Useful Bible Studies > Songs of Ascent Commentary
The word ‘ascent’ means a step, or an upwards climb. The ‘Songs of Ascent’ is the ancient title of a collection of 15 Psalms (sacred songs). They begin at Psalm 120 and they end at Psalm 134.
Bible students do not really know why these songs have this title. But here is the most likely explanation.
God’s law includes a rule that *Jewish men should go to Jerusalem for the sacred holidays each year. There are three such occasions, called Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles (Deuteronomy 16:16).
Probably, these songs were for the men to sing as they travelled. Of course, they did not have modern methods of transport. Most of them walked. And as they walked, they sang these songs.
Their journey might take 3 or 4 days, or longer, if they were from the north of Israel. And some people even travelled from other countries to get to Jerusalem. They might travel for a few weeks, or even months.
Some of the journey had to be *uphill, because Jerusalem is at the top of a hill. That is why these are the songs of “ascent” (an upwards climb).
The people went to Jerusalem because God’s temple was there. This was the sacred building that was God’s house in this world. Of course, God is too great to live in any building, and people knew that fact (1 Kings 8:27). But God had chosen the temple. There, he was present in a special manner. The sacred box that was evidence of his promises to Israel was there. His glory (the splendid beauty of God’s most wonderful character) had filled the place (1 Chronicles 7:1-2). And there, God’s people met to pray. There, they offered their *sacrifices to him.
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© 2015, Keith Simons.