Pinecrest Baptist Church

This Psalm of Ascension is attributed to Solomon. If anyone could tell us what a life of self-dependence is like, he certainly could. He finally learned that we need God for everything in life. The second half of this Psalm may describe the most difficult part of life that requires God's help and intervention - raising our children!

This Psalm is a song of revival, of renewal, of Israel making a comeback after 70 long years in Babylonian captivity. We also become captive to our sin, to cold hearts for the Lord, and to spiritual apathy. Let's learn the process for making a spiritual comeback!

In this Psalm of Ascension, the writer is thinking back to the horrible circumstances that could have ruined the nation of Israel, but is reminded that God came through in a miraculous way! We can still trust Him with not only our souls, but with every situation in life.

Weak faith in a strong object is better than strong faith in a weak object." Our faith is in Jesus, the Son of God! Faith in Him gives us the ability to live victoriously in a faithless world.

When we have a high view of God we'll have the correct view of man. With eyes of faith we must look past the turmoil within us and the trouble all around us to the God who controls all things according to His plan for mankind. Where man rules, God overrules!

In this Psalm of Ascension the song writer describes some elements that are present in true worship. Worship that pleases God comes from a passionate, praising and prayerful heart!

Where do we look when trouble is coming from all sides? The Psalmist tells us where our help comes from, reminding us that God won't let us slip and will preserve our very souls!

From the first of the Ascension Psalms, the hymn writer lets us know that we can still worship in evil surroundings. The very things that made him cry out to God in prayer still attack our lives today. God still answers - sometimes slowly, sometimes swiftly, but always sovereignly.

In part two of this message, we continue to look at David's worship as it relates to his returning the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. We learn from his example that God's work must be done in God's way if it is to have God's blessing. Once David proceeded scripturally, he could then praise shamelessly!

This chapter possibly forms the backdrop for the Psalms of Ascension (Psalm 120-134). David has a great desire to return the Ark of the Covenant to its rightful place with God's people. We examine his worship here, and learn much about worship "God's way" and not "man's way". God takes unscriptural worship very seriously.