The Woeful Sojourn

"Woe to me, that I sojourn in Meshech, that I dwell among the tents of Kedar!" ~ Psalm 120:5

The 120th Psalm begins The Psalms of Ascent, Psalms sung by Israelites as they would march up towards Jerusalem. Psalms that tell of the Babylonian exile and return to the land. 

In Psalm 120, we find ourselves in a sojourn, living outside of the land of Israel. The psalmist describes his sojourn by referencing Meshech and Kedar. Both are far from the promised land. In these lands were not just every day Gentiles, but heathens. They "hate peace and love war" (vv. 6-7). So in verse 1, the Psalmist called to the LORD in his distress. And looking at his sojourn away from the covenant community, he says "woe is me".

As we think about our lives today, Peter calls us New Testament believers, "Sojourners and Exiles". Paul says "Our citizenship is in heaven". Yet I wonder how many times we've called this world our home? I wonder how many times we've grown comfortable here, forgetting we are sojourners, dwelling in a worldly system under the influence of the evil one?

Do we, like the Psalmist, say "woe is me" until we make it to our home in Jesus? Do we live like we are just passing through, telling as many as we can about Jesus on the way?

Or have we grown comfortable living among Meshech and Kedar, believing this is normal and good and okay, while eternal bliss awaits us?

LSCC, let us not forget that we are sojourners on our way to our forever home in Christ. Let us not forget that we have died, and our life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is our life appears, we also will appear with Him in glory. 

Let us gather together, with the people of God, on a weekly basis to be reminded of our true family and our true pilgrimage. 

~ Pastor Alexander