I trust that as you read these words in the “For Pilgrims” panel of our weekly bulletin you also read the pilgrim psalms. The editors of the Psalter placed a collection of fifteen psalms that all have the title “A song of ascents” - Psalms 120 - 134. These are commonly understood as prayers that the Jewish pilgrims sang as they journeyed to Jerusalem and then up to the temple to worship the LORD God.

As I look ahead into the next months – from now until September – I anticipate two things.

First – our family is setting aside times to be together. I will never take this for granted.

When Edith and I begin a vacation we will often recite Psalm 121. There is a sense of trust and assurance expressed in this psalm that seems unequalled in the Bible.  

In last week’s article “For Pilgrims”, I began with Psalm 120, the first of fifteen psalms with the title “A song of ascents.” In Psalm 120, the psalmist begins where we must all begin.

When we hear a lie often enough do we begin to accept the lie as the truth? Do we have the discernment to recognize and reject a lie - no matter how popular it is and how our society pressures us to accept it? The writer of Psalm 120 faced this situation.