PSALMS OF ASCENT!

PSALM 122:2

Standing
OUR FEET ARE STANDING IN YOUR GATES, O JERUSALEM. (PSALMS 122:2 NIV)
ANTICIPATION
Some commentators believe this Psalm marks the arrival of the writer and the rest of his pilgrim party in Jerusalem. They think the rest of the Psalms of Ascent are written within the walls of the city. It is possible they are correct but it makes more sense to me that the pilgrimage continues through more of the Psalms to come. Instead, I believe the Psalmist is doing some spiritual d a y - d r e a m i n g. H e i s envisioning the moment he is eagerly anticipating - their arrival in Jerusalem at the end of the pilgrimage. And when do we do this? Every time we pray or read Bible promises. Every time we sing songs about God together with our spiritual family. Followers of Jesus live in the era of the already, but not yet. We are saved, but not yet enjoying all the fruits of that union with God. Already we enjoy the freedom from sin that Jesus has given us through the cross, but not yet do we experience an existence where there is no sin. That will have to wait until the end of time. A classic passage that expresses this well reads, But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressionsit is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:47 NIV) God has already raised us and seated us to be with Jesus and share in his victory. Therefore, although life has its challenges, we rejoice because already, by faith, we live inside our Jerusalem, But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the rstborn, whose names are written in heaven. (Hebrews 12:2223 NIV)

ADORATION
Because of this promise and this hope we, although still o n p i l g r i m a g e, c a n s i n g condently of having our feet already planted on Jerusalems pavements. We have come, and are coming to a place where everything is put right. We are people of adoration - adoring God because of what he has already given us and adoring God because of what he will give us. For these reasons we worship and praise Him both now and in eternity.

ALREADY
Literally the Hebrew of this verse reads, Our feet have actually been standing within your gates! The Psalmist feels as if he has already arrived. Christian sense this too. We see ourselves already enjoying what God promises when we combine spiritually-inspired imagination with scripture promises.

Malcolm Cox, email: malcolm.cox@iccmissions.org | ICC Missions on facebook | www.nwlcc.org