Musing – What are the Psalms (Songs) of Ascent?

 

Hebraic Musing – What are the Psalms (Songs) of Ascent?

The Psalms of Ascent, also known as the Songs of Ascent, are a group of 15 Psalms in the Bible, numbers 120-134.  They were traditionally sung by pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem for the great pilgrimage feasts.  These psalms are a collection of poetic prayers and hymns that express a variety of emotions, from gratitude and praise to lament and supplication. 

On my second visit to Israel, we toured the country and finally headed to Jerusalem.  As the bus climbed the uphill road, we read (sang) these “Psalms of Ascent” on the speaker in the bus.  An unforgettable experience!

What are the Psalms of Ascent?  A distinct group within the Book of Psalms, identified by the phrase "Song of Ascent" (“Shir Hama'a loth” in Hebrew) at the beginning of each psalm.  They were sung by Pilgrims as they traveled to Jerusalem for major religious festivals like Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles.  The term "Ascents" refers to the physical journey uphill to Jerusalem, as well as the spiritual ascent toward God. 

These Psalms of Ascent explore themes of hope, trust, reliance on God, and the beauty of unity.  Enjoy!

Psalm 120:  A psalm of lament, expressing the need for deliverance from hardship. 

Psalm 121:  A psalm of confidence, focusing on God's protection and guidance 

Psalm 122:  A psalm of joy, expressing the desire to go to the house of the Lord. 

Psalm 123:  A psalm of supplication, pleading for God's mercy. 

Psalm 124:  A psalm of deliverance, thanking God for protection from enemies. 

Psalm 125:  A psalm of hope, emphasizing God's protection of those who trust Him. 

Psalm 126:  A psalm of joy, expressing the hope of restoration. 

Psalm 127:  A psalm of dependence, recognizing God's provision and blessings. 

Psalm 128:  A psalm of blessing, praising God for His faithfulness. 

Psalm 129:  A psalm of deliverance, remembering the Lord's protection. 

Psalm 130:  A psalm of penitence, seeking God's forgiveness and mercy. 

Psalm 131:  A psalm of quietness, trusting in God's care and guidance. 

Psalm 132:  A psalm of promise, acknowledging God's faithfulness to His people. 

Psalm 133:  A psalm of unity, praising God for His blessings of harmony. 

Psalm 134:  A psalm of praise, encouraging believers to bless the Lord. 

What did reading or singing these Psalms of Ascent accomplish?

·      These Psalms/Songs were especially significant because they were a vital part of the Pilgrimage Experience, offering comfort, encouragement, and spiritual guidance.

·      They remind us that our lives are also a Spiritual Journey of faith, and that God's presence is with us throughout our journey.

·      They also offer us a reminder message of Hope, Trust, and Reliance on God, even in difficult times.

Points to Ponder

What might we accomplish by reading these Psalms?

Might we want to highlight the key words in each Psalm in our Bible?

Why will I never forget the experience of ascending to Jerusalem?

“I lift up my eyes to the hills— where does my help come from? 
      My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.”  Psalm 121:1-2 NIV

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                           July 8, 2025            
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

Musing – What goes on Forever?

 Hebraic Musing – What goes on Forever?

Words meaning "Forever" or “Everlasting” are mentioned in the Bible over 1,000 times.  There is no mystery to the meaning.  Forever means everlasting, infinite, perpetual, and continuous existence, and never ending!!!  Here are just few of the many things our beloved Bible tells us that are “forever” or “everlasting”.

First mention - Man will live forever!  Our trinitarian God said - “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever.” Genesis 3:22 NKJV   BTW, we will live forever!

His Covenants are forever.  “And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you.” Genesis 17:7   That would include covenants made with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and David; and the salt covenant of fellowship. 

The land belongs to Israel forever.  It does not belong to the Palestinians or the Arabs, but the people of Israel. The LORD told Abram - “for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever.” Genesis 13:15   And the land the LORD showed Abram was a lot more than today’s maps designate as Israel.

About Passover – “And you shall observe this thing (Passover) as an ordinance for you and your sons forever.” Exodus 12:24   Hmm…How does the Church celebrate Passover nowadays?

When Moses sang “The LORD shall reign forever and ever” in Exodus 15:18, then Miriam sang of the ♫“Horse and rider thrown into the sea”!

Psalm 136 tells us 26 times that “His love endures forever.” NIV   

Psalm 19:9 reminds us that “The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever.” 

