Road Trip Playlist

Have you ever noticed that certain songs just seem to belong on the road? I am strange – my playlist ranges from 60’s tunes and classical piano to bluegrass and choral music. The point is, good music sets the mood for traveling. In the Bible, we also find a kind of “road trip playlist” called the Psalms of Ascent (Psalms 120-134). These fifteen psalms were sung by ancient Israelites as they traveled up to Jerusalem for the great festivals. They are the songs of pilgrims, worshippers, and weary travelers lifting their eyes toward the city of God. These psalms remind Christians today that the Christian life is a journey. Our citizenship is in heaven (Phil. 3:20) and we are sojourners and exiles here (1 Peter 2:11), but these songs keep us oriented toward our true destination and train our hearts for worship along the way.

In your Bibles, you will notice that the heading for each of these psalms is labeled “A Song of Ascents.” These headings sit in a very interesting place somewhere between history and inspiration. First, they are not modern additions, they are in fact very old. They are present in the Masoretic Text, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the Septuagint. Some of the oldest psalms with headings can be dated to around 50 BC-AD 50. The Hebrew word for ascent (ma‘alot) means steps or going up. That’s fitting, because:

• Geographically: Pilgrims literally “went up” to Jerusalem, which sat on a hill.

  
  

• Spiritually: These psalms mark the journey of the soul as it moves closer to God.

  
  

• Liturgically: Tradition suggests they were sung on the temple steps or during annual feasts.

  
  

In short, these psalms are the soundtrack of God’s people on the move. As we study through this collection of psalms, you will notice that there is a fascinating progression. It is almost like each psalm serves as a chapter in a story that brings pilgrims from the valley of trouble to the joy of God’s house. I want to go ahead and outline this progression so that we can refer back to it as we work through the Psalms of Ascent.

1. Longing and Distress (Psalm 120–121): The pilgrim starts in exile, longing for peace, crying out for God’s help.

   
   

2. Joy in God’s People (Psalm 122–126): The traveler delights in the city of God, worship, and community.

   
   

3. Dependence on the Lord (Psalm 127–129): Every step of life—family, work, protection—depends on God.

   
   

4. Humility and Hope (Psalm 130–131): The journey passes through repentance, patience, and waiting.

   
   

5. Unity and Blessing (Psalm 132–134): The songs climax in worship, unity, and the blessing of God’s presence.

   
   

I want to close by demonstrating, with very broad strokes, why these psalms have relevance for us today. In our daily struggles, Psalm 121 lifts our eyes to the truth that our help comes from the Lord. In worship, Psalm 122 stirs our joy in gathering with the people of God. In our homes and work, Psalm 127 reminds us that without the Lord, all our labor is in vain. For the life of the church, Psalm 133 calls us to treasure the beauty of unity and peace among God’s people. And for eternity, Psalm 134 points us to the final blessing, which is unending worship in God’s presence. Taken together, these songs remind us that we are pilgrims, pressing on toward our heavenly home rather than settling here (Hebrews 13:14). These psalms teach us to long for God, trust Him in the valleys, rejoice in worship, dwell in unity, and endure until we see His face.