Special: The Worship Road

Special: Road from Jericho to Jerusalem

Today, you join in a tradition that’s over three thousand years old.  As we left Jericho and traveled the steep climb to Jerusalem, we join centuries of pilgrims who have set their heart on Jerusalem.  Faithful Jews traveled this road at least three times a year for the annual feasts of Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles.  To ready their minds on what awaited them in Jerusalem (and maybe to get their minds off the steep climb beginning at Jericho at about 820 ft. below sea level and climbs to something like 2,500 ft. above sea level,) the pilgrims would sing worship songs out of the ancient Psalter.

Psalms 120--134 are special hymns written specifically for this road.  They’re called “Songs of Ascent.”  As the pilgrims walked side by side, or at times single-file through this rugged country, they sang songs that celebrated their love for the Lord, their history, their confidence in God’s care for them.  I love the thought of their voices filling the deep ravines and gaping gorges that stretched above and below them.  Listen to the wonderful lyrics of the hymns. . .

• “I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; from whence shall my help come?  My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.  He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber.  Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.”

  
  

• I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD."  Our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem, . . . Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May they who love you prosper.” 
  

• “Those who trust in the LORD are as Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever.  As the mountains surround Jerusalem, So the LORD surrounds His people from this time forth and forever.” (125:1--2)

• “When the LORD brought back the captive ones of Zion, We were like those who dream.   Then our mouth was filled with laughter, And our tongue with joyful shouting . . . The LORD has done great things for us; We are glad.” 126:1

Aren’t those great songs! With a little imagination, you can picture Jesus and His friends singing these hymns as they walked along with others heading for Jerusalem.  The route they would have walked would be slightly to the north of this highway and little more than a well-worn dirt track.

It wasn’t far from this road that Jesus probably spent those 40 excruciating days alone, alone except of course for the taunting of His greatest enemy.

If Jesus remembered those 40 days in the wilderness the last time He walked this road, He didn’t let on.  Luke said that He “set his face to go to Jerusalem.” (Luke 9:51) which speaks to His total commitment, His single-mindedness and determination for what was to happen there.  He could have turned back anywhere along this road.  But instead, He sang . . . He worshipped.  The reality of what waited for Him in Jerusalem was never far from His thoughts . . .  but neither were you.  And what He was determined to accomplish in the next few days would change your destiny . . . and mine.   . . . Even the future of the entire world.

Knowing what was ahead, no wonder Jesus was overwhelmed with emotion at the sight of the city.  No matter how many times you catch your first glimpse of it, you can’t help being choked by a few tears.  No, this is not just any city.  God has placed His name here. History past and history future focuses directly on what happens in this city.  The emotion that tore through Jesus at its sight as they came over the hill was not sorrow for Himself, but sorrow over all who would reject God’s ultimate peace, especially the people whom He had set apart as His own. The city of peace, literally the “foundation of Shalom” would not know peace until they recognize the Prince of Peace.

In a few moments, you’ll catch a glimpse of the Old City and see it spread out before you. Even if you’ve seen it a dozen times before, don’t be surprised if the sight of it moves you to tears.  It’s meant to be this way.

“Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, In the city of our God, His holy mountain. Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, Is Mount Zion in the far north, The city of the great King.” 48:1

The clock started the moment the donkey started down that slope into Jerusalem.