the history of the kingdom, reminding the traveling pilgrims exactly why they are marching up this hill toward Jerusalem in the first place. It pulls back the cosmic curtain, exposing the intense spiritual warfare, and the grueling, historical sacrifices, required to secure the Holy City as the definitive center of the universe. Let us step onto the rugged trail, look back at the origins of our sanctuary, and explore the terms of David's historic vow. Let us listen closely to the opening lines of this powerful anthem. Lord, remember David and all that he suffered. He made a solemn promise to the Lord. He vowed to the Mighty One of Israel, The song begins with a direct, legally framed petition to the heavenly throne room: “Lord, remember David and all that he suffered.” Other translations render this as “all his afflictions,” or “all his humility.” This is a corporate plea from the community, reminding Yahweh of the heavy price David paid to establish the worship of God on earth. To fully understand the nature of David's suffering, we must look past our modern, shallow political histories, and look through the brilliant lens of the Ancient Israelite Divine Council worldview, as masterfully taught by Doctor Michael S. Heiser. In the Deuteronomy Thirty-Two worldview, when the Most High divided the nations at the Tower of Babel, He scattered humanity into seventy separate nations, placing them under the jurisdiction of lesser, rebel spiritual principalities—the fallen sons of God. But Yahweh set apart Israel as His own personal, treasured allotment. Because Israel was the direct beachhead of the true Kingdom of God on earth, the rebel gods held a deeply rooted, cosmic grudge against David. The surrounding pagan tribes—like the Jebusites who originally controlled the fortress of Jerusalem—were the earthly proxies of these dark, spiritual entities. When David fought to capture the stronghold of Zion, he wasn't just engaged in a secular military campaign; he was actively marching into the teeth of territorial, demonic principalities. He was violently reclaiming a physical piece of earth from cosmic rebels to establish a sanctuary where the True King could rule. His suffering included years of running from assassins, fighting brutal wars, and enduring the intense pressure of spiritual warfare, driven by a singular, burning vision. The text explains the exact engine that drove David through this multi-year gauntlet of affliction: “He made a solemn promise to the Lord. He vowed to the Mighty One of Israel,”. In the Hebrew text, this title for God is exceptionally powerful—Abir Ya'aqob, meaning the “Mighty One of Jacob.” This ancient, patriarchal title is full of heavy cosmic significance. By invoking the Mighty One of Israel, the psalmist makes an aggressive, polemical statement against the surrounding nations. While pagan cultures bragged about the raw power of their gods—like Baal or Chemosh—David directs his oath exclusively to the supreme, unrivaled Warrior of Jacob. He enters into a binding covenant with the only spiritual Being who possesses the ultimate authority to completely dispossess the rebel principalities and claim the earth for Himself. Let us now listen to the dramatic, radical terms of David's vow, as recorded in verses three through five. “I will not go home; I will not let myself rest. I will not let my eyes sleep nor close my eyelids in slumber, until I find a place to build a house for the Lord, a sanctuary for the Mighty One of Israel.” The words of David's vow ring out with an absolute, shocking lack of moderation. He declares, “I will not go home; I will not let myself rest. I will not let my eyes sleep nor close my eyelids in slumber,”. This is the language of holy, hyper-focused obsession. David had built himself a magnificent, luxurious palace made of expensive cedar wood. He had achieved political security, defeated his immediate military rivals, and secured an earthly throne. By all human standards, it was time for him to sit back, relax, and enjoy the sweet fruit of his labor. The world told him he had earned the right to sleep soundly in his comfortable bed. But David looked across his kingdom, and his heart was deeply grieved. While he slept in a palace of cedar, the Ark of the Covenant—the literal footstool of Yahweh's heavenly throne, the mobile cosmic mountain where the presence of the True King uniquely manifested on earth—was hidden away, neglected in a simple tent in the distant countryside. He refused to tolerate a reality where his own private comfort was superior to the public honor of his God. He viewed his luxurious palace not as a place of rest, but as a place of distraction, until a permanent, secure beachhead could be established for the Lord. He placed an intense, physical embargo upon his own body, denying himself the basic human comforts of home, rest, and sleep until his mission was accomplished. This is the absolute opposite of spiritual lethargy. The rebel spiritual forces want nothing more than for the leaders of God's people to become comfortable and complacent. If the enemy can lure the warrior into a deep, lazy sleep of private luxury, the territory remains un-reclaimed. But David weaponized his own insomnia. He chose restlessness, deliberately keeping his eyelids open, forcing his body to stay in a state of high-alert, active combat until a space could be secured for the presence of the Most High. Look at the ultimate goal of this sleepless pursuit in verse five: “until I find a place to build a house for the Lord, a sanctuary for the Mighty One of Israel.” The Hebrew word for “place” here is maqom, which carries a deep, sacred meaning. It doesn't just mean any random piece of real estate. In ancient Near Eastern literature, a maqom was a holy site, a specific, divinely appointed intersection where heaven and earth met. David was looking for the precise geographic spot where Yahweh desired to plant His feet, establishing a permanent, unshakeable embassy for the Divine Council right in the middle of human history. He calls it “a house for the Lord, a sanctuary for the Mighty One of Israel.” This house was not meant to trap the infinite, omnipresent Creator within stone walls. Rather, the sanctuary was designed to be a visible, physical monument of divine ownership over the earth. It was a proclamation to the seventy disinherited nations, and to the corrupt, territorial elohim ruling over them, that Yahweh had definitively returned to reclaim His property. Jerusalem, specifically Mount Zion, would serve as the centralized headquarters of cosmic order, truth, and restorative justice. David was willing to bleed, sweat, and completely sacrifice his own rest, simply to lay the first stones of that eternal, global empire. As we look at this text from the high vantage point of our Wisdom Trek today, we must integrate the profound lessons of Psalm One Hundred Thirty-One and Psalm One Hundred Thirty-Two. In the previous psalm, we learned to cultivate a weaned, quiet soul—completely free from the anxious striving of our own egos. But today, we learn that a quiet soul should never lead to a passive life. True biblical humility does not make a person indifferent to the spiritual condition of their culture. In fact,

