The Songs of Degrees outline the orderly progress of growth and exercises of the ten tribes, from their lowest point in Psalm 120 when they cry to the Lord in despair, to their highest point in Psalm 134 where united Israel is seen together blessing the Lord and one another. The songs of degrees have a moral application for us as well, especially in times of contention and division. The Lord would desire to work in our hearts to bring about a unity that is according to His heart and mind.
Psalm 120 — Distress. The ten tribes recognize their problems and acknowledge where they are — far from Jerusalem, the city of peace. They are in conditions marked by lying, deceit and a hatred for peace. The path of peace that they once departed from is now desired.
Psalm 121 — Dependence. The remnant of Israel looks from afar to see the mountains of Zion, suggesting their heart is now toward Jerusalem. This “traveler’s psalm” is replete with confidence in the Lord and His preservation of them from the time they begin their trip by “going out” from the surrounding nations, until their arrival and “coming in” to Jerusalem itself.
Psalm 122 — Joyful Anticipation. The prospect of standing within Jerusalem gladdens their heart. They, who once left in rebellion (1 Kings 12:16), now come to appreciate the proper administrative order — “set thrones” — in that city of peace. Peace, prosperity, and unity — “compact together” (1 Cor. 1:10) — should characterize the local assembly.
Psalm 123 — Waiting on the Lord. After reading the last psalm, we almost expect to see the remnant of Israel entering through the gates of Jerusalem with songs of rejoicing. Yet, more lessons and further soul experience are needed before that day arrives. In dependence they look to Him that dwells in the heavens, not for protection as in Psalm 121, but awaiting His direction. They now experience the scorn and contempt of the proud, and thus seek mercy from the Lord.
Psalm 124 — God for us. The scorning does not let up. Rather, it intensifies to open opposition and wrath. The remnant now comes to realize this journey is one that requires divine intervention on their behalf. They escape both the violence (“prey to their teeth,”) and deceit (“snare of the fowlers”) of man, recognizing it is only because Jehovah was for them that they made it through. God in His mercy usually does not permit such intense trials at the beginning of our path, knowing our frame and remembering we are but dust. David knew this character of persecution from the hand of Saul and later from his own son Absalom.
Psalm 125 — The Government of God. The mountains of Jerusalem come into view, mount Zion, a symbol of grace, chief among them. The Lord is not only for His people, but also with them. God’s grace is unchanging and abiding; His government is towards those who do good, but opposed to them that work iniquity. God’s government today is providential — neither immediate nor direct. Hence, faith is required.
Psalm 126 — Restoration. We might wonder why this is not the last psalm if complete restoration has been realized. Perhaps the reason is because while the two tribes and ten tribes are now reunited in Jerusalem, they still need to learn to fully trust the Lord (from the threat of Gog), hence their cry, “Turn again our captivity” (vs. 4). There is more work to be done in them before this company joins together as one to praise the Lord. Or, in the language of Numbers 19 regarding the red heifer, they haven’t reached “the seventh day.”
There is laughter and singing, but tears are noted as the necessary element to water the good seed sown for there to be a full harvest: a profound principle to trace through the Word of God, the quintessence of which is our blessed Lord Himself.
Psalm 127 — God’s Sovereignty. There are four songs of degrees that are identified as being “of David.” (122, 124, 131, 133). Psalm 127 is the only one designated as “of Solomon.” It is clearly fitting that it is so since the subject is “building the house.” Whatever our efforts, it must be God who works or there will be no blessing — another broad principle of scripture (see 1 Cor. 3:6). Nowhere in our responsibility is this truer than in the raising of children. While the frank recognition of this is humbling, the hope, comfort and encouragement it brings has allowed many a parent a night’s rest that might otherwise have been spent in despair.
Psalm 128 — The Blessing and Fear of the Lord. The word picture in verse three gives us a glimpse of the domestic joys in the millennial kingdom. What a delightful prospect that family-life as God intended will be generally realized. Inseparably intertwined are the fear of the Lord and the blessing of the Lord. We cannot have one without the other. If children are the blessing in the previous psalm, here the blessing extends to the children’s children (Psalm 103:1717But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children; (Psalm 103:17); Prov. 17:66Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers. (Proverbs 17:6)).