Babylon will be desolate forever.  “Thus with violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown down and shall not be found anymore.” Revelation18:21

Jesus told us that Hell is forever!  “’Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.  And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Matthew 25:45-46 NKJV   Does everlasting also mean forever? 

And here are a few more “forevers” to think about:

• Seventh day Sabbath, as established at creation.  In fact, all His appointed times (feasts) are forever.  
• Grain, drink and wave offerings are all forms of praise and are forever.  
• Yom Kippur the day of atonement is forever.
• Torah, instructions, commands are forever; curses for not obeying commands are forever.  
• Kingdom of David, with Yeshua as his heir.  
• The fear of YHVH is forever. (Respect or awe)

And this has only been of sampling of ways the Kingdom of God is forever everlasting. 

Points to Ponder

Q – How long will Jesus be our LORD?    A - __________

Whether they are saved saints, or condemned sinners, how long will they/we live?

♫   Forever God is faithful, Forever God is strong, Forever God is with us, Forever.  ♫

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                          July 1, 2025            
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

Note – Inspired by “What goes on forever” by Johanna Hocker.

Musings – Why are some Psalms done in Acrostics?

 

Hebraic Musings – Why are some Psalms done in Acrostics?

Q - What’s an acrostic? A - When each section begins with a specific letter of the (Hebrew) aleph-bet. 

There are several reasons why some Psalms are done in acrostics:

(1) It may be an artistic device used to add a certain beauty to the psalm, as rhyme does in our poetry.

(2) It is a way to explore the nature and value of the written Word of God exhaustively, as we might say – the subject is being covered from A to Z.

(3–my favorite) The acrostic was a way to assist the children in learning the psalms.  That is probably why many Old Testament passages are poetry rather than prose. Poetry is easier than prose to memorize!

Psalm 119 is the most complete acrostic psalm. It is the longest chapter of the Bible. It is divided into 22 sections, each section is titled by one of the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet.  Here’s the Hebrew Letter and it’s related verses in Psalm 119.  Aleph (1-8), Beth (9-16) Gimel (17-24) Daleth (25-32) He (33-40) Heth (57-64) Waw (41-48) Zayin (49-56) Teth (65-72) Yodh (73-80) Kaph (81-88) Lamedh (89-96) Mem (97-104) Nun (105-112) Samekh (113-120) Ayin (121-128) Pe (129-136) Tsadhe (137-144) Qoph  (145-152) Resh (153-160) Sin / Shin (161-168) Taw (169-176) = 22 Hebrew Aleph-Bet letters. 
You might enjoy noting in your Bible the Hebrew symbolic definition(s) or meanings as headers for each section in Psalm 119 in your Bible!?!?  (See chart below)

Psalm 9 is another acrostic.  However, it has an interesting problem; where there should be the fourth letter of the Hebrew aleph-bet, there is nothing.  The Hebrew letter “Dalet” is missing!  If you are reading your Bible in English, you won’t notice the missing “Dalet.”  What does the Hebrew word for missing “Dalet” symbolize?  The answer is “door.”  For centuries Israeli children kept pestering their parents, “Where is the Dalet (door)? Where is the Dalet (door)?”  Of course, the parents had no answer . . . until Jesus arrived.

It is interesting that in John 10:1-2 Jesus said “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.  But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.”  And Jesus continues in vs.9,  “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved,”

 I wonder if Jesus was also referring to the missing Dalet in Psalm 9 when He said  “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.  Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.'” Luke 13:24-25 NIV  

And if you want to learn a little Hebrew, let’s start with the aleph-bet chart below; and notice that every letter in Hebrew represents both a number and a symbol and a meaning.

Points to Ponder
What are we missing by not reading the Bible in Hebrew?

How much gets lost when translating languages?  Especially when translating the Bible?

Appreciate and enjoy the symbolism in the Hebrew language!

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                            June 24, 2025            
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

 

