Psalm 129
READ PSALM 129. This song of ascent is an anonymous psalm. The psalmist reminds Israel of how God delivered them from bondage, judged their enemies, and encourages them to hope for future deliverance.
There are two divisions in this short psalm of only 7 verses.
Verses 1-4: Israel's enemies often attack, but they can never annihilate Israel.
Verses 5-7: The psalmist's petition for enemies to be defeated and disgraced and not receive God's blessing. The psalmist petitions God to dry the enemies up like grass and be ignored by the harvester and despised by the binder.
Psalm 130
READ PSALM 130. This psalm is a penitential psalm, an anonymous psalm, and a song of ascent. The first verse is a call to God in deep sorrow, from "out of the depths" or "out of the deep." Psalm 130 is one of the psalms traditionally recited "in times of communal distress" and at funerals.
The psalmist admits his sins and seeks the Lord's forgiveness. He confidently encourages the nation to confess their sins as he has done
There are two distinct sections in this short psalm of only 8 verses.
Verses 1-5: The psalmist speaks to God about Israel.
Verses 6-8: The psalmist speaks to Israel about God.
Psalm 131
READ PSALM 131. There is a lot to know about this short psalm. It is a song of ascent written by and about David. It expresses his humility, his confidence, and his commitment to perform the will of God. It is classified among the psalms of confidence.
Psalm 131 is one of the shortest chapters in the Book of Psalms with only three verses. The others are Psalms 133 and 134. The shortest psalm is Psalm 117, with only two verses.
A song of ascents. Of David.
1 My heart is not proud, Lord,
my eyes are not haughty;
I do not concern myself with great matters
or things too wonderful for me.
2 But I have calmed and quieted myself,
I am like a weaned child with its mother;
like a weaned child I am content.
3 Israel, put your hope in the Lord
both now and forevermore.
Notice that David talks about himself in Verses 1 and 2. He talks about the people in Verse 3.
Psalm 132
READ PSALM 132. This psalm is anonymous. It is the longest of 15 songs of ascent with 18 verses. It can be described as a "messianic hymn" and an "anniversary hymn" recalling the finding of the Ark of the Covenant, which is recounted in 1 Samuel 6 and 2 Samuel 6.
This is a prayer for God's blessing on Israel and the fulfillment of all His promises made to the psalmist. Notice the psalmist talks about David's desire to build a house for God (Verses 1-10). Then he talks about God's promise to build a house for David (Verses 11-18).
Psalm 133
READ PSALM 133. David is the author of Psalm 133. It is next to the last of the songs of ascent. Psalm 133 is one of the shortest chapters in the Book of Psalms, being one of three psalms with three verses; the others are Psalms 131 and 134. The shortest psalm is Psalm 117, with only two verses.
The structure of the psalm is as follows:
Verse 1 is an exclamation.
Verses 2 and 3a contain similes that evoke positive associations with "good" and "pleasant." Notice the similes are about a person and a place.
Verse 3b is a declaration that supports the initial statement.
Psalm 134
READ PSALM 134. This psalm is anonymous and the last of the 15 songs of ascent and one of the psalms having only three verses. The psalmist pronounces a benediction on the worshipers as the service ends.
Notice the blessing involves who, when, where, and how.
Psalm 135
READ PSALM 135. This psalm is anonymous where the psalmist calls on the people to praise the Lord for His mighty works in creation and history. He contrasts the true God, who made the people, with false gods, who were made by their people.
The psalmist says who should worship God and why should they worship Him (Verses 1-14 and 19-21). Then he describes the many false gods in Verses 15-18.
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