St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1910-06-11
The Travellers
Psalm


x%AA snort series Vi 10 L SaAhos
all bearing the same title,
ANHN . which appear to have
~ formed originally a sepa-
- rate collection. They are
called in the English authorized yer.
sion Songs of Degrees" and they
range from Psalm 120 to Psalm l34.
The meaning of the title is much dis
puted, but the Hebrew words probably
mean, as they are translated IN the
revised version, Songs of Accents,
that is, "of the goings up" with refer
ence doubtless to the pilgr1mages
which pious Israelites were wont TO
make to Jerusalem on the occasion OF
the great festivals. The little collec-
ton was probably made soon after
the return from Babylon, and formed
for many generations the Pilgrims
Hymn Book" the songs of which were
sung by companies Of pilgrims-llke
that sacred company which in
cluded Joseph and Mary and the child
Jesus in gospel history-as they tray
eled up to the house of the Lord.
With one exception, all the hymns
in this "Psalter within Psalter" are
short, and each one usually gives ex-
preston to some single thought or
feeling, such as of hope or sorrow, OF
gladness, thanksgiving, or unfailing
trust in God. A quiet, graceful beauty
pervades the small collection, the
charm of which, we are told, was SO
felt by Spanish commentator that
he did not hesitate to say that the
Psalms of Ascent are to the rest OF
the Psalter what the Garden of Eden
was to the rest Of the world at it's first
creation.
Lesson of the Psalm.
The second Psalm in this collection
Psalm 112-has been appropriately
called the Travellers Psalm" 1t be-
gins with the words Il will lift up
mine eyes unto the hills" Just as
Daniel, when he prayed, opened his
windows towards Jerusalem, SO the
Hebrew Pilgrim, as he journeyed,
gazed with longing eyes towards the
Hill of Zion which he loved. We
Kirkpatrick, the voices of the pill
grims encouraging one another with
words of faith and hope as they trav-
eled towards Jerusalem, once more the
center of national life and worship, to
realize the relation of Jehovah to Is
rael and to each individual Israelite
as their Guardian in all the vicissi-
tudes of life"
A spirit of entire trust in God per-
vades the Travellers Psalm" Je-
hovah is the Keeper of his people, and
He that keepeth Israel shall neither
slumbernor sleep" He is also the Keep
er of each Individual, SO that the sun
shall not burn by day, neither the
moon by night The word keep" is
the keynote of the Psalm. Six times
over does it occur; and in the
assurance of that blessed relationship
or trembling. The dangers of the way
trouble him not Each stage of his
journey will be guarded by the Maker
of heaven and earth. Jehovah shall
keep thee from all evil; yea, it is even
He that shall keep thy soul. Jehovah
shall keep thy going out and thy COM
ing in, from this time forth and for
evermore."
Favorite Psalm of Many.
So appropriate indeed is this Psalm
for the use of pilgrims or travellers
that many good men have habitually
used it before setting out for jour-
ney. 1t was the custom Of Bishop
Hooper of Gloucester, who was after
wards burned at the stake within.
sight of his cathedral, to recite this
Psalm before leaving home on his do
cesar duties. David Livingstone read
this Psalm with his father and mother
before he left home for Africa ION
the morning of 18th of November,
$780," writes his sister, I'VE got up at
five o'clock My mother made coffee.
David read Psalm 121 and prayed.
Then my father and he walked to Glas-
Cow to catch the Liverpool steamer"
In like manner, we are told of Bishop
Harrington, who followed in the train
of Livingstone, that every morning
during his long and dangerous jour-
ney from Frere Town to Lake Victoria
Nyanza, he was accustomed to greet
the sunrise by repeating his Travel
ing Psalm" Il will lift up mine eyes
unto the hills
And this Psalm, consecrated by so
many associations, is no less appro-
pirate to ourselves. We are exiles. as
Wordsworth has reminded us, from
heaven, which is our home" We are
travellers between life and death. We
are pilgrims, as was John Bunyan,
through the wilderness of this world"
Through the night of doubt and sorrow
Onward goes the pilgrim band.
Singing songs Of expectation,
Marching to the Promised Land