			Aleph - Bet
Q W E R T Y	Sound	Value	PCBS Hebrew Outline	Hebrew	Picture	Meaning	Symbol Represents or Best Word
a	(silent)	1 & 1000	a	Aleph	Ox Head; Bull                          UNITY	Strong; Leader; Power    FATHER   Invisible God	Strong Leader  - FATHER God's Nature or Character
B          -        b	B  (w/Dot) Bed                  V          Very	2	B  b	Beit         Bet           -     Veth	Tent Floorplan;    House       WITNESS	Family; HOUSE; In        SON-YESHUA-Housed in Flesh	House   SON-YESHUA-Housed in Flesh
G        -        g	G     go         or         GH GHana	3	G  g	Gimel       -      Ghimel	Foot;  Camel          PERFECTION	Pride; Walk; Carry; Lift Up	Benefactor;      Lift Up;     HELPer  -     HOLY SPIRIT
D          -         d	D        Dog            -          TH     THis	4	D  d	Dalet        -        Daleth	Tent Door     CREATION	Pathway; Hang;  Enter	DOOR (closed to God); so Needs Help
h	H        Hat   (Breath)	5	h	Hei        He     Heh	Window; Raised arms of man; God's GRACE	Look; Reveal; Breath of God; Indwelling of the Holy Spirit=New Creation	Breath of God        (As prefix = "THE"; suffix = "FEMININE")
w	W  Windmill   v, u      Very	6	w	Vav       or   Waw	Hook; Nail; Tent Peg     MAN	Add; Secure; Hook	Hook   (and)  (Soul?)
z	Z       Zeal	7	z	Zayin	Weapon;  Sword or Mattock  COMPLETE	Food; Cut; Nourish; Weapon	Completion                   or           Nurishment
j	CH       baCH	8	j	Chet   CHeth	Fence;    Tent Wall                NEW BEGINNING	Private; Outside; Divide; Separate	Life;                       Wall;                    Divide
f	T          Ten	9	f	Tet    Teth	Snake (Head & tail); Twist; FRUIT Basket	Surround; Contain; Mud	DEATH, GOOD or EVIL; Surround; Contain
y	Y         Yet	10	y	Yod     Yodh    Yud	Closed Hand; Arm   LAW	Work; Throw; Make; Worship; "The Hand of GOD"	HOLY SPIRIT; Work;  Worship
K       -      k	K        King     or        CH      LoCH	20	K  k	KAF        -       Khaph	Open PALM of  Hand	Cover; Bend; Open; Allow; Tame	PALM
I         -       i	K        King     or        CH      LoCH	500	Ii	KAF   Khaph (sofeit)	Open PALM of  Hand	Cover; Bend; Open; Allow; Tame	PALM
l	L      Long	30	l	Lamed Lamedh	Ox-goad; Shepherd's Staff	Teach; Prod; Yoke; Toward; Bind	Prod; Teach

 

m	M      Men	40	m	Mem  (open)	Water	Massive; Mighty; Chaos; Blood - REVEALED	Living Truth Revealed
<	M      Men	600	<	Mem (Sofeit- Closed)	Water	Massive; Mighty; Chaos; Blood - CONCEALED	Living Truth Concealed
n	N     New	50	n	Nun	Fish;      Seed	Activity; Continue; Activity; Life; Heir; Son	Life
/	N     New	700	/	Nun (Sofeit)	Fish;      Seed	Activity; Continue; Activity; Life; Heir; Son	Life
s	S      Sign	60	s	Samech  Samek	Prop;     Thorn	Support; Grab; Hate; Protect; Turn	Support            or                Protect
u	(silent)	70	u	Ayin	Eye	See; Know; Shade; Experience	See & Know
P        -       p	P     Pond         -           PH   Fish	80	Pp	Pe    w/Dot     -        Phe	Mouth	Speak; Open Mouth; Blow; Word; Scatter	Speak
(?)         -      [	P     Pond         -           PH   Fish	800	[[	Pe     w/Dot     -        Phe (sofeit)	Mouth	Speak; Open Mouth; Blow; Word; Scatter	Speak
x	TZ    caTS	90	x	Tzaddi  Tsadhe Tsade	Fish-hook; Man on his side (Kneeling)	Catch; Wait; Chase; Snare; Hunt; Desire; Need	Righteous-ness
J	TZ    caTS	900	J	Tzaddi (Sofeit)	Fish-hook (hanging)	Catch; Wait; Chase; Snare; Hunt; Desire; Need	Righteous-ness
q	K   or  Q  uniQue   or C Candle	100	q	KOF   KUF   Qoph	BACK of the HEAD;  Sun on Horizon	Behind; Least; Last; Condense; Circle; Time	HOLINESS -   Holy
r	R        Run	200	r	Resh	Head           of man	First; Top; Head; Highest; Beginning	Head; Highest
c           -    v	S        So         -             SH       Ship	300	cv	Sin          -         Shin	Two Front TEETH	Consume; Sharp; Press; Destroy, Protector; Two	PEACE
T           -    t	T         Toe        -          TH      PaTH	400	Tt	Tav     Taw   (w/Dot)        -       Thav   Thaw	Crossed Sticks	Covenant; Sign; Mark; Seal	Covenant