SONGS OF DEGREES

We have come to the end of the Songs Hamma’aloth.

Psalm 134 closes the series which began with the 120th Psalm.

These Psalms, we saw, were sung when the people were on their way to Jerusalem, the city of the great King. The Songs Hamma’aloth were procession songs for the companies of worshippers.

The Psalm which we now wish to discuss in a few meditations, has strikingly been called the song of departure. After all, when the time is drawing closer that the people will go home again after the feast, then they sang a song as a final greeting of blessing unto those who laboured in the service of the Lord.

How precious when God’s children may also remember in prayer those who work in the midst of the congregation, indeed, those who perform the task which the Lord laid upon their shoulders! Oh, do we not hear more complaining about the officebearers in our day than that a crying for them at the Throne of Grace is found? Negative criticism is so cheap, my friends, but prayer, true prayer, helps the most. What is the practice of your life?

If the living Church would realize more how much also God’s servants require the prayers of those who have received grace—truly, God’s children would take this matter more seriously. More Aarons and Hurs would be found and fewer Korahs, Dathans, and Abirams. It is true, the prayer of the Great High Priest Who has entered into the inner sanctuary, is most necessary for them. But still: “Thus saith the Lord GOD: I will yet for this be enquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them” (Ez. 36:37).

Now that the multitude is going to leave the temple, a final greeting, as it were, is wished to the Lord’s servants. Yes, they urge these servants to bless and praise the Lord in their service. The people are going to go home to the towns and villages whence they came in order to perform their daily work once again. The servants and their helpers, however, remain continually in the courts of the King.

The Lord teach us from this Psalm to understand how profitable it is to be a hand and a foot for each other, to be a blessing for each other. Then Zion will have peace and the benefits are for the Lord’s heritage. Encourage, instruct each other, help each other, Zion of the Lord! Above all, pray for each other.

Once again, the Lord give many in these lukewarm and feeble days, who still have a desire that they have explained unto them the things which belong unto their eternal peace, the things in which God is glorified to the highest above all. Oh, He grant some to commend the Lord’s servants to their Master! Their number is so small and has dwindled once again. Might a cry be born out of the depths, a cry to the Lord of the harvest that He will send forth labourers into His harvest.

The psalmist attempts to draw our attention, for he begins by saying, “Behold.” That means: pay attention to what follows now.

And what follows is certainly worthy of each one’s attention.

The singers address here those who stand every night in the House of the Lord. We can know from God’s Word that the priests and levites had to be busy continually in the things of the sanctuary. Especially the levites were appointed to guard the sanctuary. Continually they had to carry out the Lord’s watch. They had to work also at night, every course in its turn so that the holy things would not be profaned and that nothing would be robbed from the precious treasures of the temple. They had to

watch during the night when danger lurked, when the enemy would most likely attack. They had to watch at night when all was dark and cold. During the night the wolves and lions come forth out of their caves and dens, ravening the prey. Many lessons for God’s servants are contained in those few words, “every night.”

The contents of these words signify especially that the Lord’s servants have to be watchful. Day and night they are in the service of the Lord. They should be ready always. That was in effect then; that is still in effect today. Unto them the words of God are entrusted. What a responsibility! Oh, are we faithful watchmen, zealous for the Lord’s treasures—His Word?

“Ye servants of the LORD, “ it says here. That is not meant in a humiliating way, but the contrary. This points to the preciousness of their work. It is a title of honour which the King apportions to His servants. It means at the same time, though, that they must follow Him in all matters. They are not masters of their own destiny, they are not rulers of their own time, but they are servants of the Lord.

They had to stand in the House of the Lord. This, too, the LORD has commanded in His Word. It was a sign of reverence for Him Whom they might serve. The servant stands before his master to ask him favour and to receive orders. So it should be with the Lord’s servants, indeed, with us all. Then we would be ready immediately as well, and not be slack in doing what the Lord commands. We should not, therefore, put our head on the pew in church when prayer is offered. Also nowadays it is still to be recommended that men and boys stand up during prayer.

Such standing, furthermore, points to the willingness and ready mind by which the Lord’s ministers in the temple served. Again, a lesson. And then? Well, they received the recommendation to bless the LORD. But more about that the next time, the Lord willing.

Chilliwack, B.C.

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