Welcome to Day 2868 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2868 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 130:1-8 Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2868 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2868 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. The Title for Today's Wisdom-Trek is: The Song of Ascent – Out of the Depths of the Cosmic Abyss In our previous episode on this grand pilgrimage, we traveled along the rugged trails of the tenth Song of Ascent, Psalm One Hundred Twenty-Nine. We confronted the gritty, painful reality of the survivor. We looked at the deep, bloody furrows plowed across the back of the covenant community by the wicked—the earthly agents of the rebel spiritual principalities. Yet, we celebrated the triumphant, sharp justice of Yahweh, who stepped onto the field and sliced the harnesses of oppression in half. We saw that while the haters of Zion look elevated, they are ultimately nothing more than shallow roof-grass, destined to wither into worthlessness under the heat of divine judgment. Today, we take our next deliberate, introspective steps up the mountain pass toward Jerusalem. We are exploring the eleventh song in this ancient collection: Psalm One Hundred Thirty, verses one through eight, in the New Living Translation. Historically, this deeply moving psalm has been known in the Christian tradition by its opening Latin words, De Profundis, which translate to, "Out of the Depths." The psalmist shifts our focus from the external persecution of worldly enemies, to the internal, suffocating weight of personal and corporate guilt. We are moving from the battlefield of physical survival, into the profound spiritual depths of the human soul, learning how to cry out for mercy when we are drowning in our own brokenness. Let us step onto the trail, and listen to the desperate cry for redemption. The first segment is: Crying from the Chaotic Waters of Despair Psalm One Hundred Thirty: verses one and two. Out of the depths of despair, O Lord, I call for your help. Hear my cry, O Lord. Listen to my prayer. The song opens not with a shout of triumph, but with a muffled, echoing cry from the dark. "Out of the depths of despair, O Lord, I call for your help. Hear my cry, O Lord. Listen to my prayer." To truly comprehend the terrifying weight of this opening, we must view the imagery through the lens of the Ancient Israelite worldview. The Hebrew word for "depths" is ma'amaqim. In the ancient Near East, the deep, dark, and churning waters of the ocean were not viewed merely as a geographic feature; they represented primeval chaos, the cosmic abyss, and the terrifying domain of death. The sea was the playground of Leviathan, and the watery throat of Sheol—the underworld. To be in "the depths" meant you were drowning, completely overwhelmed by cosmic forces, suffocating in total darkness, and entirely cut off from the land of the living. But what has dragged the psalmist down into this spiritual abyss? It is not the armies of Babylon this time; it is the realization of his own sin. The depths of despair represent the suffocating environment of guilt. When you recognize how far you have fallen from the cosmic blueprint of the Creator, the psychological weight can feel like a multi-ton tidal wave, pinning you to the ocean floor. Yet, look at the direction of his cry. Even from the bottom of the chaotic abyss, wrapped in the dark currents of his own failure, the pilgrim directs his voice straight upward. He calls out to the Name of Yahweh. He begs, "Hear my cry, O Lord. Listen to my prayer." This is an act of fierce, desperate faith. The rebel spiritual forces—the corrupt elohim of the Divine Council—want the guilty soul to believe that it is permanently abandoned, that the abyss has claimed them forever. But the psalmist refuses to listen to the blackmail of the enemy. He knows that the voice of the Creator can penetrate the deepest, darkest waters of the cosmic void. When you are drowning in your own brokenness, you must use your final breath to send an SOS straight to the heavenly throne room. The second segment is: The Celestial Ledger and the Scandal of Grace Psalm One Hundred Thirty: verses three and four. Lord, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive? But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear you. Standing before the cosmic courtroom of heaven, the psalmist poses a chilling, rhetorical question that seals the fate of all humanity. "Lord, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive?" In the ancient Near Eastern worldview, it was believed that the gods kept rigorous, celestial ledgers. The rebel principalities kept meticulous books, recording every infraction, every mistake, and every failure of mankind, utilizing those records to extort, torture, and condemn human beings. They demanded absolute, flawless perfection, but provided absolutely no grace. If Yahweh operated on the same system, the cosmic trial would be over before it even started. The Hebrew word for "survive" here means to stand. If God brought out the unedited ledger of our hidden thoughts, our compromised motives, and our outright rebellions, every single human being, every angel, and every member of the council would instantly collapse under the weight of perfect justice. No one could stand. But then, the psalmist introduces a staggering, paradigm-shifting truth that completely shatters the cosmic legal system of the enemy. Verse four declares, "But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear you." This is a beautiful, supernatural paradox. In our human way of thinking, we assume that if a judge lets a criminal off the hook, the criminal will lose all respect for the law. We think that punishment produces fear, and forgiveness produces carelessness. But in the economy of the Most High God, the exact opposite is true. The rebel gods of the pagan nations used fear and guilt to manipulate their followers into slavery. They never offered true, total forgiveness; they only offered temporary, expensive truces. But Yahweh performs a miracle of grace. He skims off the record of our sins, completely erasing the ledger through His covenant love. When a human being, drowning at the bottom of the abyss, experiences the overwhelming, unmerited release of divine forgiveness, it triggers a profound, holy shockwave in their soul. They don't become careless; they become utterly captivated. They develop a deep, trembling, and reverential awe—the true "fear of the Lord." They realize they are dealing with a King who is too good, too powerful, and too merciful to ever be trifled with. Forgiveness doesn't produce license; it produces absolute, unswerving loyalty to the true Sovereign of the cosmos. The third segment is: The Hyper-Vigilant Vigil for the Sun of Righteousness Psalm One Hundred Thirty: verses five and six. I am counting on the Lord; yes, I am counting on him. I have put my hope in his word. I long for the Lord more than sentries long for the dawn, yes, more than sentries long for the dawn. Having received the assurance of forgiveness, the psalmist transitions into a posture of patient, yet hyper-vigilant, waiting. "I am counting on the Lord; yes, I am counting on him. I have put my hope in his word." The Hebrew word for "counting on," or "waiting," is qavah, which carries the visceral idea of twisting cords together to make a strong rope. It implies an active, muscular tension. The pilgrim is not waiting passively, like a person sitting bored in a doctor's office. He is binding his soul tightly to the promises of God, bracing himself for the long watch. He has anchored his hope exclusively to the "word"—the cosmic decrees and covenant oaths of Yahweh. He illustrates the intensity of this waiting with a beautiful, hauntingly repetitive military metaphor in verse six. "I long for the Lord more than sentries long for the dawn, yes, more than sentries long for the dawn." To understand this, we must remember our previous treks through the Songs of Ascents, specifically Psalm One Hundred Twenty-Seven, where we learned about the vital role of the watchman guarding the city walls. Imagine a sentry stationed on the high stone battlements of Jerusalem during the ancient night watch. The darkness around him is heavy, absolute, and infested with hidden dangers. The enemy principalities and their human proxies do their most destructive work...

