And as you find your place in Psalm 120, you will notice that this particular Psalm has a heading before it that reads a song of degrees. If you will quickly look at the Psalms that follow after Psalm 120, you will notice that the same exact heading introduces the next 14 Psalms. This is because Psalm 120 through Psalm 134 are a section of Psalms among the Hebrew Psalter that have traditionally been called Psalms of Ascent. just as the Hallel Psalms, Psalm 113 through Psalm 118, are a section of Psalms that are grouped together to encourage worshipers to remember God's gracious deliverance from Egypt during the celebration of Passover. So the Psalms of Ascent, or Songs of Degrees, are songs that were sung by Hebrew worshipers as they journeyed up to Jerusalem for religious feasts. And the meaning of the Hebrew word degree in songs of degrees literally means to go up or take a journey to a higher place. Psalm 120 through Psalm 134 are songs that were meant to encourage the hearts of God's people as they made their journey to the public place of worship during the yearly festival occasions of Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles. And thus we can understand why the songs of degrees have been appropriately referred to as pilgrim songs. These are songs for pilgrims who are journeying toward the public place of worship to collectively worship in the place of worship that God has prescribed among other pilgrims. And in addition to this, these are songs that contain truth about the believer's journey toward the eternal place of worship, which we know to be the new Jerusalem or the heavenly Jerusalem. Now don't miss this. Depending on where you lived in Israel during Old Testament times, making a pilgrimage to Jerusalem by foot would take several days and would at times prove to be long and physically tiring. For some people, the journey up to Jerusalem would involve climbing an elevation that parallels Palm Springs to Yucca Valley. Can you imagine walking the Morongo grade to go to church? Can you imagine walking the Morongo grade and that big hill that ascends up to Yucca Valley? After a few days of journeying, your body might grow weary and your mind might grow unsure regarding why you are making such a great sacrifice to journey up to the place of worship at all. So what might help pass the time and encourage you along the way? Perhaps a little music to inspire your soul. Music always helps long journeys. Sometimes when our kids know that we will be driving for a couple of hours in the car, they usually say from the back seat, can we listen to something? So we put on some music or an audio drama to help pass the time and engage the mind instead of wearyingly looking out the window. This is precisely what the songs of degrees are all about. Historically and contextually speaking, these were songs that Hebrew worshippers in centuries past would sing as they journeyed to Jerusalem. And practically speaking, these are songs that New Testament Christians ought to meditate upon as they endure times of physical and mental weariness, yea, spiritual fatigue, as they journey to heaven among this sinful world. Let me illustrate what I mean by directing you to the words preserved for us in Psalm 120, which is the first pilgrim song or song of degree. Psalm 120. In my distress, I cried unto the Lord, and he heard me. Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips and from a deceitful tongue. What shall be given unto thee? Or what shall be done unto thee, thou false tongue? Sharp arrows of the mighty with coals of juniper. Woe is me that I sojourn in Meshech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar. My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace. I am for peace. But when I speak, they are for war. Now having read the entirety of the psalm, I want to expound upon the three main circumstantial details of the psalm from the psalmist's perspective and then conclude by taking the truths of the psalm and highlighting two pertinent truths as it relates to our spiritual journey. three circumstantial details of the psalm, followed by two applicable truths that are meant to encourage our souls in the Lord. Looking first to the circumstantial details of the psalm, I want you to notice the pilgrim's abode. That's point number one, the pilgrim's abode. While the specific author of the psalm as well as the exact circumstances of the psalm are unknown, it is apparent from what we read in the psalm that the author penned these words as he was living among malicious men. Notice verse five again. He says, woe is me that I sojourn or live as a resident stranger. in Meshech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar." Now, with further study, you will find that Meshech was located in the region of modern-day Turkey, which is north of Israel. And ancient Kedar was located in the northern Arabian desert, southeast of Israel. Which means, geographically speaking, that it is impossible for someone to live among both of them at the same time. So what is written here needs to be interpreted historically, poetically, and figuratively. and historically, poetically, and figuratively, speaking of both Meshach and Kedar, we know that these were ruthless, warlike people who lived away from the promised land. Simply put, Meshach and Kedar were two barbaric people groups who did not know God in their hearts and minds and thus did not fear God through their attitudes and actions. They were pagan people. They were not among the remnant group of Israel. Now it may be that the author of the psalm is painting a strong picture of what the Jewish people were behaving like. When he says, woe is me that I sojourn in Meshach, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar, it could mean that he feels as if he is living in a distant