A Pilgrim Soul’s Journey
Hello Bride of Christ,
We’ve reached a powerful milestone: Book 5, the final stretch of our journey through the Psalms!
Our path began in Book 1, where our hearts were anchored in God’s word and the hope of the promised Messiah. In Book 2, we learned to trust the Lord through seasons of disorientation. Book 3 led us into deep lament, giving voice to our despair. In Book 4, we found restoration as we welcomed the Lord’s presence back into the center of our lives.
But the journey doesn’t end here.
As we step into Book 5, we continue the pilgrimage. Fifteen of these psalms, known as the Songs of Ascent, remind us: praise is not a destination, but a journey. These psalms teach us, through lived experience, how to walk faithfully and worship fully, one step at a time.
Let’s set our hearts once again on pilgrimage.
Step One: Departure (Psalm 120 – 122)
“Woe is me, that I dwell in Meshech, That I dwell among the tents of Kedar! My soul has dwelt too long With one who hates peace." Psalm 120: 5-6, NKJV
The journey begins with a holy dissatisfaction. The Psalmist laments living in a place of conflict and unrest. His soul has grown weary of being surrounded by those who reject peace.
"I will lift up my eyes to the hills—From whence comes my help? The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in, From this time forth, and even forevermore.” Psalm 121:1a, 8, NKJV
So he sets his eyes on Jerusalem, the city on a hill, chosen by God as His dwelling place. And he begins to wrestle with the fear of leaving the familiar. Can he make the journey? Is it safe to step out in faith? But then he remembers: The Lord is his help and protector. His confidence shifts from fear to trust.
“I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go into the house of the Lord.’” Psalm 122:1, NKJV
Trust allows the Psalmist to hear the invitation. Joy fills his heart when he realizes he’s not making the journey alone. The desire for peace, trust in God’s protection, and encouragement from others ignite his gladness. He’s ready. The journey begins with purpose and hope.
Step Two: Dependence (Psalm 123 – 126)
“Unto You I lift up my eyes, O You who dwell in the heavens.” Psalm 123:1, NKJV
As the pilgrims continue their ascent toward Jerusalem, their eyes remain fixed on the Lord. Psalm 123 opens with a posture of humility—a soul lifted upward in recognition of God’s supreme authority and mercy. These next steps of the journey are marked by growing dependence, not on human strength, but on the steadfast help of the Lord.
“If it had not been the Lord who was on our side,” Let Israel now say— “If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, When men rose up against us, Then they would have swallowed us alive,” Psalm 124: 1-3a, NKJV
Songs of remembrance are recounted proclaiming Israel’s survival and deliverance were never by their own hand. Their enemies were real and overwhelming—like raging waters threatening to drown them. But God intervened. In remembering past victories, the Psalmist fuels present trust.
“As the mountains surround Jerusalem, So the Lord surrounds His people From this time forth and forever.” Psalm 125:2, NKJV
Next, the pilgrims liken the topography of Jerusalem to the Lord’s enduring protection. Each step forward in the journey is not fueled by self-reliance, but by the assurance of God's presence. Dependence becomes a strength, not a weakness.
“When the Lord brought back the captivity of Zion, We were like those who dream.” Psalm 126:1, NKJV
The journey of dependence culminates in a vision of restoration. The return from exile was so profound it felt surreal—like a dream come true. And yet, it was real. The Psalmist captures the joy of a people who have seen the Lord act on their behalf. They declare,
“The Lord has done great things for us, and we are glad.” Psalm 126:3, NKJV
Step Two invites us to remember—to look back at what God has done, so we can trust Him with what lies ahead. In the middle of the journey, when weariness tempts us to turn back, dependence lifts our eyes and moves our feet forward. We don’t walk alone. We walk upheld.
Step Three: Discipleship (Psalm 127 – 129)
“Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain.” Psalm 127:1, NKJV
As the journey unfolds, the path of the pilgrim turns toward formation—toward learning how to live under God’s loving rule. These next psalms invite us into the heart of discipleship, where we discover that lasting fruit is not the result of human striving, but of divine partnership.
