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SONGS OF DEGREES

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SONGS OF DEGREES

4 minuten leestijd Arcering uitzetten

Psalm 120:5, Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech, that I dwell in the tents of ‘ Kedar!”

The caption “A song Hamma’aloth” is written above this psalm. It is one of fifteen of such psalms.

Already long before the psalms were compiled into one book, this small collection seems to have existed. Often these songs were used during the church feast-days in Israel of old.

As we have tried to explain the previous month, by way of answering a question that we received one time, these are so-called procession songs—psalms that the people sang while going up to Jerusalem, to the temple, in order to praise the Name of the Lord at that place.

What a beautiful and sweet view that must have been when in small groups, all together at the same time, the people came from all parts of the country and went up to Zion, the city of the Great King.

How few good songs are sung nowadays. In former days the families could so enjoyably spend time at the organ singing psalms. From older people in our fatherland we heard one time that they went up to God’s House on Sunday in the morning, in the afternoon they stayed with children of God, at night they went to church again, and afterwards they would return with horse and buggy to their houses or farms far away. And, when the Lord surprised them on such a day, then they would sing gladly and with all their heart about the ways of the Lord.

Reader, our psalter is so rich. And the songs Hamma’aloth, too, contain a treasure of sweet contents for God’s militant church on earth.

This shows up also in this text, “Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar!”

Mesech was a wild tribe, living in the mountains between the Black and Caspian Sea. Kedar was a settlement from among the tribe of Ishmael. They were nomads who travelled hither and yon and who lived in black tents. Just as their forefathers, they were eager to fight and rough in character.

And now God’s servant laments that he is living among them. The attentive reader will surely understand that the poet uses pictorial language in these lines. He did not live among those peoples. He lived in the land given by God to Abraham.

But, it was for God’s servant just as if he was living in Mesech and in the tents of Kedar. Many in his own country were contentious, eager to quarrel, blaspheming the Name of the Lord—enemies of God and His people. Hence it is just as if he was living among those heathens, who did not fear God and who respected nobody.

It is a picture of God’s people in the world. Nothing awaits them but oppression and strife, derision, ridicule and scorn from all who do not uprightly fear the Name of the Lord.

King Jesus said to His own, “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you” (John 15:19).

Zion had better never count on the love of the world and show-religion. If it turns out that they think us to be people with whom you can do something after all, then there is something wrong with Zion. And then the soul-life of God’s children dwells most often in darkness.

No, there can be no concord between Christ and Belial.

And now God’s church, indeed, is in the world, but she ought not be of the world.

And even though the way goes through much which causes to grieve, even though they must lament, “Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech,” yet the day comes when the Lord will deliver all His own from Mesech forever. Even though it is true that sometimes they must sigh on account of dwelling in the black tents of Kedar, yet, that too, passes by.

Blessed are we if in days of oppression we have a Refuge. Would that we seek it before it is too late, so that through grace we might learn to look upon Him Who has testified for all who come to love His appearing, “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the World” (John 16:33). Mesech passes away, Kedar does not remain, but Zion remains forever, and that only on account of God’s eternal good pleasure.

Chilliwack, B.C.

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Bekijk de hele uitgave van zondag 1 april 1979

The Banner of Truth | 20 Pagina's

SONGS OF DEGREES

Bekijk de hele uitgave van zondag 1 april 1979

The Banner of Truth | 20 Pagina's