land filled with pagans, though he lives in Israel. And I'm personally persuaded that this is what is being expressed. I'm of the opinion, in his mentioning of these two pagan people groups, that he is essentially saying, I might as well be living in a foreign land filled with heathen people. For the people he is living among are wicked. They are liars and slanderers. They are those who love conflict and hate peace. which essentially means that they are not living in accordance to God's word and God's ways. For God's word and God's ways promotes truth and peace. God's word and God's ways revolve around loving God with all the heart, soul, mind, and strength, and treating others with compassion, respect, and dignity. As we read the psalm, we see that this is certainly not what the psalmist is seeing and hearing around him. This is not what he is experiencing in his interactions with others. On the contrary, we read that he is dwelling among dragons. He is living among venomous snakes who seek to destroy others through their toxic words. And this leads us then to see more clearly the second circumstantial detail of the psalm, which is the psalmist's anguish, the psalmist's anguish. Having considered his abode, we can better understand why he is experiencing the anguish that he mentions throughout the psalm. In verse one he says, in my distress, in my time of trouble, in my great affliction, I cried, I called out to the Lord and he heard me. Verse two. Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips and from a deceitful tongue. Verse five. Woe is me, miserable I am, sojourning and dwelling where I am. Verse six. My soul hath long dwelt with those who hate peace. Verse seven. I am for peace, but when I speak, they are for war. Can you feel something of his dark circumstances that surround him and the dispiriting emotions that are within him? It is probable that he is personally being attacked for his faith in God. Like many of the patriarchs, prophets, and godly kings who sought to do right in a world bent on evil, it is likely that the psalmist is referring to circumstances that involve others persecuting him through sins of the tongue, which sometimes, by the way, are more piercing and damaging than strikes with a fist. I remember children in grade school Constantly parroting a mindless phrase that declares, sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me. You heard that before? I say, how idiotic. It's not true. Words do hurt. I would rather be punched in the face than deal with the false accusations and misrepresentations of others. I mean, think about it. You and I can heal from a swollen black eye after a week or two. But it's hard to heal from the cruel words others spew out of their mouth that unjustly attack the pure reputation that we diligently strive to keep before God and man. It's feasible to deal with a bone that needs to be set back into place. It's challenging to deal with a lie. that has the power to cut off close friends who believe lies spoken by an enemy rather than coming to you to hear truth about what really took place. One single lie can do great damage to a person. To hear of others hating you and gossiping about you when you are seeking to live at peace with them brings about mental distractions, emotional disturbance, and even spiritual agitation. This is what the psalmist is talking about. The psalmist's soul is not only vexed by what he sees taking place around him, he is trying to deal with the unjust attacks that are being directly shot his way. Let's not forget. The psalmist is a man of like passions as we are. He has feelings like we do. He sheds tears as we do. He struggles with fears and doubts like we do. This is his sorrow. He feels out of place. He feels as if he doesn't fit in in the world. And from what we can tell, he is lacking brotherly love and encouragement from God's people. He longs to be delivered from this constant conflict that surrounds him, but he has nowhere to turn but to God. And this leads us to examine the third circumstantial detail of the psalm, which is the pilgrim's appeal, the pilgrim's appeal. So in this psalm, we are confronted with the pilgrim's abode, the pilgrim's anguish, and then the pilgrim's appeal. Or, if you like, in this psalm we read of the author's habitation, the author's horror, and the author's hope. And where is the psalmist's hope? His hope is in the Lord. And because his hope is in the Lord, his appeal for help is found in God alone. Notice it again. Among the ungodly world he is living in and among the attacks he is facing, the psalmist does not say, in my distress, I lash back at those who were hurting me. In my distress, I gave them a piece of my mind. It's not in the Hebrew. The psalmist does not say, in my distress, I took a long vacation from God. I mean, if this is how God's going to repay me for being faithful to him, then I'm taking a vacation. The psalm does not say, in my distress, I went to a psychiatrist. I started doing what the pagans did. I took some pills to handle my problems. I ran to my friends and families. I went to the spa. I numbed my mind and escaped reality by binge watching my favorite TV show while eating junk food all day. The psalmist says, look at it, in my distress, I cried unto the Lord and He heard me. And then he continues and says, in so many words, Lord, if it be your will, deliver me from this bitter cup. And as I wait for your deliverance, I will do my best to be a peacemaker among war makers. This is the light that shines among the darkness of the psalm. Looking at things horizontally, the psalmist becomes exasperated. Looking up into the hills, From whence comes his help? We will see in the next psalm. He seeks to encourage his soul in God. Among the pagan people, the psalmist is aware of the fact that God is