L’un des
chants d’ascension chanté lors de la consécration du Temple de Salomon.
A Song of
Ascents, one of the
songs sung at the dedication of Solomon’s Temple by the Levite chorus with
harps and lyres. Their ‘song of ascent’ from ‘out of the depths’ (v. 1)
was part of a ritual procession up the fifteen steps from the dark lower
courtyard to the sanctuary above. This, the eleventh song, was sung on the
tenth step at around 4 a.m., under the full harvest moon of the Feast of
Tabernacles. The singing Levites faced eastward, looking past the Temple guard
on the low eastern wall to the Mount of Olives, where the soon-rising Morning
Star would herald the coming of the warm fruitful sun (v. 5-6).
But the depths from which Israel
ascends are, of course, all the adversities of their past until Solomon’s
glorious reign. These troubles were due to Israel’s unfaithfulness and
idolatry. The Levites’ song serves both as confession and reminder that it is
the fear of Yehowàh which keeps them in covenant faithfulness (v. 3-4).
They ascend from the lower darkness toward the coming time of blessing when
Israel, under David’s son, will shine in the world (vv. 7-8). Yet Solomon
was only a shadow of the one to come, under whose blessing the faithful will
shine like the stars for ever and ever. Until then, the door to blessing is a
contrite heart.
David Mitchell
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