Songs for the Road: Part 1 – A Disruptive Longing

Songs for the Road, part 1

A Disruptive Longing

Psalm 120

Outline:

Context for the Songs of Ascent

Three Journeys

• Spring: Passover
• Summer: Pentecost
• Fall: Tabernacles

“Religion in our time has been captured by the tourist mindset. A visit to an attractive site to be made when we have adequate leisure. For some it is a weekly jaunt to church; others an occasional visit to special services. Some with a bent for religious entertainment and sacred diversion plan their lives around special events like retreats, rallies, and conferences.” – Eugene Peterson

Two lifestyle terms to help:

1. Pilgrim 

2. Disciple

The Beginning (or re-beginning) of the Journey

• Repentance
  • Greek: to change one’s mind
  • Hebrew: to turn or return
• Detachment: “…a consistent posture of actively turning our whole being to God so that God’s presence, purpose, and power can be released through our lives into all situations.” – Robert Mulholland

What leads to beginning or re-beginning the journey (aka, repentance)?

• A disruptive longing

Psalm 120

v.1

• Distress

v.2

The psalmist’s source of distress

vv.3-4

“God’s coals are hotter and God’s arrows are sharper than those of they who afflict God’s people with the sins of their tongue.” – Derek Kidner

• Romans 12.17-21

vv.5-7

• Meshek: far-off tribe on the fringes
• Kedar: wandering tribe with barbaric reputation

I am for peace but they are for war.

Not belonging is part of the story.

• 1 Peter 2.11-12

• Hebrews 11.13, 16

The peace we desire is possible!

• Ephesians 2.13-22