alive, God can help him, God can protect him, God will provide for him, and God will preserve him. He says, in my distress, I earnestly cried out to God for help and prayer. I depended upon him alone and he showed himself faithful. When surrounded by men who sought to drag me into senseless war, I laid down my sword and I left the matter with God. I'm for peace. They are for war. rather than taking matters into his own hands, the psalmist sought to be kind to those who were cruel, remembering that vengeance belongs to the Lord. In God's time, he will repay. And this is what Peter exhorts Christian people to do in 1 Peter chapter four. During the psalmist's times of suffering, He committed the keeping of his soul to God all while he continued to maintain good works. He sought to maintain his godly testimony in the midst of a people who were seeking to tarnish it. So zooming out from the psalm, and placing it in its historical, musical, Jewish context, can you see, can you see how this song of ascent might be a practical encouragement to those pilgriming to Jerusalem to worship God? Surely, hearing about the testimony of God's kindness to another pilgrim would be a source of inspiration. Being reminded that there is a God that we can turn to in the midst of trouble would be comforting. Knowing that there is a God who ever loves and cares for his own sets the heart and the mind in a proper frame for worshiping him. He is worthy. And furthermore, If this psalm teaches us anything, it teaches us what Christian pilgrims will experience on their way to the celestial city. This brings me then to take the truths that we've just read in its historical, cultural context and make application of how they relate to our journey. Are you on a journey? The question we should always be asking anytime we read anything in the Word of God is, how do these realities relate to us? In what practical way does the psalmist experience relate to our experience? And most importantly, what can we learn about God? What can we learn about Jesus Christ? What can we learn about the gospel? And how can we demonstrate the message of the gospel to those around us? So as I draw to conclusion, let me answer these questions for us by giving you two appropriate lessons to reflect upon as it relates to our pilgrimage in this world. And the first pertinent lesson to be learned from the psalm is what I'm calling a parallel for all Christians, a parallel for all Christians. And the parallel for all Christians is the indisputable truth that they, Christian people, will fill and experience the same feelings that the psalmist did. Namely, among pagans, they will fill like an out of place pilgrim. Who can deny that this world is filled with ungodly people? Who can deny? that this world is anything but godly. Who can deny that the United States of America is becoming more and more heathenistic? I mean, as each day passes, there's a growing disdain for God's word and God's ways, yea, for God's people. In a very real and destructive way, our land is filled with hate-filled liars who do not respect God or each other. I mean, in our day of free speech and social media, it seems that anyone can say anything online without any consequences at all. It seems that people are becoming more and more antagonistic, more and more argumentative, more and more hostile, more and more vulgar. Some of you who were children many decades ago don't even recognize our land anymore. So I ask, does this psalm relate to us in any way? Without question. This world is filled with people who are antagonistic toward God, and if you choose to be on God's side, they are going to be antagonistic toward you. This is the first truth of the psalm. If we know Jesus Christ in a real, personal, saving way, this world is not our home. If you have been bought with a price, if you've been called by the voice of Jesus Christ, which is the gospel, you've been called out of this world. You've been made a new creation in the Lord Jesus Christ, which means that you are just settling here in a tent. One day your shepherd will come back for you and you're passing through. And as spiritual pilgrims passing through, We must be faithful, number one, to seek after God, to guard our testimony, and then to seek after peace, just like the psalmist did. We need to seek after God in worship and prayer. We need to guard our testimony at all costs, even when fiery darts are thrown our way, and we need to seek after peace. And by the way, we cannot be for peace at the expense of truth. For true peace must revolve around the truth. Luther says, peace if possible, but truth at all costs. See, true peace and unity are rooted in the truth of God's word. We don't coddle the ungodly. We don't justify the ungodly. We don't pretend to be at peace with those who are at war with the truths of God's word and God's ways. We stand up for truth and seek to be at peace with God more than man. Cannot settle for peace at the expense of truth. But when others who do not know God trouble you within your home, when others who hate peace agitate you among your extended family, when others among your neighborhood, your place of employment, or the community at large seek to attack you through sins of their tongue, listen, you must, you must, you must be careful how you respond. You must do what you can, as Paul says, to live peaceably even those who are against you, even toward those who are against you. This is the first truth that's staring us in the face. The first truth is a parallel truth for pilgrims. And the parallel truth for pilgrims is the plain reality that you will be hated for righteousness sake. You will. If you seek to live godly in Christ Jesus, it's just a matter of time. If you stand up for the truths of God's word and you do not bow like others bow, you're