Psalm 134 - Lift up your hands

Read: Psalm 134 vs 1-3

Today we come to the last of our ‘songs of ascents’, songs sung on the road to Jerusalem as God’s people made their way to the temple to worship. These people would looked forward greatly to being in the temple and there would have been much joy as when they would have gathered, singing, praying and sharing in the sacrifices that were made as a reminder of God’s desire to draw close to His people.

Then however the time would come for saying ‘good bye’, leaving the temple until the next time, getting ready to set out on the road home. However not everyone would leave the temple, because in ancient Israel there was a group of people who worked in the temple, and who served there by day and through the night. These people were called Levites and we meet them in 1 Chronicles 9 vs 33:

‘Those who were musicians, heads of Levite families, stayed in the rooms of the temple … they were responsible for the work day and night.’

It is these ‘servants of the LORD’ who psalm 134 is addressed, those who stayed in the temple, and those who kept the worship of God alive, day by day, week by week. The singers of psalm 134 encourage these Levite, these ‘servants of the LORD’ to keep on keeping on, lifting up their hands, praising the LORD, the God who blesses His people, the Maker of heaven and earth (vs 2-3).

It is very special to gather with others for worship, and special places (such as a church building) have a significance for us as we draw close to Him. Psalm 134 however reminds us that the true worship of God never stops. Worship is a day and night thing, it is a way of living, a life that is constantly responding to God and offering up our lives to Him (Romans 12:1).

As the worshippers prepared to set off on the road home they did so aware that the worship of God continued, in the temple, and in the daily lives of all who were looking to God is faith and daily trust.

Prayer: Father thank You that the worship of You never ceases. Take my life, my thoughts, my conversations, my choices and actions, and may they be something that is beautiful for You. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.