Psalm 129 — Reflection. Israel now reflects on their history. Their afflictions were entered into by their Messiah, and we are even led to a moving prophecy of the Lord Himself in verse three. They have advanced in their soul to where they understand the Lord’s righteous government — not here, as asking for it to be exercised (as in Psa. 125:44Do good, O Lord, unto those that be good, and to them that are upright in their hearts. (Psalm 125:4)), but as a settled fact (compare Paul’s statement to that effect in 2 Tim. 4:14 JND) — and the plight of those who despise grace (Zion).
Psalm 130 — Repentance. We might ask, how is it that restoration (Psa.126) precedes repentance (Psa. 130)? Perhaps we have a partial answer in Ephraim’s plaint in Jeremiah 31:1919Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth. (Jeremiah 31:19): “Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth.” Often the deeper work of repentance does not transpire until many years after one is restored outwardly. Sin is far more horrible to one who has walked in close communion with the Lord for many years than one who has just been delivered from a sinful course. The Lord Himself becomes the chief delight of the soul and of the nation, even more than the thought of full kingdom blessing at that bright moment of “a morning without clouds” (2 Sam. 23:4).
Psalm 131 — Humility. As reflection leads to repentance, so repentance leads to humility. It has been suggested that this psalm is the utterance of David’s heart (this psalm is “of David”) to the Lord in response to Eliab’s harsh words to him when he came to minister to his brethren (1 Sam. 17:28). David’s heart was neither naughty nor haughty. He loved the sheep, but that pure motive was not readily understood. David wasn’t trying to be anything or anyone. Gone was the agitation of a demanding child. He composed himself as one who had learned in the school of God.
Psalm 132 — Giving the Lord His rightful place. This rich psalm outlines David’s desire and earnest efforts to bring the ark, neglected in the woods of Ephratah, to be set in a place of prominence.
The proper dwelling place for the ark was Zion, (Psa. 78:67-6867Moreover he refused the tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim: 68But chose the tribe of Judah, the mount Zion which he loved. (Psalm 78:67‑68)), where God will bless His people according to the sovereign goodness of His heart. “For the Lord hath chosen Zion; He hath desired it for His habitation. This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it” (Psalm 132:13-1413For the Lord hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation. 14This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it. (Psalm 132:13‑14)). As David desired a place for the ark that the Lord might dwell among them, so the Lord desired to dwell among His people that He might bless them.
This psalm in its general bearing brings before us the absolute criticality of giving the Lord the preeminent place if we ever expect to have unity according to God with our brethren. The result of this prolonged exercise of soul, arrived at through testing and suffering, namely, that of seeking the Lord’s glory, now yields “the peaceable fruit of righteousness” in the final two songs of degrees.
Psalm 133 — Unity. With the Lord dwelling among them and given His rightful place, the ten tribes and the two tribes dwell together in unity. The “irreconcilable” rift is healed. This unity is as the fragrance of precious ointment that permeates the entire life, and the dew of gentle blessing (compare Hosea 14:55I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. (Hosea 14:5)) that will fill the earth during the millennial day — this is “life for evermore” — or “eternal life” in the Old Testament sense. The mountains of Zion are mentioned for the last time.
Psalm 134 — Blessing the Lord. God’s end has now been reached: “Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind (Psalm 133) and one mouth (Psalm 134) glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 15:5-65Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: 6That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 15:5‑6)). Also John 4:2323But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. (John 4:23). As blessing (speaking well of and to the Lord) rises upward to the Lord, the songs of degrees fittingly close with the Lord’s blessing flowing outward to all nations from His house. (Psa. 36:8; 46:48They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures. (Psalm 36:8)
4There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. (Psalm 46:4); Ezek. 47:1-121Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar. 2Then brought he me out of the way of the gate northward, and led me about the way without unto the utter gate by the way that looketh eastward; and, behold, there ran out waters on the right side. 3And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the waters were to the ankles. 4Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through the waters; the waters were to the knees. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through; the waters were to the loins. 5Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over. 6And he said unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen this? Then he brought me, and caused me to return to the brink of the river. 7Now when I had returned, behold, at the bank of the river were very many trees on the one side and on the other. 8Then said he unto me, These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea: which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed. 9And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh. 10And it shall come to pass, that the fishers shall stand upon it from En-gedi even unto En-eglaim; they shall be a place to spread forth nets; their fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many. 11But the miry places thereof and the marishes thereof shall not be healed; they shall be given to salt. 12And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine. (Ezekiel 47:1‑12); Rev. 22:1-31And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: (Revelation 22:1‑3)).
W. Brockmeier