Near the end of the Songs of Ascents, the people of God call upon Him to remember David, particularly his desire to build a dwelling place for the LORD. As God's people remember David's desire, they share that desire to go and worship at the LORD's footstool, and they ask that the Church would be present there together: priests, saints, and the Christ. The LORD reiterates His oath to make for David an everlasting kingdom and promises that His people will be clothed with the salvation of Christ.  Rev. Sean Kilgo, pastor at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Lawrence, KS, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Psalm 132.  To learn more about Redeemer Lutheran, visit Redeemer-Lawrence.org. Join Sharper Iron this spring to study selected Psalms. In the Psalter, God speaks His Word to us and teaches us how to speak back to Him in prayer. Even in the great variety of the Psalms, each one points us to our Savior, Jesus Christ.  Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God's Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen. Submit comments or questions to: listener@kfuo.org

The Song of Degrees, also known as the Songs of Ascents, refers to a collection of fifteen psalms (Psalms 120-134) in the Book of Psalms, traditionally sung by worshippers as they ascended to Jerusalem for pilgrimage festivals. These psalms express themes of hope, joy, and the journey towards spiritual elevation.PSALM 128.A Song of degrees.  1 Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in his ways. 2 For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. 3 Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table. 4 Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord. 5 The Lord shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life. 6 Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children, and peace upon Israel. PSALM 133.A Song of degrees of David.  1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! 2 It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; 3 As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore. PSALM 137.  1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. 2 We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. 3 For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. 4 How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land? 5 If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning...Song: Ain't No Grave Gon'a Hold My Body Down.

Brock Perry

Steve Surbaugh

Steve Surbaugh

We had a great time chatting to Connor for this week's episode. I feel like you have to really make waves in the Trad world for us to know that much about you and Connor has done just that. After sending what was potentially the hardest ever trad pitch Connor went around the world to try the other contenders for the title, and in so doing, discovered that yes, it's probably the hardest ever trad pitch. We chat about the incredible year he's had but also about trad climbing in general. Some of the ethics questions and also we chat about trad climbers and wonder why they are the way that they are (we love you really).If you're enjoying the podcast and would like to support us, please do consider checking out our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=70353823Support the show

Welcome to Day 2853 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2853 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 121:1-8 – Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2853 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2853 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. The title for today's Wisdom-Trek is: The Song of Ascent – The Guardian Who Never Sleeps In our previous episode on this grand expedition, we took our very first steps onto the ancient pilgrim trail. We opened the collection known as the Songs of Ascents, beginning with Psalm One Hundred Twenty. There, we felt the suffocating exhaustion of living among deceitful people, dwelling in the hostile, spiritual wastelands of Meshech and Kedar. We realized that true peace, true biblical Shalom, cannot be found by negotiating with the empire of lies. That painful realization served as the ultimate catalyst for our journey. We packed our bags, left our tents in the chaotic lowlands, and began our steep, deliberate ascent toward Jerusalem, seeking the presence of the True King. Today, we take our next determined strides up the mountain pass. We are exploring the second song in this pilgrim collection: Psalm One Hundred Twenty-One, verses one through eight, in the New Living Translation. As the traveler leaves the safety of his home, and steps out onto the dangerous, open road, a profound sense of vulnerability sets in. The journey is long, the terrain is treacherous, and the wilderness is infested with bandits, predators, and dark spiritual forces. To survive the ascent, the pilgrim needs absolute assurance that he is not walking alone. Let us step onto the trail, lift our eyes to the horizon, and meet the Guardian of our souls. Psalm One Hundred Twenty-One: verses one and two. I look up to the mountains— does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth! The psalm opens with one of the most iconic, yet frequently misunderstood, questions in all of Scripture: “I look up to the mountains—does my help come from there?” In our modern, romanticized view of nature, we often read this verse and think the psalmist is drawing peace from the majestic beauty of the mountain peaks. We imagine a serene, snow-capped range inspiring a sense of divine comfort. But to the Ancient Israelite mind, the mountains were deeply intimidating, and spiritually contested, territory. Physically, the mountains were where the bandits hid. They were the places of ambush, rockslides, and wild beasts. But more importantly, we must view this through the lens of the Divine Council worldview. In the ancient Near East, the high places—the peaks of the mountains—were universally recognized as the dwelling places of the gods. The rebel spiritual principalities, the fallen elohim of the disinherited nations, demanded worship on the high places. The Canaanites built their altars to Baal, and their shrines to Asherah, on the elevated hills. Therefore, as the weary pilgrim looks up at the towering, shadow-filled mountains surrounding the road to Jerusalem, he is acknowledging a profound temptation. The pagan culture whispers, "The journey is too hard. The road is too dangerous. Why don't you stop at this local shrine? Why don't you offer a quick sacrifice to the gods of these hills, just to ensure your safe passage?" The psalmist asks the question, “Does my help come from there?” And he answers it with a resounding, cosmic rejection of the rebel gods. “My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!” He completely bypasses the localized, lesser deities of the hills. He declares that he will not seek protection from the dark powers that claim jurisdiction over the mountains. Instead, he appeals directly to Yahweh, the Supreme Architect, who actually created the dirt, the rocks, and the sheer cliffs of those very mountains. Why would he beg for help from a created, rebel spirit, when he has direct access to the Uncreated Maker of the entire cosmos? His help is anchored not in the terrain, but in the Creator of the terrain. Psalm One Hundred Twenty-One: verses three and four. He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps. Having established the identity of his Helper, the psalmist begins to sing an anthem of profound assurance over his own soul, and over the souls of his fellow travelers. He promises, “He will not let you stumble.” On a steep, rocky, and unpaved mountain trail, a single stumble could mean a sprained ankle, a broken leg, or a fatal fall into a ravine. A stumble meant you became easy prey. But the psalmist assures us that the Creator is actively involved in the micro-movements of our lives. Yahweh is not a distant, clockmaker God who wound up the universe and walked away; He is intimately engaged, ensuring that our feet find solid purchase on the treacherous path of obedience. And why is God's protection so flawless? Because, “the one who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps.” In this beautiful repetition, the psalmist draws a sharp, mocking contrast between the God of Israel and the false gods of the surrounding nations. In pagan mythology, the gods were fundamentally limited. They got tired. They needed to eat, and they needed to sleep. If you remember the story of Elijah on Mount Carmel, he famously mocked the prophets of Baal when their god failed to send fire. Elijah taunted them, saying, “Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and needs to be awakened!” A sleeping god is a useless god. If your deity takes a nap, you are entirely vulnerable to the chaotic forces of the world. But the Commander of the heavenly armies does not experience fatigue. He does not require a night watchman to relieve Him of His post. Because Yahweh never closes His eyes, the pilgrim can safely close his. In a world fraught with nocturnal terrors, and dark spiritual forces that prowl in the night, the absolute, unbroken vigilance of the Creator is our ultimate source of rest. Psalm One Hundred Twenty-One: verses five and six The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade. The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night. The promises of protection become even more intimate, and incredibly specific. “The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.” The Hebrew word used repeatedly throughout this psalm for “watches over,” or “keeps,” is shamar. It means to guard, to protect, to build a hedge around, or to carefully attend to. The psalmist is emphasizing that Yahweh does not delegate your ultimate security to a lower-ranking angel; the Lord Himself is your personal bodyguard. He stands at your right hand, which was the traditional position of a military defender, holding a shield to protect a warrior's exposed side. He acts as a "protective shade." In the scorching, relentless heat of the Middle Eastern desert, shade was not just a luxury; it was a matter of life and death. But once again, we must read verse six through the eyes of the ancient, cosmic worldview: “The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night.” To the surrounding pagan cultures, the sun and the moon were not just celestial bodies; they were powerful, ruling deities. Shamash was the Babylonian sun god, representing blistering, judging heat. Yarih, or Sin, was the moon god, often associated with the terrors of the night, madness, and disease. When the psalmist declares that the sun and the moon will not harm you, he is making a massive theological claim. He is stating that Yahweh exercises absolute sovereignty over the celestial realm. The rebel gods of the sky have been stripped of their power to destroy the faithful exile. The oppressive, scorching trials of the daytime cannot break you, and the creeping, psychological terrors of the moonlight cannot drive you to despair. The Lord, your protective shade, completely neutralizes the most powerful, threatening elements of the natural, and supernatural, world. Psalm One Hundred Twenty-One: verses seven and eight The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever. The psalm reaches its crescendo with a sweeping, comprehensive guarantee of...

