Musing – How Do You Approach Your Time at Church?

Hebraic Musing – How Do You Approach Your Time at Church?

How do you approach your time at church?  Worst case scenario – It is an obligatory attendance; a time to be endured; a necessary time each week to acknowledge the Lord?  Do we truly and fully understand how important it is to give praise and honor to Our Lord?  And who is helping us?  Who should we thank?

Psalm 134 is the last of the “Psalms of Ascents”.  On one of our tours of the Holy Land, our busload read and sang the “Psalms of Ascent” (Psalms 120 – 134) as we wound our way up through the hills approaching Jerusalem.  I still cry as I recall how we experienced the anticipation of approaching that Holy City, the City of God.

What was the last Ascent Psalm, 134, about?   “Praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord who minister by night in the house of the Lord.   Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the Lord.” NIV 

Here’s a way to explain the significance of Psalm 134 – “This Psalm is the departing song of the pilgrims who prayed for protection; justice; and God’s blessings on their journeys to Jerusalem to celebrate the three annual feasts.  These pilgrims are on their way home and yet they look back on the watchmen who have the honor of serving in night service to the Lord as they provide watch over His temple.  They shout to the watchmen to stay vigilant, to protect the seat of the Lord while the pilgrims are far away and unable to do so.  The pilgrims relished the celebration of the feast and they reveled in the all-encompassing love of the Lord; they thrilled to each new presentation; they sang loudly the praises of Jehovah and they thoroughly enjoyed the close fellowship of their brethren; but it is now time to return home.  As they pass through the great walls of the beautiful city they are anxious to be heading home but they also want the watchmen to know how important their nightly service is to the Lord.  This would be a perfect case of ‘parting is such sweet sorrow’.” *  

What would our ‘routine weekly experience’ be like if someone in the car read the “Psalms of Ascent” on the way to and from church?

As we go to and come from our fellowship of choice, do we recognize how important it is to praise and honor Our Lord as we approach and depart the premises?  And do we recognize the support we receive from all those behind the scenes paid staff and volunteers who toil in service to Him so we can focus our praise on Our Lord?  They are the night watchmen working to provide the experiences we enjoy – “a staff that fans the flames of Christian spirit to sustain the very life of the church protecting the Name of God and promoting His goodness at all times.  Know them and praise them for their mighty deeds until you come again.” *

 Points to ponder

Let’s pray that our night watchmen guard the church and all its treasure with diligence
and pray that they keep the true nature of Christian Spirit alive in our absence.

Let’s praise and honor them with a kind word for the diligent watchmen they are for our Lord
(and pray that they be divinely appointed to their tasks *)

To God be the glory!

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                            February 27, 2018

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”   Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

*  Inspired by and excerpted from Bob Seigle’s FBCMI Prayer Team message, January 2018
The “Psalms of Ascent” are also called Pilgrim Songs.  Jews traveling to Jerusalem would sing these songs as they “ascended” the uphill road to the city; and priests sang them as they climbed the steps to the temple.

Ps. 120: God’s presence during distress

Ps. 121: Joyful praise to the Lord

Ps. 122: Prayer for Jerusalem

Ps. 123: Patience for God’s mercy

Ps. 124: Help comes from the Lord

Ps. 125: Prayer for God’s blessing upon His people

Ps. 126: The Lord has done great things

Ps. 127: God’s blessing on man’s efforts

Ps. 128: Joy for those who follow God’s ways

Ps. 129: A cry for help to the Lord

Ps. 130: A prayer of repentance

Ps. 131: Surrender as a child to the Lord

Ps. 132: God’s sovereign plan for His people

Ps. 133: Praise of brotherly fellowship and unity

Ps. 134: Praise to God in His temple