St. Paul’s Cycle of Prayer – Tuesday – Seekers and other Young Adults, those in our community who are unchurched, our community and those in need, especially Family Promise and CROS ministries

(click Prayer Instructions for links to Morning or Evening Prayer for today)

Today’s Psalms are 121, 122, and 123, the first 3 of the 15 Songs of Ascent. These are all favorite Psalms of many people. We know them even if we don’t recall which Psalm they are from.

¹I lift up my eyes to the hills; *
from where is my help to come?

²My help comes from the LORD, *
the maker of heaven and earth.

and

¹I was glad when they said to me, *
“Let us go to the house of the LORD.”

²Now our feet are standing *
within your gates, O Jerusalem.

³Jerusalem is built as a city *
that is at unity with itself;

⁴To which the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD, *

and

¹To you I lift up my eyes, *
to you enthroned in the heavens.

Many believe these Psalms were sung as pilgrims wound their way up to Jerusalem. They could see holy hills. They would naturally be looking up, reminding them of God’s omnipotence. They speak of going to the house of the Lord, the tribes “go up” to the Lord’s house on earth while lifting up their eyes to the Lord enthroned in the heavens. Can you picture it? I hope you are also glad when you say “let us go to the house of the Lord”. For the Lord is our help, our shield, our redeemer.