Ascend
Mount Tabor Israel
Ascend. The Path on Patmos to John's Cave, his home.
Ascend. Bethlehem, Shepherd Field, Field of Jaar.
Still available today.
Vintage 1800s Bethlehem Photo, upper and lower.
Psalm 132
A Song of Ascents.
1 Remember, O LORD, in David's favor, all the hardships he endured, 2 how he swore to the LORD and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob, 3 "I will not enter my house or get into my bed, 4 I will not give sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids, 5 until I find a place for the LORD, a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob."
6 Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah; we found it in the fields of Jaar.
7 "Let us go to his dwelling place; let us worship at his footstool!"
8 Arise, O LORD, and go to your resting place, you and the ark of your might. 9 Let your priests be clothed with righteousness, and let your saints shout for joy.
10 For the sake of your servant David, do not turn away the face of your anointed one.
11 The LORD swore to David a sure oath from which he will not turn back: "One of the sons of your body I will set on your throne. 12 If your sons keep my covenant and my testimonies that I shall teach them, their sons also forever shall sit on your throne."
13 For the LORD has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his dwelling place:
13 For the LORD has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his dwelling place:
14 "This is my resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it. 15 I will abundantly bless her provisions; I will satisfy her poor with bread. 16 Her priests I will clothe with salvation, and her saints will shout for joy. 17 There I will make a horn to sprout for David; I have prepared a lamp for my anointed. 18 His enemies I will clothe with shame, but on him his crown will shine."
The Psalms, in majority, are thoughts of David. Going back past his victory, to his work as a man in extreme conditions. We see Psalms from his childhood, where David knew the field of Jaar, we know to be the Shepherd's Field in Luke 2, Christmas.
we heard of it in Ephrathah; we found it in the fields of Jaar
Ephrathah is Bethlehem, Jaar is the Shepherd Field in the valley below Bethlehem.
David being from Bethlehem, to the field has literally ascended going home, every day after his work in the fields for his father. Ascend is his daily commute. Ascend was the path home to the ditch he lived in Ziklag, located at the top of a large hill. David's Palace is at the top of a hill of Jerusalem and outside the city walls. David used the Palace to see far in the distance. Like Bethlehem, a watchful place. Almost all the places David lived, required to ascend.
We learn, in David's upward life, he prays. David petitioned God for His mercy. David sees his life not as a mercenary, but in service to God in the anointed work God has given David.
As David prays, he visualizes being in the Kingdom of God. Prayer is worship. At God's feet.
Hebrews 4:16
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace,
that we may receive mercy
and find grace
to help in time of need.
John 14:16
And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper
(Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby),
to be with you forever—
David invites God to rest. David is assured nothing is impossible to God. Or even hard work. The universe is upheld by the Power of His Word. The Lord God Almighty is invited to sit on His Mercy Seat. The Ark of the Covenant.
David is seeing, in belief, the Lord's Prayer. If God is comfortable on earth near David, and His People, we will see more Heaven on earth. David lived in 500 B.C., we understand David is speaking with the Lord. And David's understanding of God is written by the Holy Spirit. The amazingly deft strokes, profoundly explaining the nature of God. So delicate, it's easy to just rush past the meaning.
David has invited God to be part of his life, evidently, very often, if not daily.
King David, or our David, as part of the Holy Spirit, wants others to know the intimacy of God's Love, Joy and Comfort. David is teaching. Righteousness is linked with Joy. Nehemiah said this too, The Joy of the Lord is My Strength.
David reminds God, David's situation and the people of his life are chosen to be God's People. A good reminder. David favors his people, mostly more than Moses. And David reminds himself in prayer, loyalty.
God answers David. David prays what God's heart would love. And the echo is the agreement with God. David is so comfortable with God, he is himself, and speaks to God as a Father and a friend. Worshiping His Righteousness and Joy.
Ascend becomes part of worship. As the song goes forth, the choir ascends God's Temple steps. Displaying the gratitude David has. Ascend is deliberate. Ascend is the dedication of communication, prayer, with Abba. Jesus went to the High Places to pray.
David has been taught about Jacob. Jacob, in his odd life, gives reassurance God's Love is Steadfast. David's life teaches us the same about God and His Steadfast Love.
Jesus gives us the Hope and Future to ascend with.
Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Romans 8:28
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
Proverbs 4:23
Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.
Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go;
even when he is old he will not depart from it.
Ephesians 6:11
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may
be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
Psalm 118:24
This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Abba, Father,
1 Remember, O LORD, in David's favor, all the hardships he endured, 2 how he swore to the LORD and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob, 3 "I will not enter my house or get into my bed, 4 I will not give sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids, 5 until I find a place for the LORD, a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob."
Train us up to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And we will not depart from Your Ways.
6 Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah; we found it in the fields of Jaar.
6 Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah; we found it in the fields of Jaar.
I have set the Lord
always
before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore
7 "Let us go to his dwelling place; let us worship at his footstool!"
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart,
be pleasing in Your sight. O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Abide in me, and I in you.
As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself,
unless it abides in the Vine,
unless You abide in me.
8 Arise, O LORD, and go to your resting place, you and the ark of your might. 9 Let your priests be clothed with righteousness, and let your saints shout for joy.
For He has put all things under Christ's feet. Nothing is too hard for God. All things are possible with God.
10 For the sake of your servant David,
do not turn away the face of your anointed one.
Your Steadfast Love endures Forever.
11 The LORD swore to David a sure oath from which he will not turn back: "One of the sons of your body I will set on your throne. 12 If your sons keep my covenant and my testimonies that I shall teach them, their sons also forever shall sit on your throne."
The Word of the Lord endures forever.
13 For the LORD has chosen Zion; he has desired it for
His dwelling place:
14 "This is my resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it. 15 I will abundantly bless her provisions; I will satisfy her poor with bread. 16 Her priests I will clothe with salvation, and her saints will shout for joy. 17 There I will make a horn to sprout for David; I have prepared a lamp for my anointed. 18 His enemies I will clothe with shame, but on him his crown will shine."
May Your Will be done on earth
as it is in Heaven!
Blessed be the Highest Name of Jesus Christ.
Blessed are the people who abide in Him.
Live in us, Abba,
And in Your Love we will daily
find the mercy of Your Love
fulfilling Your Word.
Bless those I love.
Uphold Your Kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven
and we will finish well in Jesus Christ
AMEN
Roads of Heaven
♔ LORD JESUS SAVES †
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