From today’s reading in Tyndale’s One Year Chronological Bible dated 7/13:

Psalms 120-134 are called the Songs of Ascent or the Pilgrim Songs. Jews traveling to Jerusalem for the three annual Jewish Festivals, Feast of Unleavened Bread (Passover), Feast of Weeks (Pentecost), and Feast of Booths (Sukkoth), would sing the Songs of Ascent as they climbed up to the city of Jerusalem which sat on top a high hill. King David wrote four of these songs (122,124,131,133), Solomon wrote one (127), and writers of the other ten songs are anonymous.

The songs we read today highlight that the Lord saves souls in times of distress (Psalm 120), our help is from the Lord (Psalm 121), the Lord is merciful to those who wait on Him (Psalm 123), the Lord’s favor is upon the righteous (Psalm 125), and our joy is found in the Lord (Psalm 126).

So imagine the Israelites walking to Jerusalem, looking around at God’s creation and singing:

• “I will lift up my eyes to the hills – from whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:1-2).
• “As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people from this time forth and forever” (Psalm 125:2).  

More Songs of Ascent tomorrow, so keep reading. (Psalms 120-121, 123, Psalms 125-126)