“Blessed is every one who fears the Lord, Who walks in His ways.” Psalm 128:1, NKJV
In Psalm 128, the blessing of discipleship becomes more personal. The Psalmist paints a picture of a life lived revering the Lord and aligning itself with His ways. This is not merely about outward obedience but inward joy. The word "blessed" here carries the meaning of happiness, contentment, and spiritual fulfillment. To walk in God's ways is not burdensome; it is the path of true delight.
“Many a time they have afflicted me from my youth,” Let Israel now say—…
The Lord is righteous; He has cut in pieces the cords of the wicked.” Psalm 129:1, 4, NKJV
Yet, the road of discipleship is not without hardship. Psalm 129 gives voice to the pilgrim's wounds. But even here, the Psalmist confesses the righteousness of the Lord. The Lord, in His mercy, severs the bonds of oppression and brings justice in His time.
Discipleship is not a detour from the journey—it is the very heart of it. Utilized to shape a pilgrim’s soul in surrender, in reverence, and even in suffering, forming in us a habitation in which He Himself dwells.
Step Four: Devotion (Psalm 130 – 134)
“I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
And in His word I do hope.
My soul waits for the Lord
More than those who watch for the morning—
Yes, more than those who watch for the morning.”
Psalm 130:5–6, NKJV
As the Songs of Ascent draw near their end, the pilgrim enters a deeper rhythm—one of devotion. This is not a final step in the sense of arrival, but a lifelong posture of the soul: to wait, to watch, and to worship.
Psalm 130 opens with longing. The soul, once burdened by sin, now waits with hope and expectancy. Like watchmen scanning the horizon for the first light of dawn, the devoted heart learns to wait for the Lord with confidence—not in fear, but in hope grounded in His word. Devotion is birthed in the waiting.
“Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul,
Like a weaned child with his mother;
Like a weaned child is my soul within me.”
Psalm 131:2, NKJV
Psalm 131 paints a tender picture of trust. The pilgrim soul, no longer restless, has been quieted in the presence of God. Like a child who no longer demands but rests, the devoted heart releases control. It is content to be near. Devotion is not loud. It is stillness in the arms of the Father.
“Let us go into His tabernacle;
Let us worship at His footstool.”
Psalm 132:7, NKJV
With Psalm 132, we see that devotion calls us to dwell intentionally in God’s presence. These songs were traditionally sung as pilgrims ascended to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles—a journey not just of geography, but of worship. The pilgrim’s soul becomes a worshiping soul, one that seeks God’s dwelling place and delights to bow at His feet.
“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brethren to dwell together in unity!”
Psalm 133:1, NKJV
True devotion also manifests in how we live with others. Psalm 133 reminds us that worship is not only vertical—it’s communal. Unity among believers is both a delight to the Lord and a sign of His presence among us. The devoted heart seeks harmony, not division. It loves what God loves.
“Behold, bless the Lord,
All you servants of the Lord,
Who by night stand in the house of the Lord!
Lift up your hands in the sanctuary,
And bless the Lord.
The Lord who made heaven and earth
Bless you from Zion!”
Psalm 134, NKJV
Bride of Christ, at last, the journey brings us to Psalm 134—a song of culmination. The pilgrim has arrived in Zion. But more than reaching a city, the soul has reached a place of complete adoration. Night and day, hands lifted, hearts fixed—the worship does not cease. It’s a glimpse, not only of the earthly temple, but of the eternal one. This is the truest expression of devotion: to bless the Lord with our whole being, forever.
This step of devotion is not a conclusion, but a new beginning. It teaches us how to live in holy anticipation of the day we, too, will arrive in the New Jerusalem. There, we will do what our souls were made for—beholding the Lord, standing in His house, lifting our hands in endless worship!
Until then, let every step of our earthly pilgrimage prepare us for that glorious moment.
October Journal Prompts
Trace the Journey of Your Soul: Reflect on your own spiritual journey using the four steps from the Songs of Ascent as guideposts:
Where have you recently experienced a departure—a holy dissatisfaction that stirred your heart to move?
In what areas are you currently being invited into deeper dependence on God’s help rather than your own strength?
How is the Lord shaping your life through discipleship—forming you in trust, obedience, and even suffering?
And now, what does devotion look like for you? Where is God inviting you to wait, worship, or dwell with Him?
Take time with each step. Let the Holy Spirit map out the terrain you've covered and where God is leading you next.
