Real Hope: The Israelites' Playlistعينة

## The Lies Around Us The Psalms of Ascent are 15 songs that were sung by the Jewish people as they made their pilgrimage to Jerusalem three times a year. What songs are on your road trip playlist? The songs of the ascent playlist described the journeys the pilgrims were taking. This first psalm describes the state of oppression that was being left behind. The following psalms were used to encourage each other to trust God to lead them on a path toward their true home of peace. This was a literal and a metaphorical journey that still holds meaning for anyone seeking peace through a journey toward faith in Christ. The first song, Psalm 120, is a cry of distress in prayer to God, followed by a decision to trust that God will answer. This psalm highlights the concept of oppression fuelled by lies. The brutality of oppression became synonymous with the place names of Meshek and Kedar used here and referring to the exile in Babylon. We can all relate to this first song as the news draws our attention to the global state of our world in terms of wars and oppression. The psalmist may have also intended to identify the damage of lies in our own relationships, where words have caused conflict. Along with the oppression that occurs around us, there can also be oppression that occurs within us. Internal voices can try to lie to our hearts, attempting to undo the truth that we are God’s dearly beloved. The journey away from oppression towards spiritual peace starts in our own hearts as we make peace with God and ourselves. Then we will be free to walk with vulnerability and kindness alongside others working to restore human dignity in places where it is threatened. #### Written by KATH HENRY