going to be lied to, you're gonna be lied about, you're going to be attacked. because you will be the target of Satan's fiery darts. Satan hates courageous Christians, but it's courageous Christians who make the most difference in the world. And sadly, I must say that sometimes Satan plants wicked men and women who cloak themselves in religion among churches Sometimes pagans and liars can pretend to worship God on Sundays and Wednesdays when their desire is to stir up controversy and stir others away from the truth. Sometimes Satan can disguise A spiritually blind man or woman as a wolf in sheep's clothing, causing them to go around gossiping, slandering, complaining, murmuring, which only leads to devilish disunity among the flock. The apostles talk about this. So I say be watchful, flock. Be careful, church. The tongues of pagans can exist among the community of faith. And when we find such things taking place, we need to sharply rebuke it. And we must ask God to deliver us from such evil people. We're here for peace and for truth, not for war. The second and most encouraging truth of the psalm is what I am titling, A Foreshadowing of Jesus Christ. A Foreshadowing of Jesus Christ. In this pilgrim song that describes a pilgrim living among pagans whose teeth are set on lies, do you know what we find? Put your gospel glasses on. We find a type, a picture, an illustration of what Jesus Christ endured for the sake of our soul. You see, Jesus Christ was a pilgrim in this world. He was a stranger among the nation of Israel. Jesus went around doing good, and others hated him without a cause. Jesus was for peace, and the Jewish people, the religious rulers, and the Romans' leaders were for war. Nevertheless, Jesus submitted the keeping of his soul to the Father. He faithfully endured the cross, despising the shame that it would bring, and through that he offers us peace with God. If anyone knew what it means to live in a pagan land filled with lying lips, surely it's the Lord Jesus Christ. If anyone was for peace, surely it was the Prince of Peace. The prophet Isaiah says, he was oppressed and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth. He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter and a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth. He didn't cut back. He patiently endured. The Apostle Peter says, For even hereunto were ye called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow his steps, who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth, who, when he was reviled, reviled not again. When he suffered, he threatened not, but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously. Are you a weary? pilgrim on a journey? Are there sharp words that come at you in your marriage, from your children, from your siblings? Keep looking to the Lord Jesus Christ. the one who can strengthen and help you in your journey up to the heavenly place of worship, which we call the New Jerusalem. And if you are here outside of Christ, and your heart demonstrates that you love the world, and your words give evidence you do not know the Lord, I leave you with the warning of Revelation 21. 8. But the fearful and unbelieving and the abominable and murderers and whoremongers and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. If you continue in your rebellion against God, if you persecute God's people, you will be judged. So again, the gospel offer is offered to you. Turn from your wicked ways and humbly submit yourself to the Lord Jesus Christ. See that Jesus Christ has done so much good for you even when you've been at war toward him. Let the kindness of God lead you to throw down your sword and acknowledge him as Savior. Let the wicked forsake his way, the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return to the Lord and he will have mercy upon him. and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. What grace, what grace that the God who is hated offers forgiveness toward those who hate him. He's at peace, he's for peace, even when we are at war. Is this not the testimony of Saul of Tarsus? Kicking against the Lord's authority, persecuting God's people. The guy is a madman. The guy is a dragon breathing out threatenings and slaughterings against the disciples of the Lord. For what? Just for being Christian. That's it. Paul hated Jesus Christ with a passion and he was taking his hatred out on Christian people. because they're the tangible ones that he can slay and commit to prison. Jesus Christ died so that Paul might be saved, and Paul is warring against Christ in his heart and in his life. So what does Paul need? He needs his heart to be conquered. He needs his will to be subdued. That's exactly what happens on the road to Damascus. Jesus Christ, the sovereign savior, confronts Saul with his rebellion and wickedness, throws him down off his high horse, shows him if he does not get right with God, he's going to pay a great price. God in his mercy. showed grace to Saul. And if you're in Christ, you know God in his mercy showed grace to you. And it's that grace that we need to demonstrate to this world. Stephen martyred for his faith. I would love to see what Stephen truly looked like. I think, personally, he was probably the most tender-hearted, most loving, most gracious man around. I mean, the guy's face just shined like an angel. He was full of truth, full of courage. He preached that truth in love and courage to others, and simply because he preached truth, they killed him. But seconds before dying, what does he say? Father, forgive them. Father, lay not this sin to their charge. They're for war. Stephen's for peace because his soul knows peace. So that's the question. Does your soul know peace with God? Are you dwelling in peace with Him and in peace with others? If not, why not? If not, why not?