Songs of Ascent

by Ashleigh Beason, LPCA

We have heard it said that the Christian life is a journey of highs and lows, mountain tops and valleys. Sometimes it’s difficult; we are in the valley waiting for God to take us out. Sometimes we are on the mountain top; we have seen God move in incredible ways. But what about the in between, what about the times when we aren’t on a mountain or in the valley? What about the times when we are trying with everything we have to reach that mountain top, when we are trusting, waiting and expecting God to get us out of the valley we have been in taking one step at a time, making the ascent?

The Israelites would journey at least three times a year uphill to a place called Jerusalem, the Holy City to worship. No matter where they came from they had to go uphill to get to the city–from the valley to the mountain top– an ascent. Deuteronomy 16:16, says “three times a year you shall appear before the Lord your God at the place he will choose… they shall not appear before the Lord empty-handed, each to what he is able.”

It does not say what each person brought to the place of worship in Jerusalem but I believe that they each brought themselves exactly as they were in the season of life they were in, and that is where each of the Songs of Ascent came from. These songs of Ascent come from Psalm chapters 120 through 134 in which each Israelite on their way to Jerusalem to worship. They are comprised of Psalms that cry out in distress asking the Lord to deliver them (120), declaring the Lord is our helper (121), asking for peace (122), begging for mercy (123), celebrating what the Lord has done (124), dwelling in security of who they are in the Lord (125), hope for the future (126), complete dependence on God (127), fear of the Lord and his commandments (128), Victory in fighting an enemy (129), waiting on the Lord to move (130), asking to calm a soul in chaos (131), and hands standing raised in worship (134).

They experienced all different emotions on their ascent to Jerusalem: hopefulness, cheerfulness, despondency, distress, disgust, and bewilderment. I am not sure who wrote the Song of Ascents but they were all singing these songs knowing each person walking up to Jerusalem was in a different season calling out to the Lord in different ways. We can all relate to at least one of these Psalms in the Songs of Ascent. No matter what season the Israelites were in, just like us, they were all on the journey upward–upward to a different season, upward to a different place, upward to Jerusalem, ultimately upward to Heaven together- singing, for themselves and for each other. This is the Christian walk. Ultimately we are taking this journey here on earth to Heaven but on the way we are being formed for Heaven. 

We are always on our way to another season and although we cannot see what is ahead we can always sing a “Song of Ascent.”


Ashleigh Beason, LPCA

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