Text: Psalm 124:1-8 View this week's bulletin and sermon discussion questions.

Steve Surbaugh

Welcome to Day 2852 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2852 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 120:1-7 – Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2852 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2852 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. The title of today's Wisdom-Trek is: The Song of Ascent – Waking Up in the Empire of Lies In our previous episode on this grand expedition, we reached the absolute summit of the longest chapter in the Bible, Psalm One Hundred Nineteen. We explored the final "Taw" stanza, where the psalmist placed his definitive seal upon his life's work. We learned that true spiritual maturity does not mean pretending we are flawless; rather, it means humbly crying out to the Divine Shepherd, admitting that we sometimes wander like lost sheep, yet fiercely holding onto the cosmic blueprint of His Word. We rested at that towering peak, fully anchored in the eternal, unshakeable instructions of Yahweh. Today, we are lacing up our boots for an entirely new phase of our journey. We are stepping off the massive mountain of the Torah, and we are stepping onto the pilgrim's trail. Today, we begin a collection of fifteen specific, incredibly powerful psalms, known as the "Songs of Ascents." These are Psalms One Hundred Twenty, through One Hundred Thirty-Four. In the ancient world, faithful Israelites sang these specific songs as they traveled from their scattered homes, walking upward, ascending geographically and spiritually, toward the holy city of Jerusalem for the three great annual festivals. But the journey upward does not begin in a place of joy. It begins in a place of deep, suffocating distress. We are exploring Psalm One Hundred Twenty, verses one through seven, in the New Living Translation. Let us step onto the trail, and learn what it means to wake up, look around, and realize that we are living behind enemy lines. The first segment is: The Cry from the Chaos, and the Native Tongue of the Enemy Psalm One Hundred Twenty: verses one and two. I took my troubles to the Lord; I cried out to him, and he answered my prayer. Rescue me, O Lord, from liars and from all deceitful people. The Song of Ascents begins with a backward glance at a moment of desperate crisis. The psalmist declares, "I took my troubles to the Lord; I cried out to him, and he answered my prayer." Notice that the journey to the presence of God does not start when everything in your life is perfectly organized. The pilgrimage begins in the trenches of human trouble. The Hebrew word used here for "troubles" implies being squeezed into a tight, restrictive, and suffocating space. The psalmist was trapped, entirely out of earthly options, and so, he directed his voice upward. He cried out to the Sovereign of the universe, and he confidently testifies that the Creator bent down, and answered his plea. But what exactly was the nature of this suffocating trouble? He reveals the source of his agony in verse two: "Rescue me, O Lord, from liars and from all deceitful people." In our modern context, we often view lying as a relatively minor, common ethical failure. We expect politicians to spin the truth, we expect advertisements to exaggerate, and we tolerate small deceptions as a normal part of doing business. But in the Ancient Israelite worldview, deception was not a minor flaw; it was cosmic warfare. To fully grasp this, we must look through the lens of the Divine Council, as taught by Dr. Michael S. Heiser. When the rebel spiritual beings—the fallen sons of God—rebelled against Yahweh, they did not use physical swords; they used deception. The serpent in the Garden of Eden weaponized a lie to sever humanity from the Source of Life. Therefore, lying is the native tongue of the kingdom of darkness. When the psalmist cries out to be rescued from "deceitful people," he is not just complaining about annoying neighbors. He is recognizing that his surrounding culture is operating under the oppressive, manipulative influence of dark, spiritual principalities. The air he breathes is toxic with the propaganda of the rebel gods. The world is trying to deceive him into abandoning his loyalty to the cosmic order of Yahweh, and the spiritual pressure of these constant lies is absolutely suffocating his soul. The second segment is: The Divine Warrior's Arsenal Against the Lie Psalm One Hundred Twenty: verses three and four O deceptive tongue, what will God do to you? How will he increase your punishment? You will be pierced with sharp arrows and burned with glowing coals. Having identified the weapon of the enemy, the psalmist turns and addresses the deceitful tongue directly. He uses a rhetorical, legal format, asking, "O deceptive tongue, what will God do to you? How will he increase your punishment?" He is essentially serving notice to the agents of chaos. He is reminding the liars, and the rebel spirits empowering them, that the universe has a Supreme Judge. The cosmic courtroom of Yahweh will not tolerate the vandalism of truth forever. There is a deeply rooted, unshakeable justice built into the fabric of creation, and those who weaponize deception will ultimately reap a terrifying harvest. The psalmist details this impending, divine justice in verse four. "You will be pierced with sharp arrows and burned with glowing coals." This is the majestic, terrifying imagery of Yahweh acting as the Divine Warrior. In the ancient Near East, a deceitful tongue was often compared to a sharp, deadly arrow, shot in secret to assassinate a person's character. Or, it was compared to a destructive, spreading fire that burns down a community. God's justice is often described as a perfectly measured, reciprocal response. Since the wicked used arrows of lies, the Divine Warrior will string His own cosmic bow. He will pierce the deception with the sharp, unyielding arrows of His truth. Because the wicked used words to start destructive fires, they will be subjected to the "glowing coals" of divine judgment. Other translations specify these as "coals of the broom tree." The roots of the desert broom tree burned with an incredibly intense, white-hot heat, and they retained their fire for a very long time. This signifies that God's judgment against the cosmic rebellion will not be a brief, passing flash. It will be an intense, enduring, and utterly consuming fire that permanently purifies the cosmos, burning away every last remnant of the serpent's lies. The Third Segment is: The Spiritual Geography of Exile Psalm One Hundred Twenty: verse five. How I suffer in far-off Meshech. It pains me to live in distant Kedar. The psalmist suddenly shifts from the fiery imagery of divine judgment, to a profound, melancholic reflection on his current, earthly reality. "How I suffer in far-off Meshech. It pains me to live in distant Kedar." To understand the emotional weight of this verse, we must look at a map of the ancient world. Meshech was a territory located in the extreme, rugged north, in the region of modern-day Turkey, or southern Russia. The people of Meshech were known as brutal, barbarous warriors. Kedar, on the other hand, was located in the extreme, scorching south. It was a region of the Arabian desert, populated by nomadic, often hostile tribes. Meshech and Kedar were thousands of miles apart. It was geographically impossible for the psalmist to be living in both places at the exact same time. Therefore, he is not giving us his literal mailing address; he is mapping his spiritual geography. By naming Meshech in the far north, and Kedar in the far south, he is drawing a massive circle around the known, pagan world. He is declaring, "I am surrounded by hostility. I am living in the dark, chaotic fringes of the earth." In the Deuteronomy Thirty-Two worldview, these are the territories of the disinherited nations. These are the lands ruled by the lesser, fallen elohim, where the worship of false gods, brutality, and deception are the established laws of the land. The psalmist is expressing a crushing, overwhelming sense of spiritual homesickness. He is an exile. He belongs to the kingdom of light, but he is forced to pitch his tent in the empire of darkness. It causes him actual, physical pain to wake up every morning in a culture that violently rejects the beautiful, life-giving order of his Creator. The fourth segment is: The Exhaustion of Seeking Peace in a World of War Psalm One Hundred Twenty: verses six and...

