The Psalms of Ascent provide a deliberate pilgrimage framework, designed to accompany believers on their spiritual and physical journeys, originally the Israelites as they ascended to the temple. This group of Psalms is compact, intentional and deeply communal, emphasizing the shared experience of a people rooted in their history and sacred places. By focusing on the collective memory of the faithful, these psalms transform individual travel into a shared act of devotion, reinforcing the idea that the path toward God is one best traveled together.
At their core, these psalms are woven together by the overarching themes of trust, unity, and hope. This is expressed through various “micro-themes” that address the practicalities of faith, such as seeking God’s protection in Psalm 121 and finding communal joy in worship in Psalm 122. Ultimately, the collection moves the heart toward a state of humility and dependence, culminating in a celebration of unity and the assurance of God’s divine presence and blessing.
Psalm 126 provides an ascent through time, across the varied journey of life with its ups and downs. It starts with the past, when “we were like those who dreamed.” What are the “great things” the Lord has done for you in the past? As you remember God’s faithfulness in the past, what dreams are still stirring in you? In what ways can you share the story of God’s goodness with others, just as the nations recognized it in Israel?
Then it moves to the present, a time of struggle and “sowing in tears”. This is true for many of us. In what areas are you experiencing sorrow while trying to remain faithful? Where are you asking for streams in a dry place. Are you currently in a season of “weeping” while trying to plant seeds for the future? How can you find joy in the present, even while waiting for full restoration?
It is important to grapple with these honest human emotions, to not just slap a happy face over or sadness. All facets of human emotion are real and legitimate and a part of who we are created to be.
But we do look forward to Songs of Joy. What harvest (“sheaves of grain”) are you trusting God to bring, even if they aren’t visible yet? How does the image of “songs of joy” inspire you to persevere in your faith and service? How can you show hope and joy in the present, confident that God will renew all things?
All of this human experience, both the joyful and the painful, is a part of who we were made to be. God is there in all phases of our ascent through time – and we as a body should be there for each other through all phases well, as we journey together towards the throne of God.
— Sermon Notes, Dave Sim, Renew Church, Lynnwood WA, January 18, 2026
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