{"id":8299,"date":"2015-08-13T16:20:12","date_gmt":"2015-08-13T20:20:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=8299"},"modified":"2015-08-13T16:20:12","modified_gmt":"2015-08-13T20:20:12","slug":"songs-for-the-road-8915","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=8299","title":{"rendered":"Songs for the Road (8\/9\/15)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Are you on a trip somewhere?\u00a0 Looking forward to where you’re going but wondering how to occupy your time in the long car drive?<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Our sermon on August 9 2015 was given by Larry Bakely (PUMC Lay Leader).\u00a0 Click on the below “Play” button, then scroll down to follow along.
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Note that the recording begins immediately with the scripture reading, starting with Psalm 130:1…<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

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The scripture reading was from Psalm 130, one of the “Songs of Ascents.” Click the drop down box to read it…<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

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Psalm 130<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t
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  1. Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord.<\/li>\n
  2. Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive\u00a0\u00a0to the voice of my supplications!<\/li>\n
  3. If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, \u00a0Lord, who could stand?<\/li>\n
  4. But there is forgiveness with you,\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0so that you may be revered.<\/li>\n
  5. I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0and in his word I hope;<\/li>\n
  6. My soul waits for the Lord, more than those who watch for the morning,\u00a0 more than those who watch for the morning. O Israel, hope in the Lord!\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is great power to redeem.<\/li>\n
  7. It is he who will redeem Israel\u00a0from all its iniquities.\u00a0<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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    On the Road Again…<\/span><\/h3>\n

    How do you keep occupied when you\u2019re in the car driving on a long trip (vacation)?\u00a0 You\u2019re anxious to get to where you\u2019re going, even as you\u2019re anxious about the other drivers who are cutting you off \"Family<\/a>on the highway.\u00a0 You and your kids are bored.\u00a0 So you play music on the CD player.\u00a0 Or maybe you count license plates (picture Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel traveling on the New Jersey Turnpike).\u00a0 Or maybe you even get the family to sing some songs.\u00a0 Remember those long bus trips in school where you might have been subjected to 100 bottles of bear on the wall\u2026<\/p>\n

    But you get the point- music helps us through life\u2019s journeys.<\/p>\n

    In ancient Israel, they had many festivals which were held in Jerusalem.\u00a0 People would come from all over and travel \u201cup\u201d to Jerusalem.\u00a0 They always said \u201cup\u201d to Jerusalem.\u00a0 Even if you were headed south from Galilee, you\u2019d say we\u2019re going Up to Jerusalem.\u00a0 Jerusalem is on a geographical high point.\u00a0 It\u2019s also where the Temple is, so it\u2019s a Spiritual Highpoint.<\/p>\n

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    Songs of Ascents<\/span><\/h3>\n

    The book of Psalms records some of the songs that the people would sing as they traveled \u201cup\u201d to Jerusalem.\u00a0 The 15 psalms beginning with Psalm 120 and continuing through Psalm 134 are identified as \u201csongs of ascents.\u201d\"Jordan<\/a><\/p>\n

    According to one commentary, there\u2019s is a pattern in the way these 15 songs are arranged.\u00a0 You can look at them as being arranged in a series of five groups of three songs.\u00a0 Different commentaries might find other arrangements, but this does give us some insight.<\/p>\n

    The first song in each group speaks of desperation.\u00a0 Things are going bad and we know that we need God, and we totally depend on Him.<\/p>\n

    The second song in each group talks about God\u2019s power, love, and righteousness.\u00a0 We worship Him and know that He will help us.\u00a0 Psalm 130 is one of these second songs.\u00a0 Verse 5 says \u201cI wait for the Lord and in His word I hope.<\/span><\/em><\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n

    The third song in each group celebrates the security we have with Him.\u00a0 Because of His protection, and because of the loving trusting relationship we have with God, we can step out and serve Him.<\/p>\n

    So as the Israelites traveled to the Temple and festivals in Jerusalem, it\u2019s fair to say that they were singing songs that expressed their Desperation for God, their Dependence on God\u2019s Power, and their Hope in God\u2019s Security.<\/p>\n

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    Anticipation<\/span><\/h3>\n

    The people were traveling a long distance headed for these festivals.\u00a0 And as they traveled they must have been anticipating a time of celebration and worship.\u00a0 Just as we might look forward to planting our feet in the sand on a beach, they were looking forward to a time of celebrating God in the Temple.<\/p>\n

    We\u2019re on a trip too. We\u2019re going somewhere; there\u2019s a purpose to our travels.<\/p>\n

    Paul talked about a prize at the end of life\u2019s journey.<\/p>\n\n\t\t

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    \n\t\t\tPhilippians 3:14… I press on toward the goal to win the prize<\/span> for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t
    \n\t\t\t1 Cor 9:24… \u00a0 \u201cRun in such a way as to get the prize.<\/span><\/span>\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t
    \n\t\t\tIn Ephesians 3: 19\u2026 Paul prays that we might be \u201cfilled to the measure of all the fullness of God<\/span>\u201d\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t\n

    We\u2019re on a journey with a purpose.\u00a0 We want the prize. We want to filled with Christ.\u00a0 One way to do this is to encourage eachother with songs reminding us of our need for Christ, of His power, and of the security He offers.<\/p>\n

    \u201dSpeak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.\u00a0 <\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

    Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.<\/span><\/em><\/strong>\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 (Ephesians 5:19-20)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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    What songs should we be singing as we travel this road?<\/p>\n

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    1: Songs of Desperation<\/span><\/h3>\n

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    The first Psalm in each group of Psalms of ascents speaks of our desperate situations, and reminds us that God is the answer.\u00a0 Flip back to Psalm 120, which is the first Psalm in the first group:<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t

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