John Mark Hicks

Psalm 134 concludes the Songs of Ascents (begun in Psalm 120) with a call to bless Yahweh standing in the courts with lifted hands. Standing in holy space, worshippers encounter God, and prayers are lifted that call upon God to bless each worshipper (“you” is singular in 134:3). The final Psalm of Ascents ends with […]

“Peace upon Israel!” is how Psalm 125 concludes. This is God’s goal for those who trust in the Lord, whose hearts are oriented toward righteousness, and walk in the paths of God’s goodness. The promise is that God will remove all wickedness and injustice, and those who trust in the Lord will inherit the land. […]

Psalm 123 finds pilgrims standing in the gates of Jerusalem and looking up to the God who is enthroned in the heavens and between the Cherubim of the ark of the covenant. The only petition is: “be gracious to us” (a word used three times in the space of four words). It is a communal […]

If if had not been that God was on our side . . . (Psalm 124). Paul probably had this Psalm in the back of his mind when he asked, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” The pilgrims on their ascent to the temple of God, confess: God is for us, […]

We lift our eyes to the hills from whence our help comes! This familiar line is followed by a commentary on the Aaronic Blessing (Numbers 6:22-27), particularly the word “keep” (used six times in six verses). The Lord God of Israel preserves, guards, and protects the people of God as they journey to the hills […]