Day 79: Psalms of Ascent

 Today's readings: Numbers 34, Deuteronomy 33, and Psalm 120.

I. Numbers 34 gives the boundaries of the land of Canaan that the Israelites are to inherit, and it lists all the tribal leaders responsible for dividing the land. To me, this shows again all the detail that went into planning for Israel to take over and inhabit Canaan, the Promised Land.

The BIY Companion, Vol 1, notes:

Numbers 34 presents the boundaries of the land of Canaan. The Promised Land is not an abstract idea but a tangible, real-world place. This is not just a story. Judaism and Christianity are historical religions. God truly interacted with the people of Israel and spoke to them. Our faith is rooted in time and space, in historical realities. As human beings, we are both matter and spirit, body and soul. (p. 168)

II. In Deuteronomy 33, we find the final blessing of Moses for each individual tribe before his death. This must have been a deeply emotional time for both Moses and the Israelites. The man who had led them for so many years, and shared hardships with him during that time, along with being the one God had chosen to speak, was getting ready to die. He was firm when needed, but he cared very much for them, and I believe this was returned by many of them. I do like how the chapter ended with a beautiful hymn praising God (34:26-29).

III. Psalm 120 is, as the Ignatius Bible notes:

A lament psalm. Sojourning in a foreign land, the speaker finds himself among people who are deceitful and restless for war. He prays for God's deliverance from the treachery of liars, utters a curse against their deceptions, and expresses his desire for peace instead of conflict. (p. 939)

The BIY Companion, Vol 1, also notes:

Psalm 120 is the first of the "psalms of ascent," Psalms 120-134. These psalms are associated with the Israelites' three major feasts. Because Jerusalem is situated on Mount Zion, one has to go up - that is, ascend - to reach the Temple. Some of these psalms of ascent are psalms of joy, others are hymns, and still others are psalms of lament... Psalm 120 speaks about how God is truly present in times of distress. These psalms sing about all of the great joys and trials of life. They remind us that we are called to worship God in all circumstances. (p. 168)

That's all for today!