Singing Reformation Songs of Ascent because God Has Saved Us in Jesus

Do you know about the Psalms of ascent? Jerusalem is located on a hill, traditionally called “Mt. Moriah,” where God saved Abraham from sacrificing Isaac. This location is holy to people of faith who count themselves heirs of Abraham. The Psalms of ascent, Psalms 120-134, were sung by God’s Old Testament people as they ‘ascended’ the hill to Jerusalem on their religious pilgrimage for the major Jewish festivals to worship the Lord. For Jewish celebrations like Passover in the spring, or the Feast of Booths in the fall, I have read that Jerusalem could triple in size. Those crowds would arrive singing these Psalms.

Please remember, Scripture is plain! It was not the temple, nor the city, which the Jewish people were to worship. ONLY the Lord Himself is worthy of honor and praise! But, can you imagine being part of the hundreds of thousands of God’s people singing these Psalms as they ascended to Jerusalem? What an experience of faith! What an experience of unity in being part of God’s family!

My heart is filled with anticipation as Kathy and Mary and I embark on a spiritual pilgrimage of our own this Thursday, October 17. I was asked to serve with the Wittenberg English Ministry, which provides worship and devotions for English speaking tourists in Wittenberg Germany. My service is from October 22-31.

Wittenberg is the city where Martin Luther taught at the university, where he struggled as he delved into Scripture, where he despaired because of the truth of God’s law which showed him his sin. But this is also the city where Luther found peace and joy and salvation in the good news from Scripture that we cannot save ourselves. Instead, our Lord God Himself saves us through Jesus’ perfect life, through His sacrificial suffering and death, and through His victorious resurrection. “8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-10)

God led Luther to this saving faith through study of Scripture, and Luther then shared this Gospel from his home in Wittenberg. He nailed the 95 theses to the door of the Castle Church on October 31, 1517, intending a local academic debate. But, this document made it throughout Europe in about a month leading to what we know as The Reformation. Luther also completed his translation of the Bible in Wittenberg. (He began translating the Bible into German at Wartburg castle during his protective custody there.) In Wittenberg Luther wrote the catechisms, raised a family, encouraged and pastored the church.

Over 500 years after that first Reformation Day, I will have the privilege of speaking the same life changing Gospel of Jesus’ love to people in this special city, in the church where Luther preached. I know that it is not the city, nor the historic church buildings which we worship. ONLY the Lord Himself is worthy of honor and praise. But, in this place 500 plus years ago, God’s people re-discovered the truth of His saving love. I am looking forward to being part of the pilgrimage of those who come to Wittenberg to remember God’s grace and truth in Jesus.

What songs of ascent will we sing? The words of “A Mighty Fortress were not just needed for Luther’s time. God’s people from all times need these truths of God which Luther found in Psalm 46.

A mighty fortress is our God, A sword and shield victorious;

He breaks the cruel oppressor’s rod And wins salvation glorious.

The old satanic foe Has sworn to work us woe.

With craft and dreadful might He arms himself to fight.

On earth he has no equal.

No strength of ours can match his might. We would be lost, rejected.

But now a champion comes to fight, Whom God Himself elected.

You ask who this may be? The Lord of hosts is He,

Christ Jesus, mighty Lord, God’s only Son, adored.

He holds the field victorious.

Though hordes of devils fill the land All threat’ning to devour us,

We tremble not, unmoved we stand; They cannot overpow’r us.

Let this world’s tyrant rage; In battle we’ll engage.

His might is doomed to fail; God’s judgment must prevail!

One little word subdues him.

God’s Word forever shall abide, No thanks to foes, who fear it;

For God Himself fights by our side With weapons of the Spirit.

Were they to take our house, Goods, honor, child, or spouse,

Though life be wrenched away, They cannot win the day.

The Kingdom’s ours forever!

May the Lord be your fortress on your pilgrimage through the trials this world, to our eternal home in heaven! In the midst of these trials may your hearts be full of song, because, in Jesus, we have victory and life!!