Jana Švecová joins us this week! We've been trying to get this sorted for a while so glad it finally came together. Jana is a super impressive climber, and has climbed multiple 8C boulders (she climbed another one since we recorded this episode). We chat to her about those projects, coming back from injuries, her long term battle with Terranova, Czech climbing and we also run through some desert island boulders. Hope you enjoy!If you're enjoying the podcast and would like to support us then please consider checking out our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/c/u70353823Support the show

Steve Surbaugh

Steve Surbaugh

Following Jesus, even and especially in a state of disappointment is essential for Christian maturityI have seen people let me down in ministry and in life all the time. Anytime that happens, I am getting better at remembering that people let down Jesus all the time. How did Jesus respond when He knew people would let Him down? Again, remember the Psalm of Ascents as Jesus walked to Jerusalem: “I lift my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; The Lord watches over you— the Lord is your shade at your right hand; The Lord will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.”-Psalms 121:1-3, 5, 7-8. With the coming cross looming, Jesus knew His disciples and the people would abandon Him, yet still believed His Father would be with Him. When people let me down and disappoint you and me, this is the Psalm I want and crave for your life and mine. God is faithful to us, even when people and situations disappoint us”

Pastor Will Martin

Walking Through the Psalms A Servants of Grace Podcast Series Psalm 134: The Journey Ends in Worship Author: Dave Jenkins Show: Servants of Grace Podcast — Walking Through the Psalms Date: Friday, March 13, 2026 Show Summary Psalm 134 concludes the Songs of Ascents with a powerful reminder: the journey of faith culminates in worship. In this episode, Dave Jenkins explains how Psalm 134 calls believers to continual, reverent praise—both in public gatherings and in the unseen hours of life—because the covenant God who made heaven and earth blesses His people through Christ our great High Priest. Audio Player Video Player Episode Notes The setting: Psalm 134 is the final Song of Ascents (Psalms 120–134), concluding the pilgrimage in praise. The exchange: Worshipers call God's servants to bless the Lord (vv. 1–2); the priestly blessing answers (v. 3). The emphasis: Worship is continual, reverent, corporate, and grounded in covenant grace. The fulfillment: In Christ, our praise is received and the blessing of God rests on His people (Heb. 7:25). Key Scriptures Psalm 134 Psalm 133:3 Romans 1:25 Ecclesiastes 3:11 Hebrews 7:25 1 Peter 2:9 Takeaways & Reflection Questions Is your worship limited to public moments, or does it continue in the unseen hours? Do you approach worship casually or consciously—before the holy presence of God? Where have you compartmentalized your life instead of living before the Lord in every sphere? How does Christ's ongoing priestly intercession encourage you to worship in every season? Call to Action If this episode encouraged you, please consider sharing it, leaving a review, and subscribing to the Servants of Grace Podcast. For more from our Psalm series please visit here or at our YouTube.

Traveling west by wagon train in the mid-1800s was a brutal journey. Most people walked 15–20 miles a day beside the wagons through heat, dust, scarce food, and little water. Nights were spent near creeks if possible so animals could drink and families could wash off the day's dirt before collapsing to sleep, only to rise and prepare again for the next day. After enduring the harsh prairie conditions, travelers still had to face the freezing storms and disease of the mountains. Yet they endured it all in hope of reaching a better place and claiming a new home.In a similar way, the Israelites traveled to Jerusalem each year for the festivals and sacrifices, using the journey to prepare their hearts before God. As they traveled, they sang the “Songs of Ascents” recorded in the Psalms, remembering God's deliverance and seeking His help. When they arrived, they brought their offerings as instructed in Leviticus 1:1-4. The worshipper laid his hand on the animal, identifying with it, and then killed the sacrifice, symbolically transferring his own sin to the sacrifice. But the priest alone took the blood of the sacrifice and applied it to the altar, symbolically covering the sin of the worshiper.These sacrifices pointed forward to Jesus Christ, the true sacrifice and High Priest. As explained in Hebrews, Christ entered the holy place not with the blood of animals but with His own blood, securing eternal redemption. Because of His sacrifice, the veil that once separated people from God was torn, and believers can now come boldly before God, cleansed and forgiven through Him.

Psalm 133: The Beauty and Blessing of Biblical UnityWalking Through the Psalms • Dave Jenkins • March 6, 2026Show SummaryIn this episode of Walking Through the Psalms, Dave Jenkins teaches throughPsalm 133—one of the shortest yet most profound Songs of Ascents.Sung by pilgrims traveling together toward Jerusalem, this psalm celebrates something precious:the unity of the people of God.Psalm 133 reminds us that true unity is not manufactured by human effort. It is a gracious gift from God,rooted in His Word, grounded in covenant identity, and fulfilled ultimately in union with Christ.Listen to the EpisodeWatch the EpisodeScripturePsalm 133 (ESV)Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard,on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes!It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion!For there the LORD has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.Episode NotesThe Beauty of Unity (Psalm 133:1)Psalm 133 begins with a call to attention: “Behold.” Unity among God's people is described asgood (morally beautiful before God) and pleasant (experientially sweet and joyful).This is not shallow harmony—it is covenant faithfulness expressed in community.Biblical unity is not unity at the expense of truth. It is unity grounded in the truth of God's Word,shaped by the person and work of Christ.Unity Is Sacred and Consecrated (Psalm 133:2)The psalm compares unity to the anointing oil poured on Aaron—imagery that is priestly and holy.As the oil ran from head to beard to robes, it pictured consecration for sacred service.In the same way, unity among God's people is not merely relational—it is holy.This is not a call for unity that compromises doctrine. The unity of Psalm 133 is rooted in the truththat reveals God's character and Christ's saving work.Unity Is Life-Giving (Psalm 133:3)Unity is also compared to the dew of Hermon—refreshing, sustaining, and life-giving in a dry land.Division dries up joy in the church, drains vitality, and suffocates spiritual health.But where God's people dwell together in covenant faithfulness, the Lord commands blessing.Christian unity is not rooted in personality, preference, or politics. It flows from covenant identity—and under the New Covenant, from our union with Christ who reconciles sinners to God and to one another.Key ScripturesPsalm 133John 17:17Ephesians 4:1–6Ephesians 2:13–16TakeawaysUnity is a gift from God—good, pleasant, and worth protecting.True unity reflects God's character among His people.Unity is spiritually life-giving and blessed by the Lord.Unity is grounded in truth and secured in Christ.Call to ActionIf this episode encouraged you, please consider subscribing on YouTube, sharing it with a friend, and leaving a review wherever you listen to podcasts.For more from our Psalm series please visit here or on our YouTube channel.

Psalm 132: God's Covenant Promise and the Coming King Series: Walking Through the Psalms Host: Dave Jenkins Date: Friday, February 27, 2026 Scripture: Psalm 132 Show Summary Psalm 132 is one of the most historically grounded and covenant-rich Songs of Ascents. As pilgrims traveled up to Jerusalem, they sang of God's covenant promises, His dwelling with His people, and His chosen King. This psalm looks back to David's zeal to establish the ark in Jerusalem, upward to God's chosen dwelling place in Zion, and forward to the promised King who reigns forever. Ultimately, Psalm 132 finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ—the true Son of David, the eternal King, and the true dwelling place of God with His people. God is not absent. God is not forgetful. He keeps His covenant promises in Christ.

Psalm 131 Explained — What a Soul at Rest in God Looks Like Show: Servants of Grace Podcast Series: Walking Through the Psalms Host: Dave Jenkins Show Summary In this episode of the Servants of Grace podcast, Dave Jenkins continues the Walking Through the Psalms series with a verse-by-verse look at Psalm 131—one of the Songs of Ascents and one of the clearest portraits in Scripture of spiritual maturity. After the deep cry of repentance and hope in Psalm 130, Psalm 131 brings us into stillness: humility before God, restraint of heart and mind, and settled trust in the Lord. Audio Video Call to Action If this episode encouraged you, please consider sharing it and leaving a rating or review. For more from our Psalms series visit here or at our YouTube.

Psalm 130: Out of the Depths—Forgiveness, Waiting, and Hope Show Summary In this episode of Walking Through the Psalms, Dave Jenkins walks through Psalm 130, a Song of Ascents that meets us in the depths of guilt and spiritual distress and leads us to the Lord's forgiveness, steadfast love, and abundant redemption. Psalm 130 teaches us to cry out honestly, confess without excuses, wait on the Lord by faith, and hope in His redeeming grace. Audio Player Video Player Call to Action If this episode helped you, please consider subscribing, sharing, and leaving a review. It helps others find faithful, biblical teaching. For more from our Psalm series please visit here or at our YouTube.

Psalm 129: Afflicted, Not Destroyed — God's Preserving Grace in Suffering Show: Walking Through the Psalms (Servants of Grace Podcast) | Speaker: Dave Jenkins | Passage: Psalm 129 | Date: Friday, February 6, 2026 Show Summary Psalm 129 reminds us that the journey of God's people is not only marked by blessing, but also by affliction. As a Song of Ascents, this psalm was sung by Israel on the road to Jerusalem bearing witness to generations of suffering, endurance, and the Lord's preserving grace. In this episode of Walking Through the Psalms, Dave Jenkins teaches that faithfulness to God does not shield believers from hardship, but it does guarantee a secure outcome. God's people may be struck down, but they are never destroyed, because the Lord is righteous, His justice is sure, and His sustaining grace holds His people fast. Ultimately, Psalm 129 points us to Jesus Christ—afflicted, rejected, and crucified yet victorious in His resurrection. Because Christ lives, suffering does not have the final word, and opposition cannot undo the promises of God. Listen Watch Call to Action If this episode encouraged you, please consider sharing it and leaving a review. It helps others find trustworthy biblical teaching. Next episode: We'll continue our journey through the Songs of Ascents by looking at Psalm 130.  For more from our Psalm series visit here or at our YouTube. 

Our Eyes Look to the Lord Our God A Song of Ascents. 123 To you I lift up my eyes,    O you who are enthroned in the heavens!2 Behold, as the eyes of servants    look to the hand of their master,as the eyes of a maidservant    to the hand of her mistress,so our eyes look to the Lord our God,    till he has mercy upon us. 3 Have mercy […]

After being literally run over by a school bus in Atlanta, climber Taylor Martin rebuilt her life through big mountain pursuits and solo aid climbing. This episode dives deep into Taylor's five new Yosemite first ascents established in a single season, including several big and technical aid routes in Yosemite. We explore her 70-hour Hardrock 100 ski traverse with only one hour of sleep, advanced aid climbing techniques like back-looping and daisy soloing, and the psychological toll of spending days alone on big walls. Taylor opens up about navigating trans identity in competitive climbing and record-keeping, the traumatic recovery from devastating injuries, and why partnerships rank above performance despite climbing mostly solo. Topics include: A3/A4 aid climbing, traumatic brain injury recovery, solo endurance objectives, new route development in Yosemite, mental challenges of solitary big wall pushes, modern speed climbing ethics, and finding meaning beyond grades in mountain sports.Watch the full episode on Youtube---Thanks to our sponsors!LIVSN DesignsCheckout their Ecotrek Trail Pants HereUse Code "TCM15" At Checkout for an extra 15% OFF Your OrderGet Access to Exclusive Episodes, Unlock Ad-Free Podcast, & MORE!---ResourcesTaylor's IGYoutube Video of HummingbirdMust Watch Video on Taylor's History

Let Us Go to the House of the Lord A Song of Ascents. Of David. 122 I was glad when they said to me,    “Let us go to the house of the Lord!”2 Our feet have been standing    within your gates, O Jerusalem! 3 Jerusalem—built as a city    that is bound firmly together,4 to which the tribes go up,    the tribes of the Lord,as was decreed for[a] Israel,    to give thanks to […]

22-year-old Zion crusher Connor Baty on first ascents, rope soloing the Triple Wall in 12 hours, and why he climbs without sponsors. Kora FA, Towers of the Virgin, and living the unsponsored dream.Today's guest is 22-year-old silent crusher from Zion, Connor Baty. Connor has been climbing since he was 8 years old, with key early development as a trad climber at Garden of the Gods in Colorado—a notoriously chossy area with soft, loose sandstone. Since then he quickly progressed through the grades, leveling out around the 5.13 range. He then took that knowledge and merged it with his true passion: adventure. Connor has been quietly building a reputation as a cutting-edge first ascensionist and endurance linkup climber. Connor was the partner to our previous guest James Barrow for the Complete Tower of the Virgin Traverse. They also established a new 5.12+ multipitch route in Zion, called Kora. Connor has climbed Time Wave Zero down in Potrero car to car in 5 hours and most recently he's claimed the rope solo speed record of the Zion Triple Wall—linking Touchstone, Moonlight Buttress, and Prodigal Son in a blistering 12 hours. Needless to say Connor is a crusher.He could easily seek out sponsorships at the level he is climbing. But as we learn in our conversation, Connor has zero interest in self-promotion. For him it's all about personal progress, adventure, and living the life he has now to the fullest. He even has groundbreaking pursuits outside of climbing and is currently attempting to navigate the Colorado River from source to sea. What I found most interesting about our conversation is how well-spoken, composed, and level-headed Connor is as a human and a climber. Back when I was 22 I could not say the same thing about myself. I really felt the stoke and energy from Connor in our conversation and I'm happy to be sharing it with you now.Watch the full episode on Youtube---Thanks to our sponsors!LIVSN DesignsCheckout their Ecotrek Trail Pants HereUse Code "TCM15" At Checkout for an extra 15% OFF Your OrderHot Chillys Performance Base LayersCheckout their Micro Elite Chamois Base Layer Systems HereUse Code "TCM15" At Checkout for 15% OFF Your OrderGet Access to Exclusive Episodes, Unlock Ad-Free Podcast, & MORE!---ResourcesConor's IG

Psalm 123: Lifting Our Eyes to God for Mercy Series: Walking Through the Psalms Host: Dave Jenkins Date: December 26, 2025 Show Summary Psalm 123 is a prayer for weary believers who feel worn down, mocked, or burdened by life. In this episode, Dave Jenkins explores how this Song of Ascents calls God's people to lift their eyes to the enthroned Lord, wait dependently for His mercy, and trust Him amid contempt and opposition. This psalm teaches us that the Christian life is lived not by self-sufficiency, but by humble dependence on the mercy of God—especially when trials press in and strength runs low. Audio Player Video Player Key Scripture Psalm 123 Episode Notes Looking Up to the Enthroned King (Psalm 123:1) Waiting Dependently for Mercy (Psalm 123:2) Crying Out Under Contempt (Psalm 123:3–4) Key Themes God is enthroned in heaven and rules over all things. Believers are called to depend entirely on God's mercy. Waiting on God is active faithfulness, not inactivity. God's people often endure scorn and opposition in the world. Mercy is God's loving response to our weakness. Takeaways Toward God: Lift your eyes to the Lord daily and depend on His mercy. Toward Yourself: Embrace dependence instead of self-sufficiency; remember your limitations. Toward Others: Show mercy to the weary and discouraged. Toward the World: Expect contempt, but respond with trust and steadfastness—not fear. Christ-Centered Focus Psalm 123 finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Jesus endured scorn and contempt, yet trusted the Father and obeyed perfectly. At the cross, mercy descended not in judgment upon us, but in grace through Christ. Because of Jesus, we lift our eyes with confidence, knowing God's throne is a throne of grace. Call to Action If this episode encouraged you, please consider subscribing on YouTube, sharing the episode, and leaving a review. These small actions help more people find trusted biblical teaching. For more from our Psalm series please visit our page at Servants of Grace or at our YouTube.

What's the ultimate goal of the Christian life? Psalm 134 offers a simple invitation: “Come, bless the LORD… May the LORD bless you.”As the closing song in the Songs of Ascents, this short psalm calls us to worship God with all we are—day and night, with steady hearts and lifted hands. And it reminds us that praise is never one-sided: the God who made heaven and earth delights to bless His people. What might change if blessing the Lord became the rhythm of your everyday life?More from Trinity Bible Church: https://trinitybible.com

What is “good and pleasant” to you? For David it was God's people living together in unity. Has that been your experience in church, or maybe something you've longed for but not found? Psalm 133 paints a vivid picture of community as a gift from God, yet we know that getting along isn't easy. Still, it's essential for followers of Jesus, and the stakes are high. What if it changes everything?More from Trinity Bible Church: https://trinitybible.com

Psalm 120, Peace in a World of LiesServants of Grace Podcast  |  Walking Through the Psalmsby Dave Jenkins on Friday, December 5, 2025Episode SummaryPsalm 120 begins the Songs of Ascents with a cry from a believer living in a world filled with lies, hostility, and spiritual tension. Before the ascent toward Zion begins, the psalmist looks honestly at where he is surrounded by deceitful tongues and dwelling among those who hate peace.In this sermon, Dave Jenkins walks through Psalm 120 to show that the journey of faith does not begin with strength or triumph, but with distress, honesty, and a desperate plea for deliverance. We see how the Lord hears the cries of His people, sustains them in a deceitful culture, and calls them to be peacemakers while living as pilgrims in a hostile world.Listen to the EpisodeWatch the EpisodeStay ConnectedIf this message from Psalm 120 encouraged you, please consider sharing it with a friend, your small group,or your church family.Subscribe to the Servants of Grace Podcast on your favorite platform, and join us as we continueWalking Through the Psalms.

Life involves a lot of waiting, and Psalm 132 shows why God can be trusted in every season. This message walks through the history behind the psalm—from David's desire to build a house for God, to the ark being captured and brought home, to God's promise of a King who would reign forever. All of it leads to Jesus, the true Son of David, and points ahead to the day He will return just as Scripture says.If you need a reminder of God's steady faithfulness, this psalm offers it. It calls us to stay close to Christ, share Him with others, and live with hope as we look for His return.More from Trinity Bible Church: https://trinitybible.com

Guest Pastor, Drew Witt, walks through Psalm 131 as a psalm of quiet trust. He shows how it cuts away selfish ambition, exposes the things we use to soothe a restless heart, and leads us toward steady hope in the Lord. With Luke 14, Luke 12, and Philippians 2, he explains the difference between ambition and godly aspiration and points us to Jesus, who chose the lower place for us.The message closes with two simple prayers—the Jesus Prayer and the Litany of Humility—to help shape daily dependence on Christ.More from Trinity Bible Church: https://trinitybible.com

Psalm 121-122. We conclude our study of the Songs of Ascents in the Psalms. In this sermon, Evangelists Jacob Holman and Gavin Williams examine how these two psalms convey the joy and peace that can be found through a full understanding of God and His people.

Psalm 130 gives a clear path for anyone who feels weighed down: cry out to the Lord, come in humility, trust His forgiveness, and wait on His word. In this sermon, Pastor Eric Kuykendall shows how the psalmist moves from despair to hope through the Lord's steady love and full redemption.More from Trinity Bible Church: https://trinitybible.com

Psalm 129 is a song for people who feel beaten down but not abandoned. Pastor Eric walks through this psalm and 2 Corinthians 4 to show how God's people can be honest about deep hurt, pray for justice without taking revenge, and lean on the gospel power at work in fragile “jars of clay.”Listen and be reminded that in Christ you may be down, but you are not out.More from Trinity Bible Church: https://trinitybible.com

Psalm 128 calls the one who fears the Lord and walks in His ways “blessed” — literally, happy. In this message, Guest Pastor Drew Witt shows how joy grows when we hold God in awe, obey what Jesus says, and live with the grain of how He made the world.Drawing on Psalm 128, the life of Jesus, stories from the global church, and even modern medical research on forgiveness, Drew contrasts a life of resentment and resistance with a life built on the rock of Christ's love.Listen and consider: Where do you need to fear the Lord and walk in His ways so that joy can grow there?More from Trinity Bible Church: https://trinitybible.com

Psalm 127 shows why life with God is fruitful and life without Him is frustrating. Pastor Eric teaches how the Lord builds, guards, and gives rest—and how this shapes our work, sleep, and parenting.Listen and learn more at trinitybible.com

Psalm 126 reveals how God turns tears into joy. Pastor Eric shows that remembering God's past restoring work brings gladness in the present and hope for the future. Whether His renewal comes suddenly like streams in the desert or slowly through seasons of sowing and reaping, we can trust His timing and rejoice in His faithfulness.Listen and be reminded that joy always follows the restoring hand of God.More from Trinity Bible Church: https://trinitybible.com

Psalm 125 shows where real stability comes from. Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion—unmoved and surrounded. Pastor Eric explores how God protects His people, restrains wickedness, and does what is right, calling us to live righteously with a steady trust in Christ.Listen and learn how to trade a restless, shifting life for a secure one in Him.More from Trinity Bible Church: https://trinitybible.com

This Sunday, we continued our journey through the Song of Ascents. We were reminded that in Psalm 124 that if the Lord had not been on our side, we would have been swallowed up by life's storms. These ancient “Songs of Ascent” were survival songs—words sung by God's people as they journeyed step by step toward His presence. They teach us something powerful: in every situation we face, we have a choice. We can descend into blame, pride, and entitlement—or we can ascend toward humility, gratitude, and faith. The songs we sing with our lives matter. Gratitude, thankfulness, and humility in the midst of suffering are what set followers of Jesus apart from the world.We live in a culture that when things get hard or difficult it is working to move you towards blame and victimhood, but God calls us to fight for a different algorithm—a way of living shaped by responsibility, gratitude, and dependence on Him. When we ascend, we discover God's presence in the silence, His protection in the storm, and His power in our weakness. Let's be a people who keep moving toward Him, singing songs of faith together as we go. As Psalm 124 closes, may this be our declaration: “Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”For more info, you can go to our website, check us out on Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube. If you would like to support STUDIO financially, you can